I have a temp illio w/ what I think is a loop ostomy. My ostomy nurse showed me how to use the eakin foam ring-thing and when I tried to duplicate the steps w/out her, I totally forgot why I still need to measure my stoma. I know it's still shrinking but w/ the eakin ring around it, don't I just have to cut a hole around the eakin and not worry about the stoma size. I ended up cutting a hole right up to the point on the wafer where it says not to cut anymore-as far as you're suppossed to cut. I know that's not what the nurse showed me. ANy advise about how to get the hole size right w/ an eakin would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I had an ostomy nurse come to my house to work with me. Ins. should pay for it. She helped me trace my stoma on the clear plastic part of the Eakin seal packaging, then cut out the pattern and draw the same circle onto the flange, leaving 1/8" space between the stoma and flange. then take the Eakin seal that has a small hole and stretch it out to fit over the bottom of the flange hole. It can over lap into the hole space by that 1/8". Smooth down and flatten the Eakin seal to cover the back of the flange as much as possible.( don't cover the whole flange) Use ostomy powder dirrectly around the base of the stoma befor and after you place the flange on the stoma. Hold in place a few minutes after you have it securely on.
If you are cutting right to the edge, you might need a bigger flange. I used a 3/4" flange and also had to cut close to the line and it was fine. The stoma will shrink over time. I think some one has a video online, also Hoolister mail me a CD video. Call and sk for one for free. They even give samples.

It sounds like you may have cut the wafer to fit around the eakin seal rather than around your stoma. The wafer should be cut to fit your stoma and goes on top of the eakin. You measure each time - so that you can cut the wafer to the right size for your stoma since as you know it's still shrinking. I hope I guessed right about why you cut it too big and that this makes sense and helps.

ducridr, you were 100% correct! I was cutting wafer to fit eakins NOT stoma. I called the ostomy nurse at my docs office & she walked me through the process again & I was so confuses as to why it mattered what size the stoma was because I was ignoring it & measuring the eakins. Now I've been set straight! By the way, those eakins are a God-send. Even w/ me cutting the wafer hole too large, no leaks. My skin has never felt better (since having an ostomy, that is).

Have you ever tried the moldable wafers? I used the ones from convatec and they were great. They mold around your stoma so you don't need to cut the wafer anymore. Instead of using eakin seals, I used the Adapt rings from Hollister and found them to be a little easier to use.

janna