Hi Everyone,
Just yesterday I said I have not had ANY problems!! What a difference a day makes!!

Yesterday about 8 inches of my incision seperated. All I did was bend over and pick up something I dropped on the floor!! I thought my husband was going to pass out!!! He was REALLY bothered!

I called the Dr., went to his office, he said not to worry "just pack it like this" and it will heal in a couple of weeks on its own fromt he inside out. That part is fine. It had started draining on Sat/Sun and I had already been to the ER over that. They just took out a fw staples, showed me how to pack it and said "don't worry, it will heal from the inside out" in a couple of weeks. On Monday I went to my Dr. who took out my remaining staples and said the dame thing.

My Dr. said several things contributed to this "event", I am diabetic, overweight and on immuno-supressants for years. He said that all those things can lead to slowed healing.

NOW THE PROBLEM:
I have had to change the wafer 3 times in 24 hours because it keeps leaking on the side where the incision is- and getting into the incision some-not very far because it is packed and I am putting a diaper over it(incision) to absorbe (sp)the drainage from the open incision,. The diaper also absorbes some the poo to an extent to.

When I discovered the 2nd leak this afternoon-at closing time again--I called my Dr. and someone there told me it is probably leaking because with the incision open it allows the skin to move in kind of an unnatural way which allows the wafer's seal to break loose from the skin and spring leaks. I can understand that , but what can I doo oprotect my skin where it has already been leaked on--I am getting BELLY BURN!!! and it is getting red and starting to sting. If it happens again I think it will actually break through the skin.

My stoma is not far enough away from the incision to tape it down good. The wafer comes to about 3/8-1/2" from the actual incision and the tape part of it actually hangs over the incision. I already trimmed the tape yesterday. When it leaked today, I showered and washed everything with yellow dial soap, dried my skin with a hairdryer, applied the skin barrier--all my usual stuff--and instead of applying the wafer, I applied some of that super good fabric tape over the red area of my stomach and across part of the open incision (like bridge kind of)then applied the "caulk" like stuff to the wafer--because my stoma site is also red "around the rim" from the poo being on it. THEN I applied the wafer and put additional tape on perimeter of the wafer stuff. I held pressure on it for several minutes and even used the hairdryer to "warm up " the wafer better. It has only been 3 hours and I can already see a little poo seeping past the "tupperware ring" --I hope it is between the tape and the wafer so it will not be on my skin!! I guess that doesn't matter though because it is not moisture proof tape it is cloth. So much for that plan!!!

I cannot get a hold of the home ostomy people until tomorrow after someone calles me back. Everyone had already gone home today.

HELP!! WHAT ELSE CAN I DO OR TRY???

Blenda

I'm not sure that putting the tape on the skin will help form the seal. There are different skin preps that can be used to help improve the seal.
I'd dry the area really well, maybe with the blow dryer. Then use the stomahesive paste. Apply the appliance. Then maybe a couple of long strips of tape across the incision to stabilize the area so the skin has less of a tendency to slip away from under the appliance.

Also, maybe eat some crackers, etc to firm up your output and make it less likely to seep through.

You might not get any relief until you visit the ostomy nurse.

Sorry, I know how irritated it can get. I had an innie that always leaked.

Thank you for your response. I think that in addition to the open incision, my stoma in shrinking and maybe I need a convex wafer. I found some old inquiries and they mentioned that. Mine is just over 2 weeks old and is almost even with my skin now, I took a picture of it in the hospital and it looked like it stuck up more.

I will definitely call the ostomy nurse service bright and early tomorrow.
Do you know of any way to protect my skin tonight? It is red and starting to burn.

Thanks for the help,
Blenda

I don't know of anything you can do without the supplies (powder, skin prep, convex wafers) beyond what I suggested. Maybe just eat a bunch of crackers to thicken things and take some extra immodium to slow things until you see the ostomy nurse.

Another suggestion is to use an ostomy belt to provide added support to your appliance. The other folks probably have better practical ideas than me, since I never had an ostomy. I did have a wound separation, and it was really no big deal.

Jan

Thank you, the ostomy nurse service is getting my information--hopefully as I type!!
Blenda

Montgomery ties!!!!!
Find out if you can get them from a supplier..they are what they used on me in Toronto (and they sent them to me here in Paris as well!) because I split every time...no diabetes, no immune problems or obesity..I just pop!
Same problem with the stoma/stoma belts leakage (yes, with a k pouch as well post op) So these Mongomery ties look like a 12 inch long piece of silk tape with the extremity sticky against your skin and on the other end there is a hole and a large piece of something that looks like a flat shoelace pulled through...you use them in pairs, one on each side of the open incision and you tape them down to the skin and pull together tight...usually I need to use 3 or 4 pairs...It makes me look like a trussed chicken...but it holds it all together and prevents the sking from moving/jiggling and stabalizes the area around the stoma..it also holds the incision closer together...for faster (?) and prettier (?) healing...I have to do it every time because I always split...I also use a 'healing wound powder' that keeps the area in/around the the wound drier and less leaky...I don't know if you can use/buy it there..I got it in Toronto and it works wonders in exactly your situation...I also used it under the wafer between the skin and the wafer to prevent the belly burn from getting worse..
Email me for more details...I am unfortunately really good at this...I will give you the names etc....
Hang in there...
Sharon

I like using an abdominal binder (sort of like a girdle/back support) more than Montgomery ties, because my skin is very sensitive and the ties put traction on the surface of the skin, causing tears. The abdominal binder supports all around and there's no pulling sensation when you bend over.

We used to use Montgomery ties all the time for folks with big abdominal wounds that required frequent dressing changes. They can be great if you skin is not sensitive.

Jan

Jan, where do you get an abdominal binder?

I saw the hospital's wound and ostomy nurse today, she put on a antifungal powder and a coloplast 1 piece appliance. It lasted about 4-5 hours. I called the Dr. and the on call Dr. said change the bag. I did and put on a Hollister 2 piece which lasted about 3 hours.

A home ostomey and wound nurse is coming tomorrow. When I talked to her today , I had just left the hospital ostomy and thought everything was taken care of for today.

I think the problem is that NOW my skin is "weeping" which I guess breaks the seal of the wafer. I have used powder, barrier rings, skin barrier and 3 brands of appliances so far.

CeCe told me about milk of magnesia,but I cannot get that until tomorrow!! Is there anything else I can try tonight? All I have left to try is tape on a diaper and hope it will keep the acid away from my skin.

Thanks in advance for any insight,
Blenda

Blenda...It was Mylanta, not Milk of Magnesia. Good luck in finding a solution, soon!

I had the same problem as you but much smaller,where leaks were running into the wound inside my belly button ( I was lucky to have key hole) and stopped it healing for several weeks.I cut a c-shape in the flange so it was nowhere near the wound and then for 3 days I tried to always lean the opposite way so that any leakage ran away from the sore area-I don't know if this is possible with where your area is? I slept on the opposite side as well and it did help to keep the area clean,plus I built up the area under the flange on that side with paste to try to stop the stuff creeping through. Hope this starts to heal soon for you as it is obviously so awkward for you.

Hi Everyone,
I hope I am back on the recovery path after a really, really horrible 3 days. I think yesterday was the worst day of my whole life -except for deaths!! I lost it and cried uncontrollably for about 2 hours Sat. morning.--I NEVER DO THAT!! I think that scared me as much or more than my gaping incision and leaking wafer combined did!! Once I started I just couldn't stop. My husband even called my daughter to come see if she could help. I felt so sorry for him--afterward, he is so compassionate- I think he was as upset as I was!! He is definitely a sweety!

I had changed my wafer 6 times in 2 days, an ostomy nurse changed it the last of those times. That was Fri. about 3pm. It lasted about 4 hours or so before it started leaking again. By Sat. 3 am--12 hours later it was all the way off and I sat up with a diaper held over it until about 1pm when the home ostomy nurse arrived.

The ostomy nurse just put about an 1" bead of stoma paste on the wafer and spread it out very thinnly over the whole wafer surface and then put it on as usual!! It has stayed sealed 28 hours so far, so I hope it lasts!!!!


CeCe gave me lots of help but my skin was all red-raw and oozing all the way around the stoma for about 1 1/2 inches and nothing would stay stuck. I am going to find some of that adhesive stuff she told me about to keep on hand in case it ever happens again!!!

Thanks for the support,
Blenda

my incision split too near my groin area. totally sucks cause everything else has been healing really well. total set back.

have you tried using a convex appliance. i had to switch to convex cause my other appliance wasn't sealing properly. u should invest in ekoseal vs. paste, powder, and skin prep wipes or spray. also the best thing is the ostomy belt. it's awesome and helps keep the appliance tight around your stomach/waist. i also use a hair dryer on medium heat to make the sticky stuff adhere better to the skin cause of the heat. i am new to the bag but i think i found the trick to make it stay on good. let me know if you have any questions. i'm using the hollister convex style two piece system. its comfortable and works great. let me know

Thanks Undercover,
I am trying to convince the ostomy nurse that I think that is what I need, when I put the wafer on there is a 1/8" or more gap that does not even come close to touching my skin. I tried filling it with stoma paste--kind of like filling a dent in a car with Bondo--but it came off anyway because my skin is oozing and bleeding and won't let it adhere for very long at a time.

I use the hair dryer trick. CeCe has given me some great advice too. I just have to get the skin healed.

I have given up on keeping a wafer attached for tonight. I am putting bactroban cream on the open wound area-over half of the circumference now and about 3/4" wide, and taping a section of diaper over the stoma itself. The diaper is absorbing all of the "oozing and blood" as well as the liquid part of the stool. I am hoping that by tomorrow it will be better. CeCe told me abut using Mylanta too and I am alternating that with the bactroban. The Mylanta definitely helps with the burning feeling--it kind of feels cooling.

A different ostomy nurse comes tomorrow so hopefully she will have differnt advice.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!!! I am desperate for some relief!!

Blenda

I had issues as well. i had an ecoli infection and 2 of my wounds opened up and i actually had a wound vac as well. i had to change my dressings often i had to put wafer on over the bandages. so i had wierd contours from that and my belly button. just wouldnt stick. i had to change every 2 days. the ostomy belt worked great though. i had worn it pretty tight and i never had many issues with beding over.