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WAFER DAYS - HOW DO YOU COUNT?

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Posted 11/12/2007 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Peggy,

I am at 4.5 days on my wafer and it looks like I might get another day...for me, this is fabulous! If I can make it until the morning, then I will have gone 5 days.
Posted 11/12/2007 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
I count the day I put the wafer on as day one. So if I put a new one on, on Monday and take it off on Friday I count that as 5 days.

I'm able to go as long as 8-9 days using the Convatec one piece bags and the 3M no sting adhesive.
Posted 11/12/2007 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Ash,
8-9 days on a one-peice! Wow! I am impressed. I cannot wear a one-piece for more than 12 hours. My poop eats through them like an acid.

I am so glad you are doing well. Thanks for your input.
Posted 11/13/2007 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Stacie,

I would love to use stoma caps. However, Hollister does not make one ...boo hoo. I am allergic to all convatec products. I have tried both their stomahesive and durahesive product (which I loved using but can't). I beleive Convatec makes a cap and so does Coloplast. Is there a universal cap that will attach to any wafer? I would love to find out. Coloplast sent me a cap sample (Coloplast makes a two-piece cap). I loved it! I wore the cap for about 8 hours and felt normal again! It was heavenly...too bad I cannot tolerate Coloplast all the time...by skin is picky, picky.
Posted 11/13/2007 1:37 PM (GMT 0)

Amey said...
Peggy,

I am at 4.5 days on my wafer and it looks like I might get another day...for me, this is fabulous! If I can make it until the morning, then I will have gone 5 days.

So, Amey, how long did you end up wearing it this time?  Did you make any adjustments for the new one?  I am so happy for you.  I knew we could do it!!!

 

 

Posted 11/13/2007 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
Peggy,

I have to change NOW. This is exactly day 5 and the ants were marching all night long. I was just too lazy to get out of bed. I put on my belt for added security and went back to sleep.

The only thing I did was made the Eakin a little thicker and I put a thin layer of paste around the opening on top of the thin Eakin layer.
Posted 11/13/2007 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Stacie,

THANK YOU for the information. I DO have the Hollister closed in mini pouches that I wear a lot. I also have the Hollister open-end mini pouches which I wear about 80% of my day and even to bed sometimes. I struggle to have regular output so I can handle wearing small bags a lot. My stoma stays inactive until about 4pm so I could get away with the cap. I had not seen the cap before. Thanks for finding that. I wonder if they make it in a 2-piece.

I appreciate you doing some research for me. :o)
Posted 11/13/2007 2:27 PM (GMT 0)

Amey said...

The only thing I did was made the Eakin a little thicker and I put a thin layer of paste around the opening on top of the thin Eakin layer.

I have done the very same thing with the paste the last 2 times.  I'm not sure why it works better, but the paste may give the Eakin a chance to warm up and seal better before my output hits the Eakin.  In any case, it's worked well for me too.  I used to always use the paste, just a thin line of it around the wafer opening and that was it.  So adding it to the Eakin just made sense and increased wear time by a couple of days too.

Are you still using the Eakin on the outer edges of the wafer to help it stay on better?

 

Posted 11/13/2007 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Peggy,

Yes, I definitely flip the Eakin into my wafer. I just do not flatten the Eakin as much as I did before so it is a bit thicker under my wafer and then I thin it as I roll it to the front of the wafer. Then I put the paste on top. I use about 1/4 of the small Eakins. I have a couple little ones left so I have not looked into getting the larger ones yet. However, they are on my list for a future order.

Thanks for asking. How are you feeling about Friday?
Posted 11/13/2007 4:28 PM (GMT 0)

To be quite honest at this point - Friday cannot get here soon enough.  I am totally fed up with my shoulder.   I'm really having a hard time getting the rest my body requires cuz it keeps waking me up.  And I'm grumpy without my rest!!!!  But thanks for asking Amey.

Posted 11/14/2007 5:45 AM (GMT 0)

Amey ---

I'm gonna have to change in the morning - "itchies" tonight.  I was so hoping to stretch this one until Thursday night or Friday.  Oh well.  I'm really tempted just to slap a wafer on in the morning without the insert or Eakin, knowing I will only last a couple of days - then do the "real" thing Friday morning so I can hopefully get a week out of it.  Yeh, I think that is what I will do.

Posted 11/18/2007 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Peggy,

If I make it through the night, I will have gone 6 days without changing! Wish me luck. It looks good. I think I can push it until tomorrow and NO itches yet! I am amazed! Your little invention is Da' Bomb!
Posted 11/18/2007 5:22 AM (GMT 0)

Amey,

That is EXCELLENT!!!!  Congrats!   What ended up being the process for you?  How much Eakin do you end up using?  Do you use any stomahesive paste with it?

I ended up changing mine the morning of surgery, only after changing it 2 days before that cuz I got the "itchies".  I sure hope it lasts for 6 or 7 days this time.  I know I won't be able to change it before that === no way!

Posted 11/18/2007 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Amey,
I am so happy for you!! yeah
Posted 11/18/2007 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Peggy and Cecilia,

The only thing I did differently this time was I used the entire Eakin. I put the seal behind my wafer and smooshed it into the wafer and then rolled some of the Eakin into the front of the wafer. Then I added some paste for some extra support.

I had to change this morning. I felt the itches come on about 3am and I knew my Eakin had been compermised.

Thanks for ALL of your input and help!
Posted 11/21/2007 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
i may sound dumb to all off you, but i change my bag every second day sometimes every day! i also don't know what a wafer is, i am from the uk is it maybe we call it something different, like flange, the sticky bit! i use SALTS appliances and they are drainable. please help me? i'm curious! P.S. when i get itchy around my stoma it usually means there is leakage for me.
Posted 11/22/2007 12:26 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Gillcom!

the sticky part that affixes to your abdomen is what we call the wafer.  It can have a sticky tape-like material surrounding the wafer also.  And I've also heard it referred to as a flange.  The bag attaches to this wafer.  Some folks use 1 piece units, and some use 2 pc units.  Some are drainable, some have closed ends.  There are a bunch of different types available.   Its a personal preference, kinda of like going shopping for shoes: sneakers, pumps, sandals, boots!  Choices, choices!!!

Unless you have a skin condition of some sort, I would think you should be getting more than just 2 days wear time out of your appliance.   I am currently up to about 6 days, and I have a very active ileostomy.  Some folks never achieve that length of time, but here are some things to consider: 

  • If you cut the opening of the wafer for the stoma, the first question I would have to ask - are you sure you are making that opening snug enough to the stoma so you don't get the "itchies" within a the first couple of days? 
  • Do you have some scar tissue or uneven skin under the wafer that would keep the wafer from having a good seal?  If you are having issues with your seal and length of wear time, their are products out that can extend your  time between changes.  It is all a matter of trial and error, believe me. 

After 23 years, my body changed this summer and I had wear time issues as you might have read on this board.  My wear time went from about 5 days down to 2-3 days.  Through trial and error and adding new products, I am back up to about 6 days.  I have added a product called Eakin Seals.  These are circular disks made out of the same product as the sticky part of the wafer that you can add to the wafer/skin to build up the area around the stoma so that the wafer won't break down so quickly.  This 1 item has made a huge difference for me and also for Amey that posts on this board too.

And you are absolutely right:  "itchies" do mean leaks!!!   I hate it when I get those "itchies"  --- always at the most inopportune (sp?) times too.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask away!!!

Posted 11/22/2007 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Although we may call things by different terms here in the United States, it seems that the "itches" is a universal term :o)

Amey
Posted 11/22/2007 9:55 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to both of you. I will try and cut the whole so that it has a more snug fit. LOL!! Itches are itches all over the world!! I use the one piece bags. I will catch you later x
Posted 11/23/2007 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
I made it!!!  Tomorrow will be 1 week since my shoulder surgery, and 1 week since I changed my appliance.  I have those nagging "itchies" right now, but they are just going to have to wait until morning!  I'm much too lazy to even think about changing it tonight.  I'm certain that changing in the morning is gonna be painful on my shoulder, but I had my stitches removed Tuesday, and the go ahead to move my shoulder/arm in any position.  Just DON'T lift or do a lot of repetitive movement with it for several weeks was the docs orders.

So, here's my plan.  I'll get up, take a pain pill and wait for it to kick in before attempting to change my bag!!  Heck, I can't hardly use my right arm to pull up my pants so you know I'm gonna struggle with this change.  Should be interesting, huh?  tongue    And, DH will be at work, so no option even for requesting his assistance.  Yeh---  makes me a little nervous thinking about it!

Hope everyone's "wear times" cooperated with your holiday plans.

 

Posted 11/23/2007 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
Peggy, How did you do? I hope your were able to change you wafer without much discomfort. I can only imagine how akward and painful this process might be for you.

I got 5.5 days out of my last wafer...(I just changed last night). I probably could have pushed it another day because I was not itchy at all! However, I knew I would be out-and-about all day today and I did not want to have a problem while running around. Thank you for helping me achieve my goal!!
Posted 11/23/2007 10:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Amey,

I am so happy to hear you have been successful in keeping your wear times up around the 6 day mark!!  Good for you!!

I should have changed mine last night but just didn't want to deal with it.  So I did it first thing this morning.  And, YES, it was quite painful.  Just the motion of pushing against my abdomen sent pains throughout my shoulder.  Took me several hours to get the pain to settle down:  ice packs, heat, and pain pills.  I sure hope this change lasts another 7 days until things shape up with my shoulder a bit more. 

Some of the swelling has finally gone down, but I am black and blue and green  from the top of my shoulder almost down to my elbow.  So don't let those 3 little poke holes they use for laporoscopic surgery fool ya.  They can do a lot of work with instruments in those 3 little holes!

Cooking Thanksgiving meal was interesting to say the least!!  My hubby did do the turkey and mashed potatoes and helped with most of the clean up.  I'm off the hook for a few days with cooking since we have so many leftovers. 

How did everyone else's Turkey Day go?  I ate too much  but it was good.

Posted Yesterday 4:55 PM (GMT 0)

Today was day #8 and still no "itchies"!!!   I think I will buy stock in Eakin Seals and convex inserts!!!  I went ahead and changed today anyway... very, very little breakdown on the wafer for me...  I cannot be happier. 

For those of you out there who experience a lot of breakdown around the stoma opening of the wafer, you really need to give these Eakin Seals a try if you haven't already.  They are made of a material very similar to the wafer that you can actually apply to your skin and then affix the wafer to that, or apply to the wafer and then put it right on your abdomen as usual.   Can you tell that I am a believer?

Just wanted to let you know how I am doing.  Changing the whole bag ordeal is still creating some pain in my "new" shoulder.  BTW, I did get a copy of my post-op report, and there was a small tear in my rotator cuff as well as the bone spur and AC joint degenerative joint disease (arthritis, I assume!).  2 weeks post surgery yesterday!!! 

Posted Today 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
OUCH Peggy...that sounds painful. How was the change today? Last week was really painful for you. Was this change any better? I am so amazed that you got 8 days out of your wafer. That is a long way from the 3 days you and I were getting a couple months ago. Like you, I think we should buy stock in Eakin seals! These things are awesome!
Posted Today 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Today's change wasn't too bad - my shoulder was hurting when I woke up and since that is the best time for me to change things, I do it right out of bed.  So, by the time I was done, I headed directly to the ice for my shoulder.   It will get better each week.   It is still taking me about 30 minutes from very beginning to end to get stuff ready, change everything and clean up.  One arm sucks!!  Usually, I'm a 15 min or less person, so all this extra time is a pain in the wahoo!!!  Other than that, I love the 8 days this time!! 

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