Hello! I am new to this board, I am 27 years old, and helping my little brother who is 22 recover from a terrible car accident. He's using Convatec Natura Durahesive wafers and a drainable pouch...and we're having problems with at the 3 day mark, his wafer REALLY breaks down and starts to leak. We are using the paste for around his stoma...but I am interested in these Eakin seals...but not sure how you put them on and how they work.
Right now his skin around the stoma is getting really red and irritated...bleeding a bit, so I started using powder, then a 3m barrier, then the adhesive and then the wafer...
Do I put the Eakin seal under the entire wafer...or do I just do a half inch or so surrounding the stoma...do I seal that down with adhesive then put adhesive on top of that for the wafer? UGH! I just want to be done with that paste for him!
Thanks for any info...
Claire

(Brother Aric had trauma surgery from car accident...currently has broken back, neck, arm, jaw, nose, and had colectomy, spleene removed, and appendix as well) Surgery date was 7/4/2007

Hi Claire,

I'm so sorry to hear about your brother.

With some systems 3 days is the normal wear time so I think your brother is doing ok with the Natura system but there are lots of different products he can try.

I don't get along with the eakin seals myself but Convatec also do a moldable version of wafer which is much more secure and really does mold to every contour. Here's a link to their site:

http://www.convatec.com/convatec/jsp/CVTUSCStaticConten...76&audience=Consumer

They will send you free samples to try out.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Shell

Claire,

I agree with Shell, I needed to change my wafer every 3 days too, to make certain the seal was good and I had no leaks. Some can go longer...I think it just depends on body shape, technique, etc. You may want to PM JasonPa -- he has a great system down pat for his ostomy. I know he outlined it in an earlier post, which I cannot remember the title of. He'll be able to lead you to it.
Good luck!

Hi Claire,
First, I'm so sorry that your brother is suffering so much now and wow, how lucky he is to have a sister like you!

I did most of the changing of my daughter's ostomy, and Eakin seals were a Godsend. She too had skin problems, and to help the skin heal, we used a technique called "caking." First, make sure the skin is really clean and dry. Then spray on a skin barrier and while that is damp, sprinkle on the powder, dust off the excess with a tissue or gauze pad, and repeat. Then apply the Eakin seal cut within 1/4 " to the stoma and then apply the wafer/pouching system. I hope that you have a good ostomy nurse or can request one, because once we had good help in teaching us the caking technique, that really helped the skin issues. The real trick though is getting the stoma to stop long enough to get this all done You know the marshmallow trick? Eating a few marshmallows 1/2 hr before changing helps to slow things down considerably so that you can get through without leaks. Wishing you the best of luck, quick healing for your brother, and compassionate wonderful caregivers to surround you all.

Hi Claire,

I used a one-piece system. I applied the Eakin seal directly through the stoma and onto the skin (and then tried to work it in). I then applied the bag (one-piece) and pressed down for about a minute to ensure there was a good seal.

To make the Eakin seal easier to work with, try warming it with a hair dryer. Eakin seals also come in a slim size and they are even easier to apply (but might not last as long).

Wow Claire - Your brother is lucky to be alive and to have an awesome sister like you. When I first started with my ileostomy I had lots of skin problems and leaks. My doc prescribed "Luxiq" for my skin.

I use eakin seals 'cause my stoma is tiny and in-between sizes of the convatec moldable barriers I use. If I use the larger 7/8" to 1-1/2" precuts, then I use a half an eakin, make it into a nice little ring and make sure the skin is really really dry. I found that using gauze pads is really helpful to dry the skin, wipe off the stoma, clean the area, etc.

First I use the Luxig, then powder around the stoma, then a non-sting wipe (I believe JasonPa uses a spray - so its whatever works for you), put the eakin ring around the stoma, then put the barrier on. If you use your hand and put pressure around the stoma, it heats the adhesive and gives a better, more secure fit.

I like to change my system every 3-4 days to keep my skin in good shape.

Good luck with everything. Speedy recovery to your brother.

Cat

PS. Claire, I kept thinking about your brother last night and can't help but ask the question: What the heck happened that caused your brother such horrific injuries? Was he impaled by the steering wheel? I had 4 brothers, now only 3 and they were always getting hurt. I know how you must be feeling. The worst was their various motorcycle accidents. YIKES! Unfortunately my little brother Johnny just died unexpectedly in Jan '06 from something called IHSS. Its an enlarged heart condition which squeezes off all blood flow and causes instant death. He was 42 yrs old.

I'm sure your little bro' will pull through just fine - besides he's got an incredible sister my his side to help him.

Feel free to PM me with any questions. I'll do my best to answer. BUT the BEST THING YOU CAN DO is to keep coming to this site and posting questions. The folks here are amazing and wonderful and you'll learn so much. Maybe your brother might even decide to join in when he's feeling better.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cmkbirdlady,

Thanks everyone for replying! Well..Tuesday morning I got my express shipment of ilex cream in, and bought some convex wafers...and WOW!!!! What a difference! He is SO happy you guys all pm'd me and suggested this..it works like a charm! He doesn't have the almost instantaneous breakdown of the wafer like he did before...this definitely should last well into Friday so we'll reach our 3 day mark without leaks, burning, pain and itching. I am SO thankful to all of you. We haven't tried the eakin seals yet...but I have them on hand just in case we need to switch to plan b.
Again, thank you SO much...I also know the importance of the osotmy nurse at our local hospital...but in all truth...this almost seems better to me. I wonder if sometimes some of the nurses don't lean more towards one product than the offbeat ones...I asked numerous times, but my brother's ostomy nurse never suggested ilex or the convex wafers...so I definitely give you guys the credit.
Thanks SO much for your help...it relieves alot of my anxiety for him knowing you guys are all here to help!
Claire

Hi Claire,

I'm so glad that you have managed to find a system that is helping your brother. Hopefully things will continue to get better.

Take care and say hi to you brother from us.

Shell

I use the Convatec two piece and have had good luck with those, 5-7days before i change. Right now I do the caking thing for my skin and I use two Eakin seals the 2" size make it fit around stoma then I put a ring of paste right on the outside edge if the seals, then put the wafer down on top of that and press and hold.

I also use a belt. I am skinny so the wafer sits a little on my hip so I need the two and paste. Seems to work well right now. Good luck
Alan