I was wondering how often everybody chases their stoma dressing. I've only been changing mine as often as I intubate, and when thats like 5 hours away I do notice that the little pad is saturated.
Also I'm interested to know what you all use to cover your stoma. I've been using a nursing pad cut in half (an idea I got here) and it works great. Do you use the "traditional" stoma caps?

--
katie

Good Morning

For the most part I also change the pad when I intubate. There are times I change in between empties, especially if it's awhile till I fell I need to empty.I try to keep it dry so that I don't get rashes on the skin around the stoma. I had a really good one this summer.

I use the nursing pads. I don't cut them. For 24 years I used to cut up disposable diapers to use as pads I am so happy not to have to do anything!

Are you good?

Nursing pads for Chris as well, thank you Leslie.
When swimming , etc he uses a very small ampatch N4 is the order number, they have standard pre cut 1" and you can also order custom size holes. Austin medical Chris is the guy who knows everything, Bill J refewrred us to them.

I use lite days ultra thin long pads (without wings) which I cut into 4 pieces.

Shortly after my surgery I taped plain gauze pads over my stoma but found that on occasion I would "leak through" onto my clothes--not good. As I recall, that's what they did at the hospital, but on this site I read about the lite days pads which have worked out much better.

I suppose it would be better to change the pads more often than I do. I'd have less pinkness around my stoma, but, frankly, I don't think about my stoma between the needs to intubate and so forget about it. I do seem to have to intubate 6 or 7 times in 24 hours, and that seems to be enough changes to avoid a major problem. I use some sort of anti-fungal powder given to me at CC when there's too much pinkness. The only downside I can think of is that I have to wear underwear with my nightgowns, in order to keep the pad in place. Not too bad a deal as opposed to an outside bag.

I don't swim much, but when on vacation in St. Martin, I usually just don't use anything. Other women are going topless, so a "water spot" if it showed, doesn't seem so terrible there. Most people are just gawking at the topless women. I throw on a sarong over my one-piece suit if I want to cover up or just jump back into the water!

Thanks for this post Katie. Sometimes I get nervous when I have to change the dressing more often. I was going to ask my doctor at my next visit if it was normal. I am going to try the nursing pads, any suggestions on brand? I have been using poise panty liners and cutting it in 4 but I hate the little grains that some times come out of the edges.

I used patches of cut up sanitary napkins for five years. They would leak and smell and were not comfortable. I then discovered AM Patch and have used them for the past eight years. They are great if used the way I do. My mucus output is great and the pads are not absorbent enough. Their pads have a rating of 100. I modify them to 300 and they work great. AM Patch sells the absorbent pads separately. They are listed as P-2 absorbent pads. I put one extra pad inside the hole and fold a second pad in half on top of the hole. This pad also guarantees that my stoma never comes in contact with any adhesive. I can go as long as ten or twelve hours without changing my patch if I do not need to intubate.
I also use Skin-Tac {Torbot] under the patch whenever I do any type of activity that may cause perspiration such as grass cutting, ball playing or just hot weather. I always use Skin-Tac when swimming. It has never failed me. It does not leak and water never seeps into the patch.
Finally- I love St Martin. We go to Orient Beach which is much better than the topless beaches.
Good luck, and let me know if this information helps.

Karmen
I buy curity nursing pads. My insurance covers it.I get them by the case from Edgepark.
You can also get them at drugstore.com

You can get nursing pads through Edgepark and your insurance pays for them?? Wow. I've just been buying them myself at Target or Walmart. Thanks for the tip Holly, I need to order caths soon anyways and I'm gonna add those to the list!

Karmen, when at Walmart I buy the Curity brand but Target doesn't carry them, they carry a different brand (can't remember the name) but which I actually like better because they are "ultra thin" but they more expensive like $8 a box compared to $6 Oh, and i use paper tape to hold it on which I buy at a drug store

OK Another question:
What equipment do you always have on you?
I carry the cath, nursing pad(s) paper tape, lubricating jelly, bulb syringe if I need to intubate and a water bottle. It seems like an awful lot. And what do you keep your stuff in?
Half the time I feel like I'm carrying a diaper bag

chris has used the black nylon bag he received with ostomy supplies from convatec.
I purchased plastic tubing from a pet store, cut it in 3 pieces and he uses that for his cath to keep them straight.
I have also used a vinly bank deposit bag.
The Dr told us Rolf Benirshke(he has a K pouch) has a bag that straps on his leg.
Chris keeps the same stuff in his and scissors and a couple ampatches.
At home we keep a continent ostomy bedside collector(marlen from edgepark) better than a urinary bag for nights, face plates, belts, leg bags, straps, nipples,all size and brand catheters, extension tubes, connectors, plugs, clamps-yes, his bathroom is like a medical supply store.
Katy, I have UHC POS, I know Leslie has UHC but a different plan and they don't cover her supplies. We are lucky.
I order lots since I will have to meet deductibles and copays come Jan.
They pay 100% now!
Chris does not tape the curity pad. Just tucks it in his boxers.
The grocery store here carries curity too.

The Curity aren't exactly the smallest pads but at $6 for 60 pads it's great. My insurance doesn't cover anything that I need so Ampatch ( at their price) is out of the question for everyday use. There are some pads that are the same price but have only 36 in the box.

I have a cosmetic case that I carry a small piston 30cc syringe, a small tube of lube (yes there are individual packets, but once you open them you have to throw them away.How do you store an open one to carry without the mess?Of course my cath is in there along with 2 pads. Except for the pads I get everything at www.continentostomystore.com. They do not file insurance for you (which has no effect on me) but you should check the prices out. My cath is in there and a collapsible cup. I bought a whole bunch of cups at Target the end of the summer. They were in the sporting goods section with camping stuff. I sometimes find them at Walmart and you can try a sporting goods store. I fill the cup up at the sink..I don't care if people are around..it's not like I'm pulling out all the "equipment"..If I'm traveling and will be on a plane I bring bottled water into the restroom with me which doesn't look odd at all b/c most people carry bottles of water with them these days.

Time for work...have a nice day everyone

The cath, syringe, and cup go into a quart size freezer ziploc bag before it goes into the cosmetic bag (which is not very big )

I first had the Kock when I was 24. I used paper tape to hold the pad in place, but the tape irritated my skin, even though I changed the spots. So, at 24, I went from bikini undies to not very fun ones but the pad is held in place no matter what I wear and I don't need tape One less thing!

Hi,
I carry my cath and a 60 ml syringe in a pecil case with a side pocket, plastic lined so that I can wipe it out with a damp disposable cloth.
I put all pads etc...in the side pocket for dryness and use the littl lub packets for 6 or 7 times by only opening them a tiny bit...no insurance con=verage here...whenever I travel I carry my whole kit with leg bqg, face plate etc...
For now because of the fear of not being able to intubate I have a wire to guide the tube and an extra thin cath if need be...better safe than sorry...