HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Advice needed with ileostomy device

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/31/2005 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hello me again,

 I'm having a great deal of frustration with my ileostomy device. I think the the thing that attaches around the stoma is called a waffer. If so, I'm having a great deal of difficulty getting the waffer to adhear to my skin for mor than 48 hours. There is a gully formed between the stoma and my belly button when I sit down and this is where the device always fails. Currently I am using a product by Hollister called New Image FlexWear. I have been very careful to throughly clean the area around the stoma and allow it to dry before applying a skin prep. After that dries I apply the waffer and it will hold good for about a day. I am 8 days post-op and am on my 5th waffer. Can someone please give me some advice?

Posted 10/31/2005 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Frank,
No expert here 35 days post-op for loop elostomy ...are you using any stoma adhesive...it's a skin barrier and filler..or maybe you will need a belt..see your ostomy nurse for advise..or call the surgeon to hook you up...I wear a product
from Coloplast the assura model..it is working very well, I also sent away for samples form different companies to try and find if I have the best product possible...Hope this helps!
Cheers..
Posted 11/1/2005 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with jag69 to ask your stoma nurse for advice. She should be able to get you some samples of things to try. For examples "Eakin seals".This is a small soft ring that you fit snugly around the stoma before putting on the bag. It not only helps with prevention of leaks but it has healing properties that can help with small sore areas around the edge of the stoma. Also there is somthing called "Hydro frame". I use this myself because Like you I have a small area near to the belly button that dips in a bit and the bag wafer(or flange as I call it) seams to lose its seal just in this area after a few hours. The Hydro frame is made of pretty much the same stuff as the wafer/flange on the bag I use,and I just cut the amout that I need and stick it half on and half of the flange and I don't have any more problems. There is other stuff out there that I havnt used myself but I am sure that your nurse will know about them.

I hope you get it sorted.

Sue

Sue
Posted 11/1/2005 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice all! In despiration I applied an Eakin seal to the flange last night and it has held so far. So what you're saying is that I shouls have applied it to my skin around the stoma first? Do I apply it as a ring and just stretch ti to fit around the stoma or is it cut and then put in place? I've not gone much more than 24 hours wothout a leak so I'll be cautiously optimistic until later. Also, I do not have a stoma nurse. When I was in the hospital someone from a wound care facility showed me how to apply the device. I assume they are the experts in this field. I am curious about the Hydro frame material and will ask when I call the wound care people.

Thanks os much for the replies,
Frank
Posted 11/1/2005 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Frank,
Here do you live..are you able to contact a nurse...I live where it is free to do so and my GI has set it up for me....My health care system pay's for the service I'm getting right now..at a lter date my personal isurance will pick up the tab.(thank god)
Take care and good luck...
Posted 11/1/2005 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
I live in Delaware. Through my insurance I'm scheduled a visiting nurse 2x week for 3 weeks. The nurse that was assigned to me wasn't 100% up on the new ileostomy devices. She is the one who gave me the Eakin seals but told me to break them in half and mold them like clay to fill the voided area. I read in an earlier post where someone used the new image flex wear with the eakin seal and had success. So far, knock on wood, this one is holding but it's only been 18 hours since application. I'm sure I'm going through what you all have already gone through with the seal issue but it does get frustrating. Thanks again for the support and hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to offer advice on what has been working for me,
Posted 11/1/2005 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Frank

I live in England and as far as I am aware all the big hospitals have a stoma nurse. It seems strange that your hospital doesnt have one because they obviously need one for people like yourself. It doesnt seem right or fair does it?

As for the eakin seals.... I think its a case of what suits one wont suit another person. I have heard of some people breaking the eakin in half and stretching just the one piece around the stoma, others use the whole thing. Yes it does need to fit quite snug up to the stoma,but again I think some people put it on first,but others fit it to the bag first and then apply. It's what works for you realy.

Sue
Posted 11/2/2005 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
It seems that you were all correct. I went to my scheduled appointment with my surgeon today and expressed my frustration over the leaking flange. She called a center that has a stoma therapy nurse and I was able to get an appt. this Fri. On a more positive note: The new flange with the eakin seal has held now for 48 hours!! The flange pulled loose a while ago and the only thing keeping the seal is the eakin. Thank you all who responded for the advice and encouragement!!!
Posted 11/3/2005 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Your welcome....Take Care!
:)
Posted 11/21/2005 9:25 PM (GMT 0)
First of all, a big THANK YOU to all who post here. I have taken the advice and wisdom of several of you and am now having great success with my ostomty device. The Ostomy Nurse switched me to the Hollister New Image Flextend. I then placed a small section of the Eakin Seal to where I had the greatest difficulty in maintaining a hold. I am happy to report that I now get 4-5 days between changes! Thanks again for all the advice.

Posted 11/23/2005 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Great to hear...by the way I since the past two weeks am using the same one as you..but cause I get the trutle neck effect my stoma is two small does not stick out enough....
Glad things are working better for you...
:)
Posted 11/23/2005 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear that you got it sorted.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply