I had my colon removed due to uc 4 years ago. They gave me an end ileostomy because I had other complications. Everything was great for the last four years with my ostomy. I went in two weeks ago for the second part of the surgery and now have a loop ostomy and everything is sooooo different. I need a convex wafer now and my skin folds funny right under my ostomy. I can't get a good seal and I'm changing my wafer every day. I'm lucky if it lasts 24 hours. I know its because of how my skin is bubbled right below the stoma. I'm currently using powder, paste and a hollister two piece convex system. My skin doesn't like eakin seals. They have never worked for me. I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions to help fill in the area below my stoma. Thanks!!!!

I think it's Coloplast that makes "strips" that you can tear off & mold to fit the shape you need. Maybe your skin can tolerate them better than an Eakin. If you have some leftover wafers you can't use (maybe some old non-convex ones) you can cut off some pieces to use to fill in low areas.

It might be a good idea to call the major appliance companies (Hollister, Convatec, Coloplast) & explain your problem. They can send you free samples to try.

Good luck finding a system that works for you!

Try Convatec natura durahesive moldable convex wafers. They mold into the nooks and crannies to give you a really good seal. Also, the durahesive material holds up better against the liquid output of the loop than stomahesive material. You order them in the size range of your stoma (mine is just under 7/8", so I use the 1/2-7/8 inch size). You don't have to worry about cutting or fitting a pre-cut size as your stoma shrinks. My belly is very soft, with wierd dents from scarring all over the place and these are the only wafers that I trust.

If you contact Convatec, they can send samples for you to try.

The loop is a pill. Hope you get yours figured out soon.

Thanks for your replies. I've got extra flat wafers and I'll contact Convatec. Thank goodness I only have three months of the loop, hopefully! It will be nice if I find something that works for the duration. Thanks again!!!

When I had my last loop I had similar problems and the Cleveland Clinic put me in a Marlen one piece bag. It's like a soup bowl--very convex. I didn't like the bag though. It lost it's shape too quickly.
Just one more suggestion.
KC

Ugh, I know how you feel!! My new ostomy points like STRAIGHT down towards my skin and it leaks every day! But I just talked to my ostomy nurse and she's having me go back to my convatec two piece system with a belt that I was using before. The belt was a life-saver with my old stoma..I don't know the exact name of it, but it's like at least 6 inches wide with a hole that fits right over the wafer. All I do is velcro that sucker REALLY tight, and it pops my stoma out! It's not exactly the most high-tech way to get things done, but that pressure is the only thing that seems to really prevent leaks! I hope you'll figure something out soon--and don't just suffer in silence thinking it's only a little while till the next surgery..just be persistent in going to an ostomy nurse and trying new ways to prevent all those issues! Best of luck!
-Emily

Oh, I forgot..at one point, they had me using duoderm to help heal the skin (that is if your skin is real raw from all the leaking!) Hope that helps!

Shilling,

I had the same problem, changing the wafer 5-6 times a day because my stoma is way below my abdominal surface and the outlet (guess that is what you call it - hole where it drains) points straight down and leaked right under the wafers. I tried Hollister and Coloplast Convex wafers but they weren't convexed enough either. I ended up with an abcess because it drained into my incision so I refused to leave the hospital til they figured something out because sometimes a new wafer didn't even last an hour and my skin was weeping from the constant changes. (Besides the fact I couldn't leave my house because I wasn't able to make it through a store without having to change wafers, wasn't worth the embarassment and hassle.)

I ended up getting Marlen Deep Convex one piece appliances. They come precut for the size you need for your stoma. I would have preferred a two piece system but they don't offer it. I used the eakin seals, but once my skin healed I could do without the seal and just use some paste to fill in the uneven areas, and I also spray the convex portion of the wafer with medical adhesive spray from Hollister just because it makes me feel more confident that there is extra adhesive on it, not that I really need it at this point, their adhesive is great, I'm just self conscious because of all the problems with the others leaking.

I'm not sure how big your stoma is, mine has actually shrunk and is tiny now but the wafers I am using are precut to 1 1/8". I'd be happy to send you one or two to try if you would like. I have plenty (my reconnection hopefully will be in March) and if its gonna be postponed than I'm going to have my ostomy nurse order me smaller ones. These Deep Convex appliances were a life saver for me, I was getting so depressed and frustrated. I only change my bag every 4 or 5 days now and my skin integrity is sooo much better, I could actually live with the ileo now if I had to!!

If you are interested in trying these email me at Rook3034@aol.com with your address and I'll send them right out. I know if you try to get samples from Marlen it takes 4-8 weeks to receive them cause I tried to get samples of some other products from them!! I also have a package of the Coloplast and Hollister "strips" someone else mentioned that you just take a piece off of to fill in uneven areas. I can send you those too, I didn't care for them, for me the preformed circular seals worked better for me.

Just let me know...

Becky

Becky, this is so random, but I have my "pouchogram", which I'm assuming is the thing where they squirt dye into the pouch, on the same day as you! We're like pouch buddies!!

Hey Bud LOL... My appt is at 10:30 in the am...don't want to spoil anything for you, but you realize the "dye" is barium and it gets to the pouch by like an enema right?!?! From one bud to another, I'm not real excited about this test other than it will tell me if I can be reconnected to my pouch!! If all is healed, my surgery will be the first or second week of March. Would be really funny if it was on the 10th like yours!!!

Best of luck..let me know how yours turns out and I wish you well!
Becky

Thank you all so much for your help! I just get so frustrated. I understood my last ostomy and I know it takes time to get the feel for a new one. I am still changing my wafer everyday, but on the bright side my skin is starting to look better. It's still raw and weepy but not as bad as it was. I think thats where a lot of my problems lay. I just need to get the skin healed up. Last night was the first night that my wafer would have lasted over 24 hours and not do damage to my skin. I'm feeling much better about that, but I still have to make changes. Thanks again for everything!

Congrats on making it for 24 hours. I know the first time I wasn't changing mine every few hours was wonderful!! Hope things continue to improve for you!

Becky

Becky,

I just got a box of Marlen deep convex. I hope they work for me too! They feel so different from the Hollister brand. Lets cross our fingers they do the trick.

I hope they do the trick for you too!! Wow you got them quick!! I still wear the belt with them to keep them really snug but I don't have to use paste or anything else anymore. I do spray them with medical adhesive spray just for some extra assurance (so many leaks made me nervous). Let me know how it goes, I know the first time the bag lasted for more than 24hrs I was so excited.
Becky