Wafer time

Smoke,
I use the Coloplast Assura Extended Wear wafer, and it lasts an easy 7 days with daily showers.
I keep the bag on in the shower, except for the day when I remove the wafer and wash the skin around the stoma. I think it lasts so long, because it's Extended Wear.

The first couple of weeks after surgery, I would rinse out the bag and clean up my stoma several times a day. I treated it like a baby. I'd clean it, and it would poo. <<giggle>> I'd clean it again, and it would poo again. <<giggle giggle>> I finally couldn't keep up with demand and realized that it likes its little poopy environment, so I let it have its way and stay poopy! After all, it is an intestine and has never known a life without poo.

That was 18 months ago, and so far so good. Everyone is different, and we will all eventually find out what works best for us. If what you're doing is working, then keep it up! That's great!

Good luck!
Cecilia

So, Smoke3, how was the skin around the stoma at the 8 day mark? Hope all looked good ---

I was having some issues just recently with wear time, only the opposite. I usually can go about 7 days, give or take. Recently, it's been about 4. Just 3 days ago I tried inserting one of the convex inserts inside my ConvaTec stomahesive wafer. So far, so good. It isn't as flush against my abd. now, which doesn't make me happy. But no breakdown so far. Waiting on samples of the durahesive and moldable wafers to arrive in the mail to try them out. I just have been really lucky this many years out from surgery and feel blessed. This is just one little obstacle to have to conquer -- it can be done! :)

It looked good on day 8 , I took the wafer off and there was just a slight sign of it starting to break down. I bet I could have gotten another day out of it but"cluck cluck"

Thanks for the replies

flchurchlady,

The Coloplast Assura Extended Wear wafer, is it better than Hollister's New Image? Have you ever tried New Image? I am having a big problem with my skin being irritated. I am allergic to many of the products. Anything you can recommend?

Are the Coloplast bags you use the lock and roll type?

Ohio,
I'm so sorry you have sensitive skin and allergies. I wish I could recommend a wafer for you. I've done online searches for wafers for sensitive skin and allergies and haven't found one yet. If anyone here knows of one, please share what you've found.

I've never tried Hollister's New Image, since I've been happy with the Assura Extended Wear. The Coloplast pouches I use have velcro at the bottom.

Nash,
Sorry you're having such trouble with leaks, especially at work. Have you tried the Coloplast Assura Extended Wear wafer? I haven't had any problems with it leaking, and I've been using it since Feb. '06.

So much of this is trial and error and finding the right products that work for us. I'm glad that companies will send free samples for us to try out.

Good luck,
Cecilia

Remember this?

Recently, it's been about 4. Just 3 days ago I tried inserting one of the convex inserts inside my ConvaTec stomahesive wafer. So far, so good. It isn't as flush against my abd. now, which doesn't make me happy. But no breakdown so far.

 

Well the update on this is:   I was due to change yesterday.... that was the one week mark and still no itching.  I pushed my luck until today, and when I changed it, very little breakdown around the stoma!!!   I am soooo happy with this little addition (little cost too) to my pouching system.  I just rec'd my samples from Convatec of the moldable system after I already changed it today.  So the inserts worked well for me so far.

Judy - Thank you so much for your heads up about the abd bruising.  You mentioned permanent bruising -- did it every go away?  Do you actually feel it or does it just look bruised?  I didn't noticed any bruising, but then again I wasn't real perceptive to it.  I will be sure to take a closer look at the next change.   Maybe this new information will push me into trying the moldable next time; or even alternate between the moldable and the stomasive with convex insert for cost effectiveness, if I don't see/ feel any bruising.  I am just so psyched about my extended wear time again.  You know what it is like to doubt your confidence, and right now, I am just too busy to have that doubt.  (We are acting as general contractor in building our very first home right now.  It is just being framed right now.  Lots and lots of decisions, etc. to be made.)

Thank you so much for all of your advice, recommendations and hints.... I guess this is a good lesson for all of us... even veterans can learn something new everyday!!! 

 

flchurchlady, thank you for your reply about the Coloplast Assura Extended Wear Wafer and Pouch. I love the velro seals on the pouch - much easier to use. My Stoma Nurse is having me use Kenalog Spray to clear up my allergic reaction. I need to be careful with it since it's a steroid and can thin the skin.

Nash and Ohio,

If you are both using the Coloplast Extended wear, can you let me know how it works for you? I am HIGHLY allergic to Convetec so I have been using Holister New Image. I like the New Image accept around day 2 my skin starts to itch under my wafer. By the end of day 3, I need to change my wafer because it will start to leak. My skin is so sensative and it does not do well with the changing every 3 days (it gets rashy and bleeds a little). I want to try the Coloplast. I am going to order some samples but I would like to get your opinion as well. Also, I like the New Image because they are thin and you cannot see them under my clothes like you can with Convetec. Are the Coloplast thin?

Thanks for your help.
Amey

Mary,

When I put a Convetec Durahesive wafer on or a Hollister wafer (that is NOT New Image Flextend), my skin starts to itch right away. Then, within hours the skin under my wafer will itch and burn. The burning gets increasingly worse. The Durahesive held up for 4 days but the whole time I was wearing it, my skin was burning and itching like crazy! I felt like I had ants under my wafer. All of my skin around the wafer tape forms a red rash and the skin under the wafer gets more red and irritated. After wearing the wafer for 2 days, my skin starts to bleed. I have been wearing a Hollister New Image Flextend for 4 day now, with an insert, and my skin has not felt this calm in weeks. I always use powder and No Sting spray. I do not use pastes because they burn as well. I hope this answers your question. :o)

Hi,

I"am new here and was reading the posts,my husband had a

urostomy about three months ago,still new to this.I was reading the post about bruising on the abdomen. Is it caused

by pulling to hard when removing the wafer?What can you do

for it ? my husbands stoma has a bruise around it and around

the belly button area also. These forums are awesome,you

learn so much on them.Thank you for the info