Shrinking Stoma

Johnny J Pouch;
I'm at the same stage as yourself.

When my temp loop ileostomy was formed, it initially measured 32mm, then 26mm and now its looking close to 23mm.

My Stoma is also flush to the skin; my abdomen is relatively flat and I have a recess around the Stoma which prevented the appliance supplied by the hospital from forming a secure seal.

My Stoma nurse provided a paste, which stung like hell due to its alcohol content & didn't work, although advised to use the paste by my Stoma nurse, the application instructions stated "Do not to apply to broken or weeping skin."

Rather than use the filler paste I discovered ConvaTec Stoma seals:
http://www.convatec.com/produc...8d7a858f7ef9/1_0011/

Since my loop ileostmy was formed, I've also endured burning skin around the Stoma; prior to the forming of my temp ileostomy, I used the Salts Stoma collars. My Stoma nurse advised against using such products, claiming Salts don't make a collar large enough to accommodate the size of my new Stoma; My Nurse, let's say, was misinformed, Salts provide Stoma collars upto 32mm.

http://www.salts.co.uk/Our-Pro...spx?ProductID=PROD20

I'm sure Salts will have a distrubutor in the US or maybe a similar product is available.

I also discovered Ilex Protectorant Paste, (recommended by Jan from this forum), once applied, it made all the difference, within one day of its application the skin around my Stoma had vastly improved; the burning, red raw and weeping skin was healed within a few days and hasn't returned.

https://www.ilexhealthproducts.com/usd/
I currently apply a combination of the following with great success:

Ilex Protectant paste applied to the rear inner edge of a Salts 26mm Stoma collar prior to use.

Cavilon barrier pump spray applied to skin around the Stoma.

http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/...rrier-film/?MDR=true

Once Cavilon spray has dried, Stoma collar applied over the Stoma.

ConvaTec Stoma Seal applied to the rear of ConvaTec flange/wafer prior to fitting over the Stoma.

Apply flange/wafer over Stoma and Stoma collar and attach bag.

I use a ConvaTec Esteem Synergy 2 piece mouldable flange/wafer:

http://www.convatec.com/produc...181654d57da7/1_0013/

I've also discovered ConvaTec Orabase paste, which although I've not used it yet, I believe it is similar to the Ilex protectorant Paste.

http://www.convatec.co.uk/prod...d7a858f7ef9/1_0117/#

Within the Uk, the Orabase Paste is available on a NHS prescription.

I used the filler paste and powder too, without success.

I persevered with my Stoma nurse recommendation even though endured a great deal of pain & discomfort due to my burning skin, I even posted on here asking for help.

I too was applying the powder substance which claimed to heal the skin but it was so difficult to apply just the right amount to not prevent the Stoma appliance from sticking to my skin.

I was using a Hollister one peice appliance which would constantly leak within minutes of application.

It is only when I had ran out of the one piece appliance provided by the hospital did I revert to the ConvaTec 2 piece flange and the Stoma collar.

Although my skin was still red raw underneath and very sore, it was such a relief to apply a Stoma appliance that didn't leak & was secure enough to be able to leave the house.

I managed a full five days before I removed the ConvaTec flange and I never experienced any leaks during that time; I only removed the flange because my Stoma seals and Ilex paste samples had arrived.

In the UK, Ilex paste is not available via our free NHS prescription service and once my samples had been used up, the paste was so effective I bought a tube for £16 (26 USD).

As I said in my previous post, once I applied the Ilex protectorant paste, my sore skin improved within one night and within 2 days the broken skin had healed and has not returned.

I can't stress enough how effective the Ilex Protectorant paste is; not only does it provide a bile acid barrier, it also heals the skin underneath.

I'm hoping the ConvaTec Orabase paste offers the same protection but I have such a huge tube of Ilex paste, I will probably never need to use the Orabase, as I'm expecting my takedown within a couple of months.

I recommend you try the ConvaTec mouldable Stoma flange/wafer, this too provides a better seal around the Stoma than a cut appliance, as it forms its own contour and seals around the Stoma.

From my own experience, there is no need to worry about the powder or Barrier spray touching the Stoma. I only used the powder for a few weeks and it went everywhere, on the Stoma, around the Stoma, all over the floor but it never did any harm to the Stoma.

I've been using the Cavilon spray for years and I've never prevented the spray from landing on my Stoma either & no harm been done.