Irrigation and wafer change

Marisabel
  • By Marisabel · August 24, 2012 at 7:22 am · 27 replies
  • In Irrigation
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I seem to need to change wafers every other day since I started irrigating on a daily basis. How often do you fellow irrigators change yours?

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27 replies   

Bergy

I would estimate a change of wafer for me every two weeks. I've been irrigating for 16 years.

Marjorie-Ann

Do you have a colostomy???

Idahoeagle

I have a colostomy and I irrigate everyday. I change mine about every week. I've almost got two weeks but not there yet.
Don't know if I ever will.
What's normal for one is not necessarily normal for everyone, so I wouldn't base my progress on someone else. In time you will work it out.
Be gentle with yourself and your progress.

Michael

Bergy
  • By Bergy
  • Reply 3317419 · In reply to 3317236 by Bergy
  • August 24, 2012 at 10:10 am
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Marjorie Ann,

Yes, I have a colostomy as a result of 3rd stage colorectal cancer, diagnosed in 1996 at age 46.
I'm fine.

Bergy in Colorado

papag

Good morning!! I change mine every 4th day. I stopped using the ostomy glue/paste as it irritated the skin around the stoma. I now clean the area(remove all adhesive/hair or anything else) around the stoma before showering. Then I use the non sting protective barrier wipes all over where the wafer sticks. Then I put the pectin powder around the stoma about 1/4 inch out not any further then I dry it with a hairdryer in warm mode not hot as hot brings oil to the surface and the wafer won't stick. I then repeat the non sting part just where the powder is and make like a paste and shell and dry it again. This builds up a barrier and works great. I also use pam (cooking oil pam) and spray it on the inside of the bag , but not where it comes in contact with the skin, this makes all flow out easy and cleanup is easy. I use the Convatec 2 piece appliance. I called Edgepark and the nurse there suggested I use the 2 piece. I use the drainable type and a Sure fit pre cut wafer it has a convex base and molds to my skin. This was thanks to the great nurses at Edgepark they are very helpful and will send you samples to try until you fid the one you like. Thanks all !! I hope this helps with some os ya'lls problems..papa in Florida

Marjorie-Ann

I wish I knew more about irrigation. The surgeon I saw wasn't convinced about it, but it sounds like a great way to avoid having feces in the bag all of the time. I change every 4-5 days depending on the acidity and the output. I use Colaplast closed two piece. I do find a lot of help from Edgepark.

Jofa (Inactive)
  • By Jofa (Inactive)
  • Reply 3317540
  • August 24, 2012 at 10:50 am
  • Report post

Marjorie, when I had my colostomy surgery in 1995, my surgeon strongly suggested irrigation. I tried it for a couple weeks but it took me about 45 minutes every morning and I just didn't have that kind of time so I gave up on it. I still have the apparatus but have not used it. I try to empty my pouch and rinse it out several times a day. It all depends on what I have eaten the day before. Sometimes I need empty it only three times - other days, six or seven times. I do not like to work, walk, sit, lounge, or sleep with feces in the pouch. This has become routine for me and I have no problems whatsoever. I am glad I have the colostomy because before I had the surgery, I had absolutely no control of bowels, due to radiation following the colon cancer surgery. I use Convatec two-piece appliance and no paste or powder or rings or whatever else so many have made reference to. I change the wafer and pouch once a week and it takes me less than 15 minutes. I wish everyone could be as lucky as I am.

Kristin66

Hi everyone,
I have an iliostomy and finally after several years of having the iliostomy and then having it reversed I have gotten my wafer to last a week (I thought I heard that it shouldn't go longer than that). You are discussing irrigation, could you please tell me what is meant. I use to irrigate but found that when the water got over the stoma it would break down the wafer seal and I would have a major leak.
thanks

Jofa (Inactive)
  • By Jofa (Inactive)
  • Reply 3317756
  • August 24, 2012 at 12:10 pm
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I can't answer your question, Kristin, because it has been so very long since I irrigated and I did it only for a week or two and gave up. But I had no problems. It was just inconvenient and time-consuming in the a.m. and I couldn't afford that 45-minute procedure.

Bergy

I agree that you must devote about an hour to irrigating but, you aren't sitting on the toilet that long. Maybe 5 minutes. The rest of the time you can do whatever until you hear that last expulsion and know that your irrigation has been successful!

Marjorie-Ann

Thanks for all of this information which is interesting and helpful!

Marjorie-Ann

Glad to hear you are great!!!You make my day! Bravo!

Marjorie-Ann

Dear Jofa, Thanks for your detailed reply. I tried all of the pastes and powders, and nothing seemed to be right for me either. I use the concave (I think) skin barrier. I use the closed bag ( Colaplast, because you can get it in Italy). I am still learning about everything because it has been 6 months since I had my surgery. I am so happy to have found this site as it is so helpful.

Shotput

I do mine in the evening. Works out better for my schedule...

MarkNelson

I am still up in the air on irrigation. My surgeon told me about it. My stoma nurses always warn me that if I start and then want to stop my body might not pass stool on it's own anymore. So I get a little nervous to try.

I still teach high school so the bag gets to be a challenge sometimes during the day. Hard to change it at school so I'm careful of what and when I eat.

When I had my last colonoscopy, I used a sample bag for irrigation. It worked well but I didn't enjoy it very much. I'm sure I would get used to it.

If you irrigate, how often are you irrigating. Every day or every other day?

I still think of irrigation. I always thought morning would work best but lately I have thought maybe evening would work. When is the best time for everyone?

Shotput

I wrote this a while back in another irrigation discussion. Here is a link to the entire conversation if you want it?

https://www.inspire.com/groups/ostomy/discussion/irrigation-1/

This is my routine...

I irrigate in the evenings around 6-8 pm.
Just a few tips that work for me...

- I have installed a couple inconspicuous hooks in my bathroom to hang the irrigation bag.
- I installed a sink sprayer by the toilet to rinse out the bag, keeps everything clean.
- My system is to keep the IV bag in a Ziploc and the irrigation sleeve in another. When it is time to discard my sleeve, I use the Ziploc from my IV bag for the new irrigation sleeve and use a new bag for my IV bag. I also have a marker I put an X on the sleeve Ziploc bag so I don't mix them up. This keeps my IV bag clean.
- Just me, but before I put a flange on, I take my scissors and cut a small "V" notch at the bottom so if the cone happens to enter the stoma enough to seal against the flange, it will not blow out the side. Since I have started doing that, I have not had it happen in over a year.
- Once I was sure that my stoma was not going to leak at night, my cycle is something like this...
New flange day one. I try not to put a new flange and bag at same time.
Usually my bag will last for a week or so, the reason I change mine is moisture from the stoma. If I feel the filter is not as effective or the bag feels like it is well "broken in"...
Day 3 I irrigate, then about an hour after I know I am done (usually the last thing to come out will be mucus looking), I will remove the flange. Wash the area good with anti-bacterial soap and put a little Neosporin on the skin that is irritated. The take 2X2 gauze square and put 4 pieces of tape on the sides and cover the stoma. This allows the skin to heal. I also pre-cut the "V" notch in my flange for the next day.
Take my shower in the morning. Last thing before leaving the bathroom is put my new flange on and start all over.... I will note that I have been using the adhesive tac wipe before installing the flange lately and they do improve adhesion.

Hope that helps.
Good luck

MarkNelson

Thanks.

I went back and read all the discussions. I'm still nervous about trying it but have a stool in my bag all day long is a nuisance.

Can I do this on my own or should I be by a nurse when I first try it?

If I start irrigating at night can I switch to early morning irrigation?

I think I read you irrigate every day. Have you ever tried to irrigate every other day?

Thanks,

Mark

Su-Z
  • By Su-Z
  • Reply 3322413 · In reply to 3322101 by MarkNelson
  • August 26, 2012 at 10:30 am
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Mark,

Not so on the output stopping! I irrigated for 9 years and had to stop due to resection I had in 2010, and believe me, there is output!! You eat, it goes out!! I find that the consistency depends on what I eat and anything with skins (peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc) will make the output much more pastey or liquid, even today. I haven't started up again because my surgeon/oncologist (she specializes in colon surgery and colon cancer) just wanted me to hold off for at least 2 - 3 years after the surgery date. It was much better when I was irrigating. Gave me more control of output. My Ostomy Nurse and Radialogist (great doctor) both had close friends who had colostomies and did irrigate. In fact, Dr Jeff is the reason I started to irrigate in the first place. Our bathroom is large enough for a comfortable rattan chair and I sat here when I irrigated, facing the toilet and would catch up on reading. Quiet time! Probably 20 to 30 minutes. Well worth the time. Just waiting til February to get it going again!

Su-Z

Shotput

Each person is different. In my humble opinion, what irrigation steps you are shown by a nurse or doctor are merely guidelines and you should understand that you can adapt it to your body and schedule. Read the forums for every ones tips and tricks, understand what is happening when you irrigate, and this will make it all make sense as far as what different foods and drinks effect you. It takes your body a while to get used to what you are doing. It was a good 9 months before I felt like I was starting to get the hang of it at a real confident level. That said, From about the second week I was glad I started irrigating. I can do what I want and barely remember I have the bag most times. I even do hand to hand combat classes with no issues. Taco Bell is the only thing that scares me these days… Good luck…

Shotput

On the original question, I change my flange every 4th day, my irrigation sleeve every 14 days, and my Irrigation water bag every 6-8 months.

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