I am writing for my son - had ileostomy with J-pouch in May. One of the problems that he is dealing with right now is there is an indentation right next to the stoma. It is sore and irritated and continously wet. We have used the powder and paste/cement but the wetness keeps lifting the wafer on that side on a convex bag. A bit of the wetness leaks out and makes the bag lift so much that excrement starts leaking out. This happens as soon as he puts a new bag on. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We are not due to see the ostomy nurse for another month. Feel that there is so much we do not know.

This site is great - thank you so much. He has had many problems since the surgery and all your comments and suggestions are so much appreciated.

When you say indent, is it like a dimple in the skin next to the stoma? Like a valley?

If so, try taking an Eakin seal and cutting a small piece from it (about the length of the valley). Then, put powder over the area, then the cut Eakin, then a full eakin over the whole thing like you normally would. Then the wafer and bag. This should fill in the gap enough to keep the leak from starting in the first place. Try to do the appliance change when things are quiet - first thing in the am before any food, for example. Also, eating a marshmellow 5 minutes before changing will buy you a good 5 minutes of no output nad that should help you get a good seal before the leak starts.

Marilyn,
Hello, you may want to cross post this same message to the www.uoaa.org website. Someone there will be along to help out also.

1.Try changing first thing in the morning before any food to combat the wetness.
2. Do you use a convex ring or flange? This may help.
3. Do you make the flange look like a diamond instead of a square? May help???
4. Are you cutting the flange too small? I had leakage problems when I did that - the stool just would seep right under the flange.
5. Stomahesive powder and 3M no sting liquid bandage (target, wal-mart...)
6. Don't be afraid to call one of the distributors/manufacturers and ask their advice and then ask for some samples. Maybe a different appliance is needed.
Good luck, I know how frustrating this can be, my loop ostomy gave me he** until the last two weeks I had it when I found a solution.....so typical isn't it???
Les