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Ugh - cant get seal to stay!!!

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Posted 4/8/2013 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, so my visiting nurse came for the first time today and changed my bag. I am using a 1 piece Coloplast Velcro roll up bag (w a broken right arm, it's easiest to empty). Within an hour, I was calling him back b/c the seal broke on the side. Fine for about 3 1/2 hours, then same issue on bottom. My amazing husband changed it himself and cleaned me up again. But now I am paranoid! I was in shorts the first time (not tifht ones) and a loose dress the second. My stoma is just to the right and about 2 inches below my belly button. Any ideas would be appreciated!

Alison
Step 1 surgery 4/2/13
Posted 4/8/2013 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Probably you have started the stoma-shrinking stage. It shrinks and compromises the seal, and everyone with a stoma goes through this. I remember having to change the bag 3 times a day and maybe again in the night. I went stark raving mad. Yes, the stoma will stabilize, it could take a couple of weeks. Until then, you need to roll with it, be aware that it could happen and be prepared. You don't need to get upset, and it took me a while to realize that.
What helped me and what you can try is switching to a light-convex (mine was from coloplast) with the same velcro bottom. With the convex light I also used an eaken ring. It is a rink that goes around the inside of the hole, and then you turtle-neck it a bit up into the whole, then put the whole thing on your stoma. You will need help, I think, because Iimagine it would be hard to do with one hand.

You'll makeit. You're doing fine so far and what'shappening now is normal. Get these supplies from the stoma nurse, or call the company and ask for samples.
Posted 4/8/2013 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Trying different brands can be helpful too. I used Coloplast the first 4 months post-op, but after experimenting with other brands, I discovered that it was the brand that stuck the least well to me. It always peeled up on the side of my incision. Hollister and Convatec adhered much better. If you call the major suppliers, they are happy to send samples and they usually come pretty quickly too.
Posted 4/8/2013 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
I always have problems with the coloplast coming loose on the right side. I had to change to convatec because the coloplast just won't stay stuck to my skin.
Posted 4/8/2013 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
alison it could be so very many things. to ramble off a few..
what was your skin cleaned with. Best to use just dial soap or just plain water. Any other soaps with lotiony stuff can cause problems
any powders or barrier wipes used?
using an eakin seal or adapt ring or paste?
were things held down with a warm hand and then warmed up more with a hair dryer afterward?
I can go on and on..

So tell us what process the nurse and your husband went through and we can give you some new ideas
Posted 4/8/2013 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
I am using an Eakin ring - been using the flat ones but tried a concave adapter ring today (1 of the 2 that failed). Warmed with just a hand, although I didn't think the nurse did that as much as the one in the hospital did. I had DH warm it more with his hand and we tested a warm compress too - hoping that does the trick!
Posted 4/8/2013 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
so are you putting the eakin seal on the wafer or on your skin?

Personally I have better success putting the eakin on the wafer. Then smashing it down really well. Then put that wafer/seal contraption on my body. I then blow dry the area for a minute or so.

What are you doing about cleaning your skin?
And any powders or wipes being used?
Posted 4/8/2013 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Also try laying relatively still for 20 minutes or so after you apply the seal, don't do anything that distorts your abdomen like putting on socks, bending over, etc
Posted 4/8/2013 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm putting the seal on the wafer, and cleaning w just water. I will have to try the blow dryer thing and be sure to stay still for a while after (that's what I did in the hospital of course, and did do that the last time today).
Posted 4/8/2013 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
If your belly is soft, I would try the convex light, even if your stoma is long. I had leaks with the flat coloplast, and they were fixed when I switched to the convex. The flat is kind of floppy and the convex is stiffer. Now I am in better shape and my belly is firmer, but I tried the flat again and had a leak (after over a year without one with the convex).
Posted 4/13/2013 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
PSUDOC
Glad that you are using just water to clean up. Soaps leave a residue. Powders make no sense to me. You cannot stick anything to powder. If your stoma is retracted you probably need a convex wafer. I do. After you clean with water and pieces of paper towel you need to dry with a hair dryer and then apply COMPOUND BENZOIN TINCTURE. I have it in a bottle but it is no longer available in the US. But you can get it in a swab. Go to www.allegromedical.com Search for product 560209. After drying, swab it all around your stoma.....the whole wafer area.......it does not hurt the stoma but will sting on open skin Dry again. It is a first aid product that helps to heal any open skin. It also dries sticky and helps the wafer stick. I shower every day with no problem. There is no messy residue left when you remove the wafer, like the eakin seals and such. Give it a try. It is amazing.

Dan
Posted 4/13/2013 10:13 AM (GMT 0)
I still swear by the compound benzoin tincture! Only thing I use!!!

😄😄
Posted 4/13/2013 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Alison
If you do not live in the US you may be able to order Friar's Balsam Compound Benzoin Tincture on line from Well.CA in a bottle. It is not shipped to the US from Canada. It comes in a bottle and is applied with a q-tip.

Dan
Posted 4/13/2013 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
I am also having good luck with the Compound Benzoin Tincture. I recently bought the swabs on Ebay for less than $15, which included shipping.

In just now checking Ebay to see if the swabs were still available I found an auction for:

Rougier Friar's Balsam Compound Benzoin Tincture 50 ml / 1.7OZ HIGH QUALITY

12.99 + 9.99 shipping to the US. I bought one and there were 8 more available by the seller.

This is the small bottle, so maybe this is not as good a deal as the swabs.
Posted 4/13/2013 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
I like the bottle better than the swabs. I have them too and like them to travel with but I do like the bottle stuff better. I use a qtip to apply.
Posted 4/13/2013 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
 

Good to know, Larasmom.   Now I am excited to try the kind in the bottle.  Well, as excited as one can possibly be about a pouch change smilewinkgrin

 

Posted 4/13/2013 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Alison
Are you going to try the Friar's?

Ask your nurse about it. He/she probably never heard of it.

Dan
Posted 4/13/2013 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
I'm definitely going to look into it! I haven't had any issues since that first bad day at least - using a warm compress and laying still for 15 or so minutes seems to help.
Posted 4/13/2013 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
PSUDOC
I really hope that you try the Friar's. I don't find it necessary to hold the wafer on or lay still. Just stick it on and take a shower or cook breakfast.

Dan
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