when i cut my 1 inch hole in my wafer and then run my finger around the cut out, it seems jagged in certain areas, can this injure the stoma? i cant seem to get a smooth cut all the way around.

I worried about the same thing, and then just stopped.

The jagged/sharp areas that I was worried about were actually the plastic barrier film that you take off before applying. I never bothered to smooth it out before applying and never had a problem...

//Todd

Actually the rough edge of a wafer can damage your stoma. When I first got Wee Willie (my stoma) I inadvertantly injured him on the rough edge. He tends to retract and telescope slightly and is also downward pointing so was catching on the edge of the wafer every time he did this. I ended up with a deep cut on the underside of Wee Willie that took a long time to heal.

Always check all around your stoma with a small mirror when you do a wafer change to make sure that it is healthy. Also, try not to cut your wafer too small as this can damage your stoma too.

I now use the moldable wafers which avoids this problem. Eakin seals or similar will prevent this happening too. You just need a small piece around the base of your stoma to protect it from damage.

Take care

Shell