My temp ileostomy is three weeks old. Over the weekend, I had some problems with leaking. It appeared to be largely mucous. The ET nurse switched me to a convex flange. She said the mouth of the distal end of the ileum is just below the skin, and a convex flange is needed to push it above skin level. My first question is ... is this normal? And is a convex flange the normal way to deal with it? The ET nurse said I should be able to go a week before my next change - is this realistic?

Also, if this new system works, I'd like to celebrate. Which leads to my second question ... how soon after surgery is it safe to have a drink? I don't want to binge; I'd just like a glass of red wine or a beer.

Cheers,
Kevin

Your issue with your stoma isn't unusual. I have a perm ileo that points down and I need to use a convex wafer (and I use eakin seals with them) and it makes a big difference. A week between changes sounds ambitious to me. I'm a 3 or 4 day person and I know some people get 5-7 but so soon out of surgery, I'm not sure. It would largely depend on what your output is like and if you feel the wafer is holding.

As for alcohol, obviously you need to be off pain meds and you should probably check with your dr. Just a warning, since my pouch surgery I can't metabolize alcohol at ALL. 2 sips of wine and I am dizzy and ready to pass out. I've always been a light weight when it comes to drinking, but even I was never that bad pre surgery.

Hi Kevin,

I agree with Jill. Seven days is a little ambitious even with a convex wafer. I'm a 4-5 days person myself though I could probably go longer but would risk some irritation around Wee Willie so I prefer to change before I start to leak.

It's very common for a loop ileo to retract to below skin level and the convex wafer should give you a longer wear time. Just be sure to change as soon as you feel an itch or tickle as that is the first sign that stool is leaking under the flange.

I have never had a problem with alcohol but then I live in a culture where it is normal to drink wine every day with one's dinner so I'm not as light weight as Jill. However, I would suggest that you try a small glass at home and see how you react to it and go from there. As Jill says though you should not mix alcohol with pain meds.

Good luck.

Shell