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Posted 12/6/2012 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Ridgeruner, that's actually a really good idea about how you are using the eakin seal. I have an urostomy and by the 36th hour of changing my pouch, the opening is already "turtlenecking" my stoma due to the acidic urine. That wouldn't be so bad except that my stoma is flush with my abdomen and this causes urine to go behind the pouch which causes peristomal ulcers. <sigh>
Posted 12/8/2012 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
If you have trouble in the future, you can call your surgeon's office and ask them or go to this website to find an ostomy nurse. http://www.wocn.org/


Along the left, click on the "patient information" link. Then there's an option to "find an ostomy nurse near you" My surgeon's office sent me there when I originally started having problems post-op (their office is 3+ hours away from me). I suggest going with a nurse that is part of a hospital system as he/she likely see more patients. When I made my appointment, I just told them that I had an ileostomy and having problems. That was enough to get me an appointment.

And don't be afraid to seek "professional help" - especially if skin is starting to look different. I developed pyderma and it started out as a little red bump (that's rare, don't worry about that in particular). But if I had gotten it looked at sooner, I might not have had to make five 7+ hour round trips to see people in my surgeon's office. I now have some different little red bumps and now I have a yeast infection. So until you get a little more experienced, don't be afraid to see a WOCN for fit, skin problems, etc. I've probably seen an ostomy nurse once every two weeks for the three months I've had my stoma (granted, I'm an unusual case).
Posted 12/9/2012 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
My stoma was also small so I use convex pouches and paste only and haven't yet had a leak (5 months). Never used rings before.
Posted 12/9/2012 11:17 AM (GMT 0)
My stoma was also small so I use convex pouches and paste only and haven't yet had a leak (5 months). Never used rings before.
Posted 12/9/2012 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Try using stomahesive paste, I put it around the hole of the wafer, on the side that's going on my skin, perhaps that will work better.
Posted 12/10/2012 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Does the paste not do the "turtlenecking" thing?
Posted 12/10/2012 5:58 AM (GMT 0)
The paste does sometimes come up like that, but not a lot, it's worth a try, you can email me anytime at: [email protected]
Posted 12/11/2012 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
It is normal for the seal or even the flange to "turtleneck" over the stoma. Sometimes it will almost completely cover the stoma without any damage. As long as the output from the stoma isn't leaking onto the skin, then no harm is done. One of the advertising points of Convatec moldable flanges is that they do "turtleneck" to cover and protect the stoma. Believe me, if the effluence from a stoma needs to come out--it WILL come out. As long as his bag is filling and the seal holds then you're good to go.
Posted 12/12/2012 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone! Good news is we haven't had any leaks the last two changes. We have only been waiting about 2-3 days to change though. This seems to be good for now cause his skin had been quite irritated for a while there but now it seems to be healing and better protected. Its now just a mild pink color now instead of bright red with a little blood.

Cutting the wafter hole smaller now seems to be helping as well.

And for anybody else following our story... he is doing sooooo much better dehydration wise. I have been giving him electrolyte supplement powder and we have been discovering more of what makes his output thicker. It seems mellon and apples does the trick most often. He also had his pouchogram yesterday and they led us to believe things were looking good but we'll know more after his surgeon reviews it.
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