Hello,
I'm new to this site and wonder if anyone has had the issue of leaking under the wafer after loop ileostomy? I had no issues with my end ileostomy prior to last weeks surgery because the stoma was much larger, but this stoma is flush with the skin, resulting in poor seal and leaking onto my incision. The stoma RN had me change from regular wafer to a concave wafer but it wont stick because I've had to trim it so as to not cover the incision. Has anyone experienced this issue?
Thank you!

Keep working with your ET nurse. There is so much trial and error with finding what works for each of us. By the time we've "found it". It is time for the takedown. Best wishes!

Leaking under the wafer is more common with the loop ileo since the output is usually more liquid. It was also a big adjustment for me when I went from an end ileo to a loop. There are a few things you can do to help.

- When you apply a new wafer, heat it up with a hair dryer under a low setting for a few minutes to set the adhesive in place. I found this actually helped extend the life of my system by as much as 2-3 days.

- Stay with the concave wafer but apply a ring of stomahesive paste around the hole before you apply it. Press it firmly to your stomach and then blast with the hairdryer to set it.

- If the incision is the problem, ask for a gauze bandage that sticks firmly to the incisive, and then apply your barrier overtop of that. It's not fool-proof, but it might help. You can also cut the barrier so that it does not stick directly to the incision. Then reinforce the barrier with surgical tape.

Hope you get it figured out!

As the others said loop ileos are harder to work with. I have had numerous problems with mine and at times very excoriated skin. It really is a bit of trial and error. I found I had to change the whole thing every day until my skin healed then increase the time. I use a 2 piece convex system which works better,and I use a belt which I have on quite tight as this helps my stoma to stick out more. I also use powder on any weepy skin, 2 layers of cavilon, adept washers, then stoma paste if there are any gaps.I use a Q tip to press the washer firmly against the skin until it is sticking and then once the wafer is on I hold it done for a minute firmly.

I also take metamucil twice a day to thicken things up and put some of that gelling powder in the bag to thicken the contents. I have had the loop for over 6 months now and am finding my insides are settling down a bit and I'm not constantly spewing out battery acid into the bag as I was before.

Best of luck!

I had this problem as well, and somewhat like Georgiegirl, I used a piece of elastic instead of a belt, right underneath the bag. It pulled things in a bit there so more stool would go into the bag instead of behind it.

Thanks for all of the advice. This has been a very frustrating recovery. I think I have the hang of it now but next time I change wafers I'm going to try the hair dryer trick. It seems like that would work really well although I would worry about the difficulty of removal, seems like it might take some skin with it.