WAFER DAYS - HOW DO YOU COUNT?

OK you two!!!   I caught that as I was typing and tried to clarify it.....  hah, hah!!!  Not with you two comedians around....!!!

Rachel Faye,

Yep, that is a farm girl name but I still like it.  My daughter is Rachel Renea.  My daughter loves her name because it means "motherly" and she is very maternal.  I remind her that she is so loving and nurturing because of her lovely name that she was given her name by God (I prayed a lot about her name).  Like you, I do not like my name all that much.  I feel like such a product of the 70's.  Amy, Michelle, Kimberly, Jennifer, Melissa and such.  Plus, I think my mom was high on something when she decided to spell my name with an "e" (Amey). Rachel is a name that has endured since the Bible; it is timeless. 

Anyway...I am glad that you like the Hollister New Image.  I have to say I am very pleased with this product and the concept that I can change bag sizes all the time.  I wear mini closed in pouches when I teach at the gym, mini open-ended pouches durning the day and regular size pouches at night.  I use the Convatec plastic insert inside my wafer to hold the wafer closer to my skin which prevents any drainage behind my wafer.  I still experience the "ants" but I have been putting Nystatin powder under my wafer (just incase it is a yeast itch) and that helps a lot. 

Also, I am glad to see that you are enjoying your life with your daughter.  Recovery is not as bag as people think.  I am sorry your stoma had to be burned..that does not sound pleasant.  My stoma developed white bumps on the sides and the nurse thought my Dr would have to burn them.  However, they eventually went away on their own :o) I am glad.  The nurse said the burning would not hurt but it was still nervous over it. 

Thanks for posting.  I am glad you are doing better!

Amey,

If you put on your Eaking, don't mash it or anything, it should be pretty visible for a week plus (that's the longes I've ever gone). It shouldn't deteriorate unless you're breaking it down somehow? I'm not sure what you mean by "rolling it to the outside of your wafer," it really works best as a sort of gasket directly around your stoma.

Amey

Since I don't replace or remove my bag from the time that I apply it until changing day, I don't really "see" anything.  But I can feel the slight turtleneck thru the pouch layer and it was there for 6 days this time.  I think the Eakin seal applied like I had suggested, worked for me! 

Today was day #8 and I changed it this morning.  The Eakin was deteriorated away from the stoma opening in the wafer completely but like I said, the "itchies" didn't really start until late on Sunday.  I pushed it yesterday...  I just knew it was gonna hurt my shoulder to try to change it.  Fortunately, no leaks before this morning.  I was able to get the Convex insert in place this morning again with a struggle trying not to use my right arm too much.  And, I did put a very small amount of stomahesive paste on the very inside edge of the top of the stoma opening of the wafer this time --- trying to get 7 days again!!

Amey, I was wondering, can you go several days without changing the bag?  Pick one and use it for several days without removing it?  Maybe pulling on the bag/wafer is causing your lack of wear time.  I just don't bother changing out my bags at all from the time that I apply until I change it again.  Just never have done that.  I do rinse the inside of the bag with water, but I don't remove it even to shower.  I know that is your personal preference and all, but it might be worth the experiment.

We ARE gonna get this figured out for you!!!

Judy -

I am just experimenting with the Eakin.  I only have the breakdown directly around the stoma opening.  I thought that since it is the wafer material itself that is breaking down, I would just reinforce the area completely around JUST the stoma opening of the wafer with the Eakin.  By rolling it to the other side of the wafer I mean that I apply it in just a small ribbon on the sticky side of the wafer, and then press it slightly thru the stoma opening of the wafer that I cut to the other side of the wafer where there is the thin plastic coating.  Kinda of like reinforcing the area where the wafer has been deteriorating first.  Does that make sense?  Am I crazy for trying this?  It seemed to work for me this last time. 

I still don't know exactly what changed in my system to cause the lack of wear time that I have been having.  I've tried several experiments so far.

BTW, how are you feeling after your last surgery?  I think I remember reading on another thread that your ostomy was relocated from one side of your abd to the other.  Has it been difficult or a challenge trying to get used to changing your appliance on the other side?  I think it would be for me.  Just another adjustment, right?!

Judy,

So glad to hear your recovery is coming well.  So do you think there are "phantom" ostomy movements going on?  Oh my -- that would be a weird feeling.  Thinking about it...  I wonder if it just a nerve memory thing or something like that.   Well, since I am an ostomate, can I say "EWWWWW" - that makes my belly get the creep crawlies!!!  I'm sorry (giggling a bit) ---  does it feel really weird to you?  Come on, fess up, Judy.    Seriously, you are doing well?  Back into normal routines and all?

Yeh, you are probably right about the Eakin.  The whole rest of my wafer just adheres so darn well, except for the one area that is deteriorating so quickly.  I guess I am trying to be sure to get a good "seal" the stoma opening of the wafer.  I am probably just overthinking it too much.  Frustration can do that to you, right!

Judy, do you have any hints or tips for easily getting a separate convex insert into the rim of the wafer?  I have been placing one edge in and then just working it around, but my right arm strength now has made that harder to do.  Any hints?  The pouch is a bear to snap in place after the insert is put in and wafer applied.  Tried snapping pouch on and off a couple of times before applying, and it helped.

Needing any suggestions to make this easier.....  thanks again.  Hoping the Eakin has solved my issues.  (Still workin' on Amey's tho!!)

Amey,

Would I be jumping the gun to say "WOOOO HOOOOO!"  I sure hope you can make it to day 5 this time and day 6 with a little tweeking of the Eakin next time!

Actually Peggy...when I thought about this more I realized I do change my bag a lot. I change from my larger bag to my smaller bag everyday so I can workout. Then throw out the small bag and put the large bag back on. I always use the same large bag for the 3-4 days. When ever I change my bag I always clean my stoma a little. I take toliet paper and gently wipe away all of the contents before placing the new bag on the flange. I cann't stand to have poop on me. It drives me crazy!

I ended up leaking on myself in the middle of the night so my wafer lasted 3.5 days. The stool was draining behind the Eakin and coming out of the bottom of the wafer. The Eakin was almost completely gone from the wafer. I was so tired at 3am this morning that I forgot the make the Eakin thicker. I applied the thin layer of Eakin to the back and rolled to the front. Then I smooshed another layer of Eakin on top of the first layer to make it thicker. I am not sure if I did this correctly or not so I will have to wait and see.

LOL Judy, I did not apply THAT much Eakin. It is only applied to the area around the stoma hole. When someoone applies plaste they squeeze the paste like a tube of toothpaste which creates a thick barrier. My Eakin layer is not even as thick as that. The idea of covering the entire back of the wafer, minus the tape area, with an Eakin is funny...thanks, I needed the laugh this morning. :o)

LOL Bluz! I have done that where I sit and think "did I change on Tuesday or Wednesday..." Thanks for the tip. It sounds like you get 3 days out of your wafers. Is that normal for you? My goal is to get more than 3-4 days...I want to get 6-7 days, but that may not be practical for me.

Peggy,

I ran out of inserts. I ordered them on Oct. 16 and again on Oct 25th. I just received them in the mail today :o). I did not realize how much they help me prevent leakage. So, it is hard to say what anything at this point. I am on day 3 and I just put the insert in at 5pm today. So, I can not use this wafer as a true test subject. I will have to wait until my next change to see how I do. But hey, day 3 with no inserts is not too shabby!

Thanks for asking Peggy!

Ok -- should I or shouldn't I?  I changed last Tuesday a.m.   Here it is Monday night, and still no itchies!!!!!!   I think I will push it just one more day ....   wish me luck.   So, I believe my Eakin Seal method is working, along with the convex insert!!  

SJ30 said...
I noticed that when I empty my bag, I squirt water in it first and swish it around then empty..sometimes the water gets to my stoma and I can feel it going into the itchy area which then makes it itch more.

If you feel the water around your stoma, your seal with your Eakin is compromised. 

I know Amey uses it all the time, but I've never been able to use powder (even with the barrier on top) and keep a good seal.  Next time try to seal everything without the powder, I really feel that keeping a good seal is more important and your red and itchy area will heal as long as there's a seal, especially if you can keep the seal for more than a couple days.

When I had to change my appliance daily (when I always had issues with leakage) because of an inverse convex stoma, I never used powder, the barrier and Eakin were enough to heal any redness or soreness I had. 

I also don't shower with my pouch off anymore, I used to, but I think the water and pressure just adds to degrading the seal that much quicker. I really don't see a reason for "cleaning" your stoma beyond using some tissue to wipe it off, as everything is pouched, air and water tight.  I also change my pouch daily. 

I don't mean to attack anyone's way of applying their ostomy products, different things work for different people, this is just MY OPINION, another option you may want to try, learned by trial and error with MY ostomy issues over the years. 

Stacie,

I also have a question/comment... from one Eakin user to another.  I recently, as you have probably read, have become an Eakin believer.  I found that my wear time extended quite a bit when I made sure the Eakin actually sealed the stoma hole area cut in the wafer.  I know you said that you apply your Eakin directly to your skin, then the wafer,, then the bag.  But making sure the Eakin "sealed" the edges of that opening  of the wafer made a huge difference in my wear time and the "itchies".   It is like it is protecting the wafer from degrading.  Sounds weird I know.  But, I am up to 7+ days wear time again.  Was down to 3 ish just a few weeks ago.

Just wanted to share......

p.s.  I don't use any powders or barriers..  I do use an adhesive remover to be sure all of the old wafer/Eakin is removed.  Less scrubbing with the remover!