My First Leak. By Oz Crohnie (haha, its like a book :p )

I recently got one of those stretchy wasteband things. I was going to come on here later and rave about how fantastic they are. I mainly like them as:
1. I can wear short shirts that would usually show my bag when i lift my arms in the air.
2. I can wear tighter-to-normal shirts without having to wear a tight singlet underneath to prevent the edges of my bag poking into my shirt and therefore me seeing the outline of it.

But, I've found another benefit.
They keep your poo in.

The story....
(it's in dot point to prevent myself from writing an essay)

Changed the bag, seal seemed fine, seemed great actually.
Put the waste band on and went to work.
1.5 hours later, emptied, all was swell :p
another 1.5 hours later, I smelt something, it wasn't a bad smell & it was one of those smells that you could only barely smell.
30 minutes later, I'm driving home from work, decide to stop at the automatic laser car wash (My car has only been cleaned once in 2 years, HA! ).
So I'm in the car, while its being washed and I notice my shirt has a damp patch.
I lift it up... I notice the wasteband is wet....
I pull back the top of the band and there it is, poo all over the place.

I can't go anywhere, as the moment I step out the door, I'd be shot by some kind of jet propelled water cannon that'd probably send me flying across the road. Instead, I wait and then drive home.

It took me awhile to figure out HOW I was going to change it and clean everything up. It was my first real leak. I'm not sure what leaks are normally like, but the section of the base plate that was no longer on my body, was HUGE!! Well I think it is anyway, it was the entire right section of the base plate...

So I had a shower, my first time in the shower with no bag since my second operation. I'm so glad I didn't have lunch today, as nothing came out the whole time I was in the shower and changing the bag, probably because it was all inside my wasteband :p

So I'm trying to figure out WHY it happened. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps I cut my hole in the baseplate a little too small this time and it somehow didn't go over the stoma properly. But wouldn't I know? I can't think of what it could be. Can't believe the bag only lasted like 5 hours...

The previous bag I had on for 2 days (which is rare, as I like to change it every morning) and it had a small trickle of stuff on the plate as though it was starting to form a leak. I was surprised when I saw it as I always look at the base plate to see and that was the first time i noticed a potential leak.

Anywho, What causes leaks? Especially when the seal looks fine.
And more importantly, Does anyone know HOW I'm meant to wash those wasteband things? I don't want to wreck it seeing as it took ages for me to get it, but I need to clean it. Its currently soaking in a bucket, but can it be washed in the washing machine? Or only hand washed? It's just that its a different type of material I've never washed before....

Was it the waistband that somehow moved around and dirupted the seal and made the face plate move? Rosemary

I had a few issues when the hole was too small...it looked okay to me, but when my ET Nurse suggested I go a size larger...the issues stopped. I don't know if that would solve your issues, but like summerstorm mentioned, a too big or too small hole can cause issues:(

Depending on your stomach and stoma, you may need a little convexity, if you aren't already using it. Do you use paste or seals?

It is a 'Comfort Plus Support Wateband' thing...

Thankfully I ended up washing it in the washing machine by itself (after soaking it). I say "thankfully" as the black colouring ran all through the water. Although that makes sense as its basically brand new...

I don't use paste or seals. And I still wasn't sure what this 'convexity' was until this morning (I knew what it was, but didn't know that that word was what it was referring to, if you know what I mean?). I've ordered some "hydra frame" seal things (Basically extends the area of the base plate to provide a better longer lasting seal). I thought they might be a good idea as I'm going out drinking for the first time in aages on Friday night. And I really dont want to have any problems if I'm going to be drunk and in town.

do the have shout color catchers in Australia? There are these things you can put in your washing machine so that if your clothes run they catch the day, wonderful things,lol.
I dont trust them on first run wtih something red or darkly dyed but after that i always use them

no thats not the same thing, but you can use a pillow case for delicate things, and its usually cheaper than buying those bags

Cleo35 said...
 Oz, did I understand that you chance the face plate and everything EVERY day? Doesn't that irritate your skin? Maybe it's time to try using a paste?

yer that's right. I have a one piece and was told I can change it every day or every second day (max). I started off dong it every second day, but now that I'm more used to it I prefer every day as it feels great having a fresh bag and it puts my mind at ease by making me think I'm less likely to have a leak.
Regarding irritating the skin, not really. My skin might be a tad pink when I take it off but by the time I finish cleaning the skin for the new bag it's gone back to a normal colour. So it doesn't really get irritated. :D