does anyone habe this problem

I don't know if this is normal or not. My flange turns white around the stoma about half way through the day and than lifts up I don't use paste or ring cause they both break me out. I have to change everything everyday. I found a new pouch thanks to all of you and your suggestions. I'm using the coloplast 2 piece flex it has the tape on it that doesnt touch the skin I hope everyone knows what I'm talking about. Anyways this one does the same thing turns white around the stoma I don't have a whole lot of output but when I do it leaks. Any one have this problem. Thank god I get 40 pouches every month cause I change it daily. Any advice. Thanks hockeymom

103 replies   

Oops have*

wow... that's a lot of changing!!! Sorry this is happening to you!! Are you making sure that the skin is dry before applying you appliance? Is your opening too large and allowing stool to settle in around the stoma and underneath the seal?

My Eakin seal does change a little bit to a lighter color..but it's still doing it's job..

Praying that you will find an answer to this, so your skin has some relief!

Hi mare5785, yes its dry I had to stop using the powder cause than the appliance doesn't stick at all. How do you use the paste and what does it actually do I might not have done it right and the eakin seal what is that I think I used that once if its from coloplast. Is it a ring? If so I did use it and it took me days to get the adhesive off my skin. This journey is going to be the death of me lol. If I had a nurse still I could get some help but I don't so I have to learn on my own and with tons of help from you guys thanks hockeymom

Do you use the barrier wipes before putting on the flange? Do you use the moldable flange or do you cut it yourself?

Hockeymom,
Hello. I have been there/done that. I attached the wafer using the barrier seal, tried stoma powder and now am using the paste which I have found to be the best.
Let me share my routine and hopefully you will find some solution.
CHANGING THE ENTIRE APPLIANCE:
Changing when I have had a leak:
*I just peal off the old one. If I am changing just a few days after applying it I will have an "adhesive" problem. I was told by the wound nurse to make sure I do not use anything but warm water and Ivory soap, nothing that will leave a film. I must say that doing it this way my skin gets sensitive and I have to really work on removing the adhesive.
*If I change after having the appliance on for a week or so I find that just about all the adhesive comes off and what little is there comes off with minimal work.
*I wipe the area with warm water,cleaning the area.
*I use ConvaTec 2 piece. I warm the tube of paste and put a ring around the new stoma opening.
*I press the wafer to seal with the paste, then put the pouch on as usual. This is when I will wear the hernia band for the first day.
I sure hope that this helps at least a little bite.

Hi Hockeymom,

Glad you brought this up. I have the same exact problem and have tried so many things. The powder, the Eakin seal, paste, different wafers, try to get the skin as dry as possible, but no matter what I do the ring just turns whiter and creeps up thru the ring to where you can hardly see the stoma. So I end up changing about every two days. When spoke with the Ostomy nurse he said that this is due to moisture. But I have come to learn that as long as it doesn't leak I am ok and just might be over thinking it.

If you find something please let me know.

Thanks

JRo

My WOCN always told me to not fight to get the left over adhesive off the skin.. to leave it there and continue with the new change. I do not use any barrier wipes at all either. As long as the stool/liquid is cleaned off and the area is dry.. a little bit of adhesive left, is ok.

why can you not still see the WOCN? It would be great if she could watch you change your pouch yourself.. That is what my WOCN did . She would have me remove the pouch during the visit and put a new one on.

Good luck with find the "right solution" for you!!

Prayers..
Mare

Mare I haven't had a nurse since three weeks after my surgery. She watched me change the pouch and said I did great and said I didn't need her anymore. But trust me I would live to have a nurse right now. JRo I will let you know if I do figure something out. Chris yes I use the barrier and I have to use the cut out mine still is shrinking. Kristin 66 thank you I will try that. Hockeymom

If you are still having issues with your appliance.. that is good enough reason to give her a call for an appointment... It should be YOU who decides if you need her anymore or not.. Besides.. most WOCN have supplies that they can give you to try different pouching systems and all that goes with it.
If she is available to see.. don't struggle on your own.. Give her a call, let her know what's going on.

Prayers..
Mare

i always used hollister and it works good i also tried using coloplast but i didnt like it because it started leaking so i went back to hollister that leaks sometimes but its just a matter of getting the waffer cut to the right size than it wont leak or when it leaks it probably means it shrunk. do you ever have a problem where the size keeps going up and down

Holly have you tried the hairdryer to dry your skin? That helps alot. After you use the stoma powder did you go over it with the barrier wipe that way no powder is left on the skin and the appliance should stick. It is all trial and error till you find what works for you. I can call my Wocn and make an appt any Monday or Wednesday. Have you found one in your area? Dont you have several appt this week maybe one of those Dr. can steer you in the right direction or get a WOCN appt for you.

I hate to sound stupid but it is pretty easy for me, but what does WOCN stand for?

Hockeymom, if I ask just once to my doctor to see the Ostomy nurse I can see him with a snap of the finger. The Ostomy Nurse also gave me his phone # with any questions or if I need to see him, and he will never give up until you find what works for you, so I am a bit confused as to why they are giving you so much grief on wanting to see the Ostomy nurse. Keep pushing and don't give up. You deserve the very best and should not expect anything less and they should not want anything but the best for you as well. They are caretakers an if they are good they would not give up until you are comfortable. We have to wear these 24/7 and need to feel good about it and not a burden.

So never feel bad about pushing them on finding what you need to make life comfortable.

Do you hear the words that are coming out of my mouth!; - ) Don't think you have heard the last of me if don't see a post from you saying that things are going great.

Love
Janet

msfightsforherlife yes my size does go up and down. I think your right on that and I have two bumps from the surgery on the side of my stoma so I have to cut that a little bigger so the appliance isn't on them bumps it will hurt if it is.

Tjane I will try the hair dryer. I go see my surgeon tomorrow so she can like at the stoma to make sure I don't have a prolapse. but she never looks at the stoma when I go see her. So she better tomorrow. There is WOCN nurses but they won't see me without a referral so that's another thing i'm bring up tomorrow. I will let you know what she says. I just hope she doesn't make me mad like she normally does. I normally leave her office crying cause she just doesn't listen to me or my husband. Hockeymom

Janet WOCN means (wound ostomy care nurse) at least that's what I was told lol

ohhh... You should not be leaving your Doctors office crying!!! Make sure she hears you.. and all your concerns. Tell her of your problems.... If you need a referral.. she can give it to you. My WOCN was in the same office as the surgeon.. Maybe you will be able to see them tomorrow aslo.. That would be great!!
Can you ask your husband to be an advocate as well? If you are too emotional to stand your ground, have your husband help and talk to the Dr.
You are paying HER for her expertise and service... Make sure you get your $'s worth and that she takes the time to hear your concerns.
Good luck!! I'm there with you in spirit tomorrow!!

Hi Hockeymom,

Now I am getting upset. You end up crying after you leave your Dr.? It should be the opposite. I start crying at the beginning and am done at the end. I think you need to lay it out all on the line with your Dr. tomorrow. Say everything that you are feeling,what you need, and demand it. I have never heard of such a thing needing a referral to see the Ostomy nurse and I think that is just rediculous unless I am just lucky but has anyone else had to do this to see your Ostomy nurse. Like I said I have a direct # to the Ostomy nurse and I want the same to you. Actually if I need to see the Nurse they just have him come in the same day I am seeing the Dr. I am sorry if I seem a bit out there, could be because of a bad night, or it could be because I am tired of seeing my Ostomy mates pushed aside to the curb when going thru issues such as this. You are to important to let this happen. So tomorrow I need you to go in there, flick the Dr. in the ear ; ) and say "Listen, I have these problems, I am not making this up,. I need your full attention, I nee resolutions, and I need to see the Ostomy nurse. If the same thing happens I beleive maybe you might want to think about a new surgeon.

Does anyone think I am being to dramatic, is it just me?

There are things out there to help you Hockeymom so I want to make sure that you get those things.

Sorry if I seem direct, but I want to see you and the rest of my friends on this site happy and satisfied.

Please let us know how it goes.

Love Janet

ps: Bring them a cookie if need be.

hockeymom - I was using Hollister and paste, and while I was moving from one condo to another, had to change 9 times in a week! Looked in the phone book for a wound care facility, made sure they had a WCON on staff. After 3 visits with two great young women, I had been changed to a Convatec convex 2-piece system, with an Eakin ring, and special powder to clear up some weepy sores I had developed. First thing they did was determine that the pre-cut barrier I was using was just 1/8" too large and that allowed leaking underneath it, with the inevitable breakthrough. The sores cleared up completely in 2 weeks, and I now change every 3 days - sometimes 4 - with just a skin prep wipe and an Eakin ring. The Eakin is stretched to fit and snugged up around my stoma before attaching the barrier. I also "picture frame" the outside edges of the barrier to assure that it stays firm. I don't use a hair dryer, but lie quietly for 20 minutes with my hand over everything after I attach the pouch. This warms everything and helps it to get a good seal. This works so well I only had to change twice during a 2700 mile auto trip week before last. I was advised not to use paste, as it deteriorates very quickly, as opposed to the Eakin ring. I very seldom find even a slight discoloration on the ring when I change.

Hugs from Marge

I've been doing this for a few years now and have always used the ConvaTec Active Life one piece pouches. I get cut to fit because my stoma is weirdly shaped. I used to use a prepackaged wipe to clean the area but ran out and the insurance wouldn't provide them for some reason. I bought a bottle of alcohol which is basically the same thing. After a shower, during which I make sure all the old adhesive is gone, I wipe with the alcohol, cut the pouch, wipe with skin prep and apply. I press down on the inside edges around the stoma for a few seconds, apply the outer tape and put my hand over the thing to warm it up. Good to go. I change the pouch once a week and sometimes could go longer but don't like to. I had a problem between the alcohol wipes and buying the alcohol with leakage but since I started wiping with alcohol I seldom do. There is no adverse reaction so far on my skin. It's a pain in the whatever to have to always worry about leakage but I don't really now. The secret is getting it really clean around the stoma. Good luck!!

Marge the ring your talking about is it Eakin Cohesive? Hockeymom

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