ileostomy leaks

Has anyone else had trouble with small leaks at the place where the Eakin Seal touches the stoma. These leaks don't spread enough to loosen the bag, but they can't be good for the skin. I use the Convatec Durahesive two-piece appliance with the eakin seal. I change it every three days. Most people find the eakin seal to be excellent and it is good for me, too. Without it, I would have leaks galore. Still, this small problem is troubling and I would appreciate advice.

I had the same problem with the Eakin seal, there was always output under the seal, though it rarely went farther. I ran out of seals about a year ago, and my supplier was out of stock for a couple of weeks, so I just put the wafer on with cavilon only. Low and behold, much less output on my skin, though there is still a little, pretty much only in the 1/8 inch between the stoma and the wafer that it was recommended I leave to allow the stoma to expand. I tried filling that 1/8 inch with paste, but seem to be too clumsy to handle the paste. Luckily, my skin seems to be fairly tough, as the output doesn't seem to be bothering it. Touch wood.....

I do get redness all over under the wafer and adhesive if I forget the Cavilon.

Ann

P.S. I should add that I have a colostomy not an ileostomy, and my output is very thick. And I know that I am in a minority in getting a better result with no seal or paste.

Post Edited (AnnC) : 2/17/2016 7:24:01 AM (GMT-7)

I have a somewhat challenging stoma now, so I've been trying a lot of things, some of which have helped.

One is a little paste under the seal, right near the stoma. I got a tip here that made paste usable for me -- soak the tube in some hot water to soften it up before you apply it. Makes it so much easier. For me, less is more w/the paste, just a little (and close the tube right away when you're done so it doesn't dry out).

Another is to get a round piece of PVC pipe -- I just picked out something in the plumbing section of the hardware store that was the right diameter. Then after putting on the wafer, use the pipe to press down the wafer evenly. Its really made a difference for me -- I just got five days w/a perfect seal (forgot to change yesterday).... when I started w/this stoma, I could barely get two days..... often I do have a little leaking by day 3 or 4 now, but not always, and I'm hopeful....

Another good thing is the compound tincture of benzoin that Polish Dan talks about -- that protects the skin if there is a little leaking.

I use the same system as you do, Hoping, although I use the adapt rings, just because they are easier to get off than the eakins. Hope you figure something out.

just wanted to add a few tips that help prevent leaks/extend the life of my seal.... (I use 2 piece setup with Hollister pouch and new image wafers, and eakin seals):

(1) Before starting the wafer change process, I have my wafer ready to go with the eakin seal "donut" moulded to a size slightly smaller than the precut wafer size, so that when it goes onto my stoma it will have to expand a bit,

(2) I blow dry the skin around my stoma on high air flow/medium heat for about 30 seconds and then I blow dry the underside of the wafer with the attached and molded wafer already on, for about 30 seconds on high heat to make the putty stickier and more maleable and the sticky parts of the wafer and outer wafer adhesive stickier;

(3) after slipping the wafer and the donut shaped seal around my stoma snuggly onto my skin, I use "the equalizer" (google "stomaplex equalizer") basically a custom cut piece of hose, to evenly apply pressure for about 30 seconds to the inner part of the seal. afterwards I use my fingers to do likewise to press snugly on the outer portions of the seal ... then I attach my pouch and usually apply some heat with the blow dryer one more time for another 20 s or so and I am all done.

Note, if ones stoma happens to be active when changing, I'll keep,a crumpled paper towel around it while I do this stuff, and if necessary, I'll put the pounch on first and then do the equalizer and finger pressing thing to the seal afterwards, but normally I time my changes in the morning (i normally chamge about every 4 days) so that it is not active. When blow drying the underside of the wafer to make it stickier, I keep it from blowing away by using the equalizer to press down on the still unpeeled portion of the paper backing of the outer adhesive of the wafer and hold it in place on the outer ledge of my sink or bathroom countertop.

Post Edited (Probiotic) : 2/27/2016 1:15:03 PM (GMT-7)