Peggy!!!

I am a newbie, just like you, but just recently started using a convex wafer. I was having leaks pretty consistently every other day and had red skin breakdown from the acid. I know my stoma had shrunk considerably, but even though I was using my eakin seal it was not enough. It was leaking out the bottom and with no real warning. I called my ostomy nurse and went in early the next am. They said I had done a good job taking care of my skin as best I could, but knew something was wrong right away when she removed the bag and wafer and there was stool on my skin. My stoma is 7/8 '' but is also more protruding on top and flatter on the bottom and the whole pointed at 8 o'clock which was why I was always leaking out the bottom.

They suggested a convex wafer and I have not had a problem since. It works to help push out your stoma, plus I use a circular eaken seal just aroung my stoma and this is extra security. I would never not use the eakin seal. I have extra of these products of you want to try and I can send thenm to you. I used powder and barrier wipes on my skin and its all cleared up. Hope some of this helos. I think you need to call your ostomy nurse and explain what is happening. It drove me crazy as well. I will be four weeks post-op tomorrow. I ise the hollister convex wafer, mine are pre-cut the eaking seal, and then a mini bag becuase i am so short :)

I am no expert, but hope this helps.

Lizzie

As these wise people once told me the less is better...... I only use the eakin seal under the wafer and nothing else and get between 4 to 6 days

exactly, i cut my circle of eaken seal in half, strecth is out a little and wrap it like a scarf around my stoma and them apply the wafer.....you can also wrapp the eaken seal on the wafer itself, but i prefer to put in around my stoma.

Hope this helps.....soundsl ike u need the convex wafer. I do not use the barrier prep and powder unless I have skin brakdown whcih is sounds like you do......

let me knoe any oher questions.

Lizzie

I used it right away....i would apply powder, wipe off excess and dab with barrier wipes and do again for second layer. Mine was preey bad and they were impressed how well i tool care of it. Now I have none.....the faster you treat it the less your going to ve chances fo the oiwder not being enough and developing  something worse.....

questions are fine, i just hope i am helping, i anm a newbie....not even 4 weeks out, but have had a fair share of issues.

hope this helps and keep us posted.

;izzie

glaciergrl--knowing that you need something different is half the battle!!!  I have something similar with my stoma...mine REALLY dips in on the underside which was causing me a lot of leaks.  Hang in there because you'll get the right product and stop the problem!!!  Convexity sounds like it will help with your uneven stomach and will pull the lower point up.

I don't know if you'd be able to use the convexity until you have the bridge removed...I don't think you'd get the full effect... but I am not sure!  As far as you stoma shrinking, do you have cut to fit wafers so you can make them small enough?

With the Eakin Seal, I make it the size of my stoma (I have to make it smaller) and keep it in one piece, apply to wafer and then apply the combination to my skin.  I don't use skin prep/adhesive remover/power anymore UNLESS I have a breakdown issue.  The skin prep can shorten your wear time and some manufacturers do not recommend it with their wafers...so check yours...if you do use the powder, only use it on the reddened areas and then wipe/blow off your skin because that can cause issues with wear time, too.

That could be the problem...I've used the moldable ones in the past and they weren't strong enough to keep the convexity working for me...something to do with the strength of the 'moldable' area.

The Eakin Seal should help calm the irritated area...how long has it been?

Holly,

I am sorry that I wasn't able to get back to you sooner. But I have read your questions and all of the suggestions you received. Everything mentioned pretty much covers my thoughts. Be sure that you try to cut (mold) the hole of the wafer so that it fits snug around the stoma. The least amount of skin showing, the better. However, I've tried the moldable wafers in the past and I was not successfull in using them either. I know they "collar" around the stoma and some can use them without any issues. At the time I tried them, I was not using a convex wafer and it seemed like my stoma retracted and the moldable collar didn't allow it to move back outward easily. I may be crazy but that is what it seemed like to me. I use the Convatec SurFit 2 pc system with a convex insert in the wafer. Plus the Eakin, which I only use directly around the stoma. (I place the Eakin directly on the wafer.)

The Eakin Seal really helped me with the convex wafer. I don't know too much about 'bridges' but I would certainly call your Ostomy Nurse. They could certainly give you the answers to the questions you still may have. (I hope).

You are certainly asking very good questions for only being a few weeks post op. I wish you the best of luck. We/You will find the answers and get your wear time increased. Hang in there.

I won't be able to check the boards tomorrow until late in the evening again as I will be out of town all day with my DH. I'm sure there are a bunch of others out there that can answer your questions. I'll check in on ya tomorrow night.

Holly-Good for you...I hope things are still working this morning That Eakin Seal is just down right amazing, in my opinion!!!

it is okay to leave it like that...just remember if you start to have that burning sensation you'll want to change the appliance.  That extra bit should 'melt' away, so to speak, you just want to be careful if output gets behind the wafer.

Glad to hear things are working

Thanks guys!
The eakin seal is still holding and let me tell you!!! I feel tons better!
I don't think that I would've figured any of this out without you guys.
Holly

YEH for you!   If the ES held up, where was the irritation?  Sometimes frequent changings can also cause some irritation.