Oh Amey - you have certainly asked the million dollar question! I cannot tell you how many times I have asked myself that very question -what has changed?? Here is what I have come up with:
I began drinking cranberry/black cherry juice mixed with water - went thru "withdrawals", but ruled this out!
The other thing that has changed is that we began building our house in July - stress has increased. Can't imagine that this would cause a problem. Yeh, I am doing some physical work there, but even when I took time off from the physical stuff, my wear time has not improved.
No new drugs - except just last week I began a new rx for Vit D. 2nd dose tonight. (sleepless night forthcoming like last Sat night?)
Here's my only other thought... maybe my stoma has changed when it is functioning --- never really noticed it before cuz I always have my bag on. And out of ignorance, never paid that much attention to it before. Could that be? But my only problem area is directly around the stoma, NOT the whole wafer. So, I'm thinking it has to be directly related to stoma function.... or the stool itself. With regards to hormones - I had a complete hysterectomy back in 1986 - HRT has been the same for several years. Some other "constants": same car/same seatbelt; same job/ same activities; same mattress/same sleeping surface; same sofa/same napping location!
Great ideas --- And I have tried to think about the problem same as you. But what am I missing? The only thing I can think of is that I am eating more; therefore, more stoma functioning and maybe it has changed when it functions just enough to cause these problems.
You are right. I was used to 5-7 with a wafer and a small band of stomahesive paste.. That's all. No inserts, no Eakin seals, no skin barrier, nothing else. That would be the root of my frustration. I have always been pretty lucky with respect to wear time..
So, Ames, what am I missing? How's your wafer doing? Are ya gonna make it thru your ride tomorrow- it is tomorrow, right? Did you try Benadryl?