Ok ya'll I've been reading alot on here, and it appears I'm the only one that showers with their wafer on. If not disregard the previous statement....LOL Now on to the question. When I shower I tape up around the wafer/barrier etc. with a plastic bag, so it doesn't get wet. I have a problem with the wafer sticking to my skin as it is and don't want any "suprises" afterwards. I have a tremendous fear of leakage and was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to do this better or must I continue to cover everything up? ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance,

Chris

Hi Chris,

I only shower "au naturel" when I change my wafer which is every 4-5 days. The rest of the time I leave my bag on to shower. I don't do anything to protect the wafer. Sometimes it looks like it might start lifting at the corners but as soon as it dries it sticks back down again. Some people like to blow dry their wafers and this might help to stick the wafer back if you are worried but I just towel dry, get dressed and am ready to go.

What type of system are you using? You might want to look into getting a durahesive rather than stomahesive wafer (if you don't already use them) as they are better suited to the high acidic output of the ileostomy.

I use Convatec's moldable convex wafers and find that they stick so well that if I need to do a change early (for a drs exam for instance) that I have a heck of a job freeing it from my skin.

Might be worth trying a few more types of wafer to see if you can find one that you feel more secure with. You can get free samples from most of the major manufacturers. Just go to their websites.

Good luck.

Shell

Thanks Shell, that's what I have ordered, is the ConveTec Surefit Moldable Durahesive Barrier. Hoping it has better adhesion properties for those of us with a more than a 6 pack for abs...LOL I've used the Eakin (sp.??) seal and I was impressed with it. It's just this shower thing that I've got to get over. It takes me longer to prep than it actually takes to shower....
My wife tells me not to worry about it if it comes off we'll (i.e. she'll) just put another one on. I guess I'm just overly concerned with leaking afterwards or worse.

I showered with the bag still on. Didn't do anything special around the wafer. At the end of the shower, I'd detach the bag and rinse off the stoma--maybe 30 seconds or so of contact with the water. Then I'd pop a new bag back on before I even got to shutting off the shower or drying off.

I didn't have leak problems to begin with, but I got 7-8 days out of each wafer, so I can't think that this really causes problems. Towards the end of that 7-8 days, the tape would start to peel up around the edges a bit, but I never had a leak and never even saw the beginnings of one on the backs of the wafers when I removed them.

I did not ever get adventurous to take a full-immersion bath on a day when I wasn't going to change the wafer (in fact, that was how I managed to pry them off). But I know some people around here have done it, seemingly without problems.

Good luck and hang in there! You might feel better about the whole thing if you learned to do the changes yourself, assuming that you are able-bodied for that purpose.

I know it would be better if I could change it myself I just have sort of a mental thing with doing it. Still not completely comfortable with it. Besides with 2 kids it's kinda the only time my wife and I can talk without being interrupted with , Mommy she/he did....., Daaaad can you....., LOL We kinda like the time alone as sick as that sounds, it's a bonding moment...LOL

My 4 year old son uses the hollister new image extended wear for ileostomies with taped edges. He pretty much just has watery output. Oh and we do use the adult or full size system. The big bags get us a full nights sleep! He takes a bath, swims, showers etc... with no other prepping. we use the velcro closure and i do tape it shut when we go in the pool just in case. In fact since getting his G-tube (to eat) in his belly I don't really let him take a bath without his bag on. I know it's kind of gross but i use to let him sit in the water without his appliance and when he was done i would shower him down. Seemed to keep his skin extra healthy. Why don't you just try it when you don't have any where to be and see.....

PS-- you have a good wife, don't forget to tell her!

Chris...when I had my ostomy, I used glad wrap, press and seal.(the stuff you use in the kitchen!!) I would empty, roll the bag up and stick a large piece of press and seal around my stoma/abdomen area. It worked perfect, the bag stayed dry as did the wafer. A great tip I found on the ostomy website!

nys

"you have a good wife, don't forget to tell her!" I have an ANGEL for a wife, she's my queen and I try to let her know in every way
I have tried to use the Hy-Tape and it holds great to the wafer!! However not so good to my skin. Will try using 2 strips overlapping about 1/2 way and see if that helps.

NYS---Never thought about that idea that's pretty cool will have to try that and see how it works.
I think I have funky skin that doesn't like stuff sticking to it. If all else fails I'll just do it and deal with (if any) consequences, or resort to the redneck way and use good old faithful duck tape, it comes in colors now...LOL

I appreciate the advice from ya'll this is the best forum ever, my wife asks every evening for any updates from it, what did I read, did I learn anything new, etc. etc..

Chris I know what you mean about having mental blocks, i did for a short while but fourtunately I managed to get over it, dignity is a precious thing but we all have different levels and what we considered an indignity yesterday we have to shrug off tomorrow.
your frankly going to have to get used to having the bag eventually, the way i look at it is that without it i would be dead.

what i do is have one ready and made up. remove everything and enter the shower with a cleaning cloth.

your skin will thank you for giving it a good wash and will remain healthier.

plus its not a good idea to keep the same flange/wafer on for a prolonged period without changing it, because what happens is the collogen collar starts to melt below the plastic barrier and expose the skin to the alkaline output from your stoma which will burn your skin.

another tip, always travel with an empty plastic bottle if you are using a drainable pouch, why?

i tried the so called recommended methods of draining, you can keep that

no go to a regular bathroom fill the bottle wit cold water, go to the bowl, while standing in front of the loo, take the tail and raise it above the pouch.

undo it and open it pointing up, hold it open in position then take the bottle and pour water into the bag, put the bottle down, roll the bag closed, now give it a good slosh around, now lower your self over the bowl to prevent splashing and let is go, do this twice and dry off with tissue.

easy and cleaner

Mr. Annoyed, I agree about the mental thing still working on that. It's not so much I have a problem with the stoma or the situation, just think I would have a hard time getting centered around the stoma.

I have done the wash out thing at least once a day. More if my discharge has been thicker. I think it also gets rid of the residual buildup and makes the bag feel lighter. The first time my wife saw me doing it I was humming and she asked what in the world I was doing.....LOL. It also gives you a nice clean lip when putting the clip back on.

I'm also a swisher and always keep a small plastic bottle in my handbag for this purpose. My output is nearly always too thick to just pour out but just like mr annoyed I feel much cleaner and lighter if I've swished twice before drying the tail and closing the bag. I would no more empty my bag without swishing than I would not wash my hands after going to the toilet. It's just all part of my toilet routine. But then as Barbie Butts go I am still a bit anal.

Shell

With my temp. ostomies I taped on a plastic sheet to cover them ever shower. I never thought to get them wet. Now with my perm. ostomy I have been showering without covering the bag and I have found that the hollister new image product dries real quick with just (as someone suggested...maybe JillM?)paper towels. So I roll the bag up in a paper towel and blot the wafer. I get at least 4 days wear and sometimes as much as six.

I always shower with my wafer/bag on. To minimize it getting wet I use a small ziplock bag and put my bag down into it. Then I get one of my hair clips (a big one) and clip it around the whole contraption. I know that sounds crazy but it works for me. After I shower, there is a little wetness and I just blow dry it. My adhesive has never tried to come off of the wafer. I use Hollister New Image. I even used it at a water park and I was wet ALL DAY and it didn't try to come off. (I didn't have it clipped at the water park!)

I will have to try those ideas. I showered the other night without a cover on mine, and awoke to a "suprise" about 3:30 that morning. I thought I had dried it off enough. I may have been because the edges had pulled up to the ring again. I have ordered several different samples from companies and will see how they work. I am currently wearing the coloplast. I cleaned this time with just Ivory soap and used the skin prep. so far it's working good no peeling up around the edges.
I usually get 5-7 days out of a change, so we will see how it goes. So far soo good. Taking a shower uncovered tomorrow,(staying close to home) and hoping for a good out come. Will let ya'll know... I cannot thank ya'll enough for all of the input and advice. This is a great place to get the best advice!!!!

Hi

I shower twice a day-in the morning after a workout and at night .
Change day is easy of course and a soothing relief.

In between I use a showergard (search google) that is like a plastic curtain/apron that fits around your waist shielding the pouch/wafer/etc from moisture.
I use a 'telephone' shower head on a 5 ft line to clean everywhere else and with the 6 settings, still get the shower massage I loved on my back.

Good luck
eric