Just need to vent. Had a bad flange day! Normally, I use Convetec wafers and bags. I absolutely love them. You don't have to cut the hole out for you stoma, just mould it to fit. The adhesive is just perfect, and NEVER falls off or leaks. The bags are comfortable, and the opening is a breeze. So, the problem? My nurse ordered a two month supply, and they sent urostomy bags instead! SO, I had no choice but to use the abundance of Coloplast wafers and bags the hospital gave me. I've hated them since day one! The adhesive is terrible, and leaks almost every time, and the bags are too thin, with a crappy opening (pardon the pun). With my beloved Convetec products, I completely forget I even have an ileostomy, not so much with Coloplast, case and point. Today we decided to head to the water front as its the festival of tall ships, which we see every year (really cool to see those old sailing ships). I knew I was in trouble when I got out of the car, it was literally 108 with the humidity, making me sweat like crazy. I dropped Freddy and his mom off at the ferry docks and went to find parking. Thank god for our handicap parking pass, I found a spot only a 20 minute walk to the lake (it's only a 40 minute walk to our apartment!). There are now over 6 million people is this rapidly expanding city (Toronto), and I swear to god they ALL decided to come see the ships as well! So, after fighting with the traffic, and walking 20 minutes in 108 degree heat, I was completely drenched in sweat, and then I feel something not good, something warm leaking on my abdomen, and it wasn't the sweat! The wafer started to leak! Grrrrrr! No matter how much I sweat, the Convetec wafers NEVER leak, but Coloplast just peels right off, guess it's their way of making sure you have to buy more!
So, I look down, just before the damn burst, held it against my skin, walked all the way back to the car, and drove back home (left Freddy and his mom there, didn't want to spoil their day). I do carry supples with me, but I was no where near a bathroom, it was faster to walk back to the car. I get home, and get in the elevator (I park on the B2 level, and live on the 20th floor). Normally, it never stops at the ground level (the main lobby), but the one time I'm leaking, the door opens, and at least 15 people cram in, figures! Just as the door was closing, this fricking idiot runs into the elevator, squeezing his way in, knocking my hand off my abdomen, and in turn, knocking off my flange. I was SO P.O'd at this idiot, he didn't even apologize for his very rude actions. Now that the flange is totally fallen off, my nearly full bag spewed its contents all over my new shorts, leg, shoes, and the elevator floor! Everyone just backed away as if I pulled a gun on them or something. The one kid with us, about 10, screams "GROSS!!!!!", and his mom asks "what's wrong with you, need a diaper?" To which I responded "what's wrong with you, need a brain?". I was so angry and embarrassed, I wanted to die! And naturally, they were all going to the 25th floor, so there was no escape as I could get near the button panel. I've never been so happy to reach my floor, and who ever said Torononians are friendly obviously have never been here, these people were downright cruel and rude! Just before I got off, I yelled "I have an ileostomy, but I'm guessing you're all too stupid to know what that is!" (When I get mad, I get a tad defensive, they had it coming!).
I finally get to my apartment, and jump into the shower with my now soiled clothes on, and feel like crying, as you all know, it can be so frustrating sometimes not having control of your bowels. I finish showering, dry off, and put a new wafer and bag on, and not two hours go by, and the bag started leaking! The Velcro fastener had fallen off! Seriously? They aren't cheap, I just thank god everything is free for me (thankfully, my work covers all ostomy supplies 100%), you'd think they'd make a better product. But then again, maybe it's just me, everyone is very different. Could be my body chemistry and the shape of my stomal area that makes it leak, who knows? I get my delivery of my much loved Convetec supplies hopefully tomorrow, I'm working all week, don't want it falling off in front of a patient! Anyone else have a problem with Coloplast, or is it just me? Thanks for letting me vent!
Eric
