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What supplies do you use?

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Posted 8/5/2012 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I thought it might be helpful if we all described how we change our bags, it could maybe help someone learn some new stuff.

First, I take the old wafer off and throw it away, then, depending on how my skin is, I may or may not use the powder, if I do use it, I put it where the skin is irritated, then wipe the access off, then I use barrier wipe thing so my skin will heal.
Then I use paste and put it around the hole, then I spray adhesive spray on the wafer, and on my skin where the wafer will go (on the can it says not to spray directly onto the skin, but that's what my stoma nurse did, so that's why I do that) I wait for it to dry, then I put the wafer on. It lasts about a week.

What do you do?

If I made a thread like this before, I don't remember it.
Posted 8/5/2012 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
First I lay all my stuff out and cut my wafer to 7/8". Then I remove bag, shave and shower. When I am done showering I jump out, dry the area and put stoma powder on if there is any irritation. After I put my Adapt ring on, then wafer on top. Then sure seal, then bag and I am done. From the time I jump out of the shower to the time I am completely done with putting everything on is about 3 minutes.
Posted 8/5/2012 8:48 AM (GMT 0)
My routine is similar to Brian's except without the shaving part! :-) I like to have my stuff ready to go before taking a shower, too.

First, I cut the hole in the new wafer and put some Stomahesive paste around the hole. I use an adhesive remover wipe to take off the old wafer and pouch and throw them away in a Ziploc bag covered by a grocery bag, so nobody has to see it.

Then, I take a shower and clean the skin around my stoma with non-scented Dove soap. I dry off, put a little bit of Calmoseptine ointment around my stoma and sometimes some Nystatin antifungal powder, apply the wafer, snap on a new pouch, add a few drops of Hollister M9 deodorizer, and I'm good to go for a week! My whole routine takes about 3 minutes, too.

The wafer I use is the Coloplast Assura Extended Wear with built-in skin barrier (#2883). For me, it has been the Energerizer Bunny of wafers, it just lasts and lasts and lasts! The pouch is cloth covered with a velcro closure (#13986). I usually snap on a new pouch halfway through the week.
Posted 8/6/2012 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
No shower. Remove pouch/wafer. Shave with electric beard trimmer. Wipe stoma area clean with piece of paper towel and water. Dry with hair dryer. Apply FRIAR'S BALSAM COMPOUND BENZOIN TINCTURE to skin around stoma and wafer area. Dry again. Apply wafer and pouch.

Dan

Posted 8/6/2012 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Supplies are lined up beforehand - full change days are Wed and Sun

Remove wafer - shower - ivory soap used and rinsed well - he shaves each time and puts a clear cap over the stoma so no accidental nicking with the razor - dries well around the stoma area with the towel - puts the clear cap over stoma and uses the blow dryer on cool setting to be sure skin is completely dry - uses Smith and Nephew skin prep spray with cap covering stoma still and also blow drys on cool and keeps it just a little bit tacky - applies the pre cut Coloplast Sensura wafer. Makes sure it adheres well. He also puts the 1" flesh colored Medipore tape by 3M on the top and the inside area as those 2 areas seem to have the most strain and it keeps the wafer flush to the skin with no issues. He also wears the 1" belt
Posted 8/9/2012 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
NASCARon has it nailed. In fact, I printed out Ron's directions early on in my quest to get past only 2-hrs to 2-days of wear. I now use most of the same products or similar brands and still pretty much follow his routine. However, I don't normally use a belt--and I don't shave.

In addition to Ron's excellent directions, I am also very "anal" about heat & pressure. I use my hairdryer to warm both my Eakin & my wafer right before placing them, separately. I then alternate heat & pressure over all for 3 mins or so once the wafer is on, before applying the Sure Seal. I am careful to shield my stoma from the heat with a cap from a can of mousse [courtesy of Another UC Wife].

I switched to a whole Eakin, Convatec Convex Moldable [applied diamond-shaped], Sure Seals and my heat & pressure routine all at the same time and something finally clicked and saved my sanity. I am now consistently getting 7-10 days wear.

There is one other thing I do during my pressure step to help solidly set the Eakin & wafer. There is a product available for quite a bit of money, but there are alternatives to the concept. It is the Equalizer by Stomaplex--nothing more than a piece of rubber tubing. You can see how it works and there are a couple of videos within this first link below. I went to Lowe's and bought a foot of rubber tubing and my son cut me off a 2-inch piece--works perfectly. The other 3 links are products I found for next to nothing in the PVC plumbing department at Home Depot & Lowe's. They can be purchased in different sizes depending on stoma size and flange size. All the same concept of even and steady pressure on the wafer around the stoma where it may be hard to get fingers into. Even the top of a correctly sized empty bottle would work.
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