Every four or five days is just fine.  I usually wear my appliance for five days and change on day six.  Sometimes depending on my personal activity schedule, I'll change it on day four or five, but that's for convenience sake only--like if I'm on a cruise or something and the ship is in Port and not at sea.  I've had my appliance since July, 2007.

Hope this helps...

Caty

I'm not an old timer yet but want to congratulate you for getting so much wear time! My stoma nurse has me changing it every other day or sooner if it starts to burn/sting. Changing it so often can also break the skin down too.

I've read of some changing once a week in other groups but twice a week to every 5 days seems to be good. One lady said she changed it every Wednesday and Sunday. That's how I want to be when my ileostomy grows up. I'm 5.5 months out.

I've had many stomas over the years--temporary and then my permanent one done in 2007.  My ET nurses always suggested changing the appliance every five days (unless there's a leak or other problem of course).  Changing the appliance too frequently is hard on the skin.  LESS IS MORE.  I have pyoderma gangrenosum on occasion (ulcer on skin near stoma) and do change more often when an ulcer appears but only in order to apply medication.  As time goes on you will become much more confident with your appliance system.  My Convatec 2-piece system takes a lot of abuse--heat (live in Florida), movement, diet, over filled bag, sleep positions and it has always held up very well.  In eight years I can count on one hand the amount of times I've had a leak or a flange melt down.  Also, I've been told by ET nurses that there are healing properties in the flange material itself.  I believe in the theory of moist wound healing versus dry.  The flange absorbs blood and other oozing material.  It takes it away from problem skin and helps skin heal up.

I changed Sunday.  Fifth day. 

I do notice it comes off alot easier after a longer period of wear. 

At the beginning of last week I had to do a change the same day cause it just did not feel right and I didn't want to go to work regretting it.  But boy after just a few hours on it was tough to get off.  It was stuck like superglue. 

I used a barrier wipe to help it off.  Took awhile as compared to yesterday... It just peeled right off. 

I do not want to damage the skin around it and keep your time as healthy as I can.  I know that is important. 

Thank you for your experiences. 

T. E.  I cannot imagine changing every other day.  That would be tough on the skin.  But we have to do what's has to be done.  But I am gonna make it last as long as I can.  And five days seems to be it.  

I figure two a week.  Right now I am trying to get a schedule down.  Thursday and Sunday would be perfect. 

That's a four day and a three day change.  

Sunday I can take my time.  Leave it off as long as it behaves.  Thursday is a work day so I cannot mess with it too much.  

I have one more question. 

Showers with it on? 

I know I can wrap the whole thing up but I am not that secure on the idea of just the flange in the shower. 

Does it affect the adhesive?  

I also don't want a wet flange.  

All I found to do is tape it up in half and wrap the whole thing in cling wrap.  It works well but are there any other ways without taking the whole thing off? 

Richard. 

I use Press and Seal wrap and waterproof tape when I do cover it up. That is usually when taking a bath to shave my legs, which I assume you don't need to do.  My baths are shallow so the water doesn't come up and soak it.  Then I use a blow dryer on air with no heat to dry it.  But usually I don't need to. I've been timing my  showers to coincide with my changes and it feels great!

I watched u-tubes. The Press and Seal with waterproof tape is from one on there. The tape is very expensive and I buy it on-line.

I agree about the Convatec wafer Caty.

Again, less is more.  No need to do anything special when in the shower.  Wear your appliance in the shower or leave it off on change day and take a great shower without it.  There's special adhesive properties in the tape around the flange and it doesn't mind water at all.  Just let it dry naturally when out of the shower OR use a hair dryer on low heat and a tissue to wipe off excess water.  Don't let the dryer get too close to the bag; it will leave melt marks on it.  Keep the dryer about six to eight inches away, keep your hand on the bag to protect it from the heat, and just dry off the tape part.  

Caty