frequent "blow outs"

Oh girl - I feel you! I had 3 blow outs in one - day, I about lost my mind. Take a deep breath first :) Then, be sure you clean up REALLY well, don't leave anything behind - including if you are using soap be sure it has NO moisturizers in it. Are you using a skin prep? I find that that helps me get extra "stick" for lack of a better term. For me, I only use the adhesive paste right now as I wait on my order to arrive with barrier rings and such that I can play around with and see what works.

Is your output thick? I have found that my blowouts can usually be blamed on a thick output piling up underneath the wafer and POP! Be sure you are getting plenty plenty plenty of fluids - doesn't just have to be water remember, milk (if you can handle it) juice, tea, etc. fluids fluids! I made the mistake last night of having potato soup and NOT drinking enough afterwards - hence big blow out at 5am. Just what my husband wanted to deal with getting ready for work, right? Yep, he was in the shower -hopped out so I could hop in and while I was in there cleaning myself he was cleaning up the mess I left in my wake....chux pad with blown out bag, gauze, dressing cover, adhesive remover and soiled montgomery strap and then he took all the "dirty" clothes downstairs and started a load. Love that man, happy valentine's honey LOL!

It is frustrating but just take your time and try not to get frazzled - when we hurry we make mistakes. Easier said than done know.

I just had my husband come home from work to help me with my 3rd blowout. Ive done good with keeping myself strong and I am taking my time with it but Im getting to the point where my skin is getting raw so to speak and Im not sure if I can handle another blow out.
It sounds like you and I have amazing husbands!
My output is mushy for the most part. Im using the paste and the spray adhesive, I just started with the spray adhesive so hopefully it will work, I said a prayer and Im hoping for the best!
Happy Valentines day to you as well : ]

DEfinitely thin your output as that seems to be the culprit with blowouts. Pancaking I think is what many refer to it as and that will usually precede getting leaks and or blowouts.

Keep sipping water all day instead of large quantities all at once. The fruit juice (apple/grape) people indicate helps keep things moving.

blessed, your stoma is shrinking, which is what it does in the first weeks. That's why your having blow-outs. Everyone goes through that the first month, and then it could happen occasionally. just treat it as a practical matter. I'm saying that as a tip to you, because I remember exactly how flipped out I got and thought the world was ending in chaos. It could continue for a week or so or a bit more. Other people here will tell you over how many days their stoma shrank. Get some stoma poweder for your skin. The trick is to get through the blow-out period without your skin getting too irritated.

It starts shrinking exactly at week three. Don't flip out, it is part of the process, there is really no need to flip, it is simply not an emotional matter (I learned this the hard way). All you have to do is be patient and concentrate on taking care of your skin because there is nothing you can do about what your stoma does. The stoma powder really helped heal the irritation I got from the blow-outs. Hang in there. it will be over soon, and you are really lucky that you are going to have take-down so quickly, not even three months.
I had my colectomy in April and had to wait six months for the next step but ended up doing it nine months later, and so I'm having my take-down on March 19th, making it an entire year that I lived with the stoma (which I now think of as a kind of crazy puppy from outer space.)

Get the powder right away!

Agreed on the shrinking/blow out thing. I am 8 weeks out and my Stella started at 1.5" and is now a bit less than 7/8" - I have to cut inside the circle that I draw.

Sorry no help on the powder, I got some in samples I requested and from my WOCN - if you were closer I'd run you over some :)

the powder comes fro where you get the other supplies, not from the pharmycy.

It would also be good to have your ostomy nurse measure your stoma for you - sometimes it's hard to see the shape yourself. My stoma healed oval, and I didn't realize it.

You might also ask her about a convex wafer. I didn't think I needed one, but it helped me a lot..... and it was at about a month or two out that I switched. I had an accident while I was watching a children's play! Spent half of the first act in the bathroom cleaning up..... but after my nurse made the two changes I just mentioned, accidents have been very rare.

Fingers crossed.

All of you who can have take downs are SOOOOO lucky. I am happy for you. Good luck with the blow outs. My ileo is PERMANENT and so far for 4 years no blow outs, but I know I would totally freak!!!!! You just have to say to yourself, I'm doing the best I can.

Before I gained weight I could use the convatc stomahesive flange and matching bag. (sounds like a fashion statement LOL

Anyway, the bag could NEVER blow off that flange as the tupper ware snap is mighty and strong. You may want to try that if you have not already. Then use All care wipe nice and strong sealant.

Glad you have great husbands who help out. That would make all the difference in the world.
Rosemary

My husband uses Ivory and rinses and dries well. He has had no problems with the wafers adhering from the start. I think Dial soap is also a good one. You definitely don't want to leave any kind of residue to affect the wafer staying stuck.

Didn't realize the shrinking size impacts blowouts. Hubby needed convex from the start so maybe that helped ward off blowouts. He only had one several months after surgery and a near one a few weeks ago due to very thick output and rolling over & falling asleep on the pouch. The first blowout the matter was like oatmeal consistency and kept coming after eating a chinese dinner with too much rice and potato chips later that night.

Yesterday you may have missed a step or didn't completely clean and dry your area. It's hard with kids and you could have been rushing. Good to hear you finally got a good stick!!!