Quadriplegic Preventing Blowouts

[countryboy]

I am a almost 40-year-old C4-5 quadriplegic who received a colostomy in February of this year. Everything has been going pretty smooth. I have been following my diet and watching what I eat. Staying strict to the guidelines of what not to eat and what to eat. I believe I have had five blowouts since receiving my colostomy. And I have had three of those in the last couple weeks. And I have no clue why I have had those. Luckily for me the blowouts have occurred when I have been laying down. Only one has happened when I was in my chair and I was at home, thankfully.

I usually change my pouch once or twice a day, when it is about a third full. When I say I, I mean my caregiver.
I change my flange once a week. No matter what.
Can I expect blowouts just to happen?
Is there anyway to prevent blowouts? Besides watching what I eat?
When I have one blowout it seems like as soon as I get my colostomy flange and bag attached there will be another one within an hour or so. It must be something I eat? Or maybe not?

I will try to add more info as I think of it.

Thanks for any info, Clint.

[ot dave]

Hi Clint.
Sorry to hear you are having troubles. By blowout, do you mean that the flange comes loose and you lose adhesion? If this is the case, there are a lot of things you could try. But first, it would be helpful to know what appliances/equipment you are using, and how you apply the appliance/equipment. Are you using a drainable or closed end pouch. Are you using paste, powder, barrier rings, etc.? Is your stoma flushed, retracted, or protruding? How much room is there between the flange and the stoma? What appliances have worked/not worked?
If you can fill us in on the details of your application process, I'm willing to bet we can offer some ideas to help you out. No one should have to deal with blowouts on a regular basis.

David

[Andyt]

If its happening after you eat ,your stoma is likely expanding to push stool ...is the opening in the pouch cut too small ? When the stoma expands it can lift the barrier

[lms1]

Hi,

I have two C4-5 friends who have just gotten colostomies in the past month or so. I’ve been providing some tips and tricks but I do have full use of my hands. My spinal cord injury is much lower. Are your blowouts occurring because of “pancaking”? In other words output gets stuck as it comes out of the stoma and eventually pushes the flange off. This happens when your output is more peanut butter consistency and it just gets stuck. I prefer output that is more like applesauce because it drops easily into the bag. I achieved that using Magnesium Citrate pills. Also you might want to make sure your clothing over the ostomy is not too tight.

Good luck,

Linda

[KAWW]

One thing that I have recently started is to wear a Nu Hope ostomy belt for a few hours after I change my device. The size of the hole in the belt is smaller than the flange and I pull the pouch through the hole in the belt to allow stool to pass. Wearing the belt over the flange maintains pressure and allows the device to adhere to my skin securely. It has been a game changer for me. Once the device feels well established I will take it off.
I wish you luck.

[countryboy]

I guess what happens is the stool goes in between the flange and my skin. I use these products below.

-HOLLISTER 3724 CENTERPOINTLOCK CUT-TO-FIT FLEXWEAR BARRIER.
-HOLLISTER 3804 CENTERPOINTLOCK DRAINABLE TRANSPARENT POUCH, CLAMP CLOSURE, BELT TABS - (K), FLANGE 2(3/4).

I am not using any paste or powder. My stoma is flush, maybe a little protruding. There isn't much room between flange and stoma. I haven't tried any other products really besides the ones above. I have started making the flange bigger in diameter. I haven't had any trouble since doing that.

Thanks for the replies. I will keep you posted.

[ot dave]

Good deal. Sometimes, if the flange is too close to the stoma, it becomes loose because of the constant contact with a moist stoma. And, when you have peristalsis, the stoma likely becomes more flush with the skin, providing space for the output to get under the flange and work its way into a leak. For flush and inverted stomas, sometimes a convex flange is useful. Might be something you want to try. Also, use of barrier rings is also beneficial. They are a hydrocolloid type material that can be molded and manipulated for a custom fit around your stoma. They act like on 0-ring in a water hose. You put them directly to your skin and the flange goes over them. Just another tool to add to your ostomy tool chest. But, if making the diameter to your flange a little bigger is doing the trick, then stick with it! Glad you found a solution.

David

[ivica79]

Colostomy for tetraplegics
I am Ivica. 19 years ago I was injured in traffic and became completely immobile. I broke c4 / c5. And I can only move my head.
I'm thinking of installing colostomy. Now I have a bowel emptying once a week, it takes about 5-10 hours, all day.
I use tea, pills and suppositories to help with the discharge
  i eat 5 days a week and 2 days i eat nothing just drink juice and tea.
I do this so I can have my bowel emptied once a week.
This discharge is causing me great psychological problems and I would like to find a better solution.
Do you think I would be better off with colostomy.

Thanks and sorry in bad English, I live in Croatia and I am 40 years old.

[nickolas]

Colostomy for tetraplegics
I am Ivica. 19 years ago I was injured in traffic and became completely immobile. I broke c4 / c5. And I can only move my head.
I'm thinking of installing colostomy. Now I have a bowel emptying once a week, it takes about 5-10 hours, all day.
I use tea, pills and suppositories to help with the discharge
  i eat 5 days a week and 2 days i eat nothing just drink juice and tea.
I do this so I can have my bowel emptied once a week.
This discharge is causing me great psychological problems and I would like to find a better solution.
Do you think I would be better off with colostomy.

Thanks and sorry in bad English, I live in Croatia and I am 40 years old.

Hi Ivica, and welcome to our forum.

I do not have any advice regrading your question. But I would recommend that you start a new thread with your questions. This thread is over a year old, it may not get the same traffic that a new thread would get. Hopefully someone will be able to directly answer your question. I could not imagine having to fast 2 days every week just to empty your bowels.

Your English is good. Good luck. I hope you get answers.

Nickolas

[ivica79]

Thanks for the advice .
it's not a big problem for me not to eat two days a week.