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Posted 8/23/2015 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
Just returned home today from my protocolectomy. Had it done at the VA hospital. I know very little about appliances except for a few brand names. When I woke up and spoke to a wound ostomy nurse she gave me convetec sur fit natura 45 mm wafer that's moldable and convex. With a matching bag. Same one I was wearing after surgery

Now I am 30 years old and weigh 160. Very flat stomach. Stoma protrudes out about 3/4 of an in. Right now. This convex pouch is working but I feel like only 1/4 of an inch has a seal around the whole thing. The rest of the seal isn't even touching skin. It just got a small seal all the way around my stoma and that's it

Question is, do I need a convex wafer? Seems like I need a flat one. And what other types of products will the VA have available to me besides this convex moldable wafer. Not a huge fan so far, doesn't feel like it's as secure as a flat flange would be

Now coloplast did call me while in hospital and send me 2 beautiful looking pouches and I plan on sticking one on tomorrow after I'm able to shower. They sent me 2 one piece systems and 2 two piece systems both flat flanges that look like they will be very secure
Posted 8/23/2015 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
I have never used a convex so not sure what they look like. You are entering the "try it and see if it works for you" stage!!! Request all kinds of samples, try them out, see how they feel, how your skin reacts. I would definitely think a flat wafer would be better.....and I seem to recall folks saying that convex shouldn't be used too soon after surgery but I could be dreaming!

Rest well. I hope things go well for your recovery.m

K
Posted 8/23/2015 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
I'm surprised they gave you a convex wafer, my impression is that they are only used when the stoma is more or less flush with the skin, to force the stoma to stick out far enough that the output goes down into the bag, instead of forcing its way under the wafer. My stoma is flush, and I was having blowouts within hours until I got the convex.

Larasmom, I've also read that a convex isn't usually used in the first little while after surgery, I think because of the pressure it exerts on an area still recovering from surgery. I got mine quite early, but it was a desperate situation. :-)

I don't know if there was a particular reason for you to get the convex, you think the nurse would have said something if so.

And she's right about the "try it and see if it works for you" stage. It took me a full year to get the combination of wafer, bag and accessories that gives me my current very consistent 6-day wear.

Welcome to the club, and may your recovery be smooth and steady.

Ann

P.S. I should also mention that the flat wafers are approximately half the price of the convex ones, at least in the brand I'm using (Hollister).

Post Edited (AnnC) : 8/23/2015 6:49:00 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/25/2015 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the input,

I'm def not a fan of that convex barrier I was wearing. Took it off today and threw on a sensura mio 1 piece I got as a sample. I do like the 2 piece but I'll hold off on using that until my stomach is a little less sensitive and can push the pouch on for a proper seal. I'm going to call my nurse tomorrow and get an appointment to I can try some regular wafers of the same brand as opposed to the convex. I believe she said the va doesn't carry coloplast which is unfortunate because I like this system so far but whatever they got, as long as it works is good enough for me
Posted 8/25/2015 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
I like the convatec moldable in convex. I feel like it's very secure - the wafer is very big though which bugs me. I have a short stoma too. It's not flush but it doesn't stick out far. I was having tons of leaks until I used convex. With .75 inch, you may have luck with flat or you may not, you really have to try. The coloplast mio doesn't come in convex, so if you like that, you won't be able to get it. I think the hollister 2 piece is easy for clicking on right after surgery because it's easy to click together. The convatec you have to push much harder. The convatec sits a little flatter. I don't like coloplast wafers but i like their pouches. You can always click it together before you attach it is you want. It's a lot of trial and error to find what you like. I think hollister wafers are the best but their pouch is so long. Might not be a problem for you if you're a tall guy. I am a short women - it's very long for me.
Posted 8/25/2015 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
NSSG, I use a 7 inch Hollister pouch. I've had a partial coloectomy, so I believe may have a lot less output than many, if not most, people on this list, but it works for me. They also have a nine inch pouch, but it has the clamp, not the velcro closure. They gave me a big box of 12 inch Hollister bags when I left the hospital. I'm 5'2", so you can imagine how comfortable those were!

Ann
Posted 8/25/2015 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
NSSG, yeah. As of now bag length doesn't effect me too much but I'm new to everything. I'm 5 foot 8. Pretty average for a male. They didnoriginally send me home with that extender clip on my convetec 2 piece and it stuck out super far, it was driving me crazy. I also noticed a lot of odor with that bag for some reason. The coloplast bag is def a lot shorter than the convetec and this one piece is very discreet. I'm so new to it I'll just have to figure out what works for me and when. I just felt the convex wafer on the 2 piece was not right. It was sealed and everything just didn't like it. Had a lot to do with always smelling output but that could have been another issue like the filter not working properly or something.
Interesting fact about the convetec bag is the whole time I wore it I was really gassy post surgery and the bag would literally whistle all day with gas escaping! So I could also smell this from under my gown, very unpleasant. Then the same thing was happening at home, the vent was working but making me smell like output!
Posted 8/25/2015 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Ann, the 7in is nice for short periods of time for me but it wouldn't work for sleeping because my output is too high at night. I wish the 9 inch didn't have a clip. I haven't tried clips but I've heard they are odd. I am 5'3".

Pjb, I don't think odor has anything to do with the convex. I would imagine convex would be the most secure. For me, I have probably a half inch stoma and I would end up with leaks under the wafer if I wore flat, of course, if you can wear flat, that's probably easier on the skin. I would bet the odor you're getting is from the filter. I am really gassy and I have never had a filter work, they are either clogged or not letting any gas out... I got these things called ezvent that you can pop open but you can also have stool come out of the hole if you're not careful. I have also tried the gelling sachets and those make the pouch harder to empty for me - I don't like that. There really isn't a good solution for gas. You can put a sticker over the vent if you have odor but then you have to empty to get rid of the air.

The mio bag you're wearing is supposed to have the best filter. Does that fill up with air for you? I could never really test the mio because the flat would leak under the wafer before I had gas.

You should request samples of all the different flats and if they don't work out, tell the company and they will send you convex. I have so many flat samples here that i can't use :(
Posted 8/25/2015 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
I have a great suggestion for anyone with problems clicking the 2-piece bag together (that I got from my ostomy nurse)...just put a tiny bit of liquid soap along the edge and then it clicks on very easily! Wish I had known that right after surgery but it still helped while I had the loop ileo. I used Convatec Natura 2 piece...I have no idea if they were flat or convex!

Vicki
Posted 8/31/2015 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Ladygolfer,
That soap trick is great with the covetec 2 piece moldable thanks for the tip! It prevents me from needing that extra piece that adds about an inch of thickness that really sticks out and makes having the bag really noticeable. I did get my order of supplies from the VA and they did end up sending me flat wafers as opposed to the convex wafers she sent me home with. Also sent me the bags that vent and I'm not a huge fan of those but we'll see how they do. I'm 2 weeks post op today and gas hasn't been a real issue for me. Gas was definitely a big issue in the hospital bit since then it has subsided quite a bit. Get it every now and then but no big deal. Funniest part about it is my 3 year thinks it's the funniest thing when my stoma farts! She tells me to say escuse me after its done moving gas! So I oblige her request!
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