I use a Hollister two piece new image system (the wafer is 14803 - convex for my loop ileostomy - and the bag is 18123). I also put tape all around the wafer and wear an ostomy belt.

Lately, I have experienced pain where the circle of the wafer goes around the stoma (basically, a circle of pain).

I am thinking that it might be from the tightness of the belt but I feel that if I do not wear the belt or loosen it too much, the wafer won't be pulled back enough so that the stoma is "pushed" through (which helps the discharge - which, unfortunately, is very liquidy many times despite eating lots of apple sauce, rice, bananas, peanut butter, etc. - go into the bag) and it will leak underneath the wafer and get onto my skin.

I have tried to give myself breaks from the belt here and there but I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this, if the tightness of the belt is actually the problem, and what should I do about it besides just taking painkillers and giving myself belt breaks.

Thanks!

Hi Josh,

One of the reasons I prefer close fitting lycra underwear to using an ostomy belt is that you can get too much pressure in one spot with the belt whereas the underwear supports the whole thing, bag and all. I wear my bag at an angle across my tummy so that it is easily supported by my underwear. Wearing a belt too tight can cause all sorts of problems due to the blood supply being restricted and if you are getting bruise-like pain then you probably are wearing yours too tight.

I wear Convatec's convex moldable wafer which is durahesive and much better suited to the high acidic watery output of an ileostomy. It really does mold to every contour and sticks so well that if for any reason I need to change my wafer early I have a devil of a job getting it off. You can get free samples from their website if you'd like to try them. You can do this with most of the bigger companies so it might be a good idea to try several different brands to see if one works better for you than what you are using.

I do think that you should get your stoma nurse or doctor to take a look at your skin just to make sure there is no other cause for your pain.

I hope this settles down soon for you. Take care and keep us posted.

Shell

Thank you Shell. I think I am just paranoid that if I don't wear the belt, the wafer won't be sufficiently pulled back and the output will leak underneath the wafer.

I actually changed the bag yesterday and the skin looks really good so that isn't an issue. I also think that it may be due to the fact that I have an unusual stoma location (I have read that most have theres below the belly button but mine is slightly about it), which also makes it fun when I wear a belt with my pants (which I need to do everyday during the week with my suits for work) and the belt goes right through the middle of the bag so I am constantly having to stand up and pull my pants away from my body to let the output drain down to the bag until it is time to empty it. Not fun.