Water Leakage Under Flange While Swimming

[briansly]

I had my iliostomy 6 weeks ago.
I swam for the first time 2 days ago and the next day I got a huge rash.
My Stoma nurse told me it was a fungal rash due to the lake water getting under my Sure Seal flange sealer and my Cymed bag.
She said water trapped under the flange on my skin will always cause a fungal rash.
I keep reading that many people swim.
How do you prevent water from getting under your flange? Mine leaks every time.
Do you have to change the bag every day after you swim? That is not convenient and causes its own irritation by removing the adhesives.
I swim every day in the summer.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Brian

[ot dave]

If water is getting under your flange, then your flange is leaking. If you can give us some more information, then we could start offering tips/hints/suggestions. Is your stoma flat, or does it extend above the skin line? Are you using paste, powder, barrier rings? If I recall, Cymed flanges are very similar to the sure seal rings, so I don't know that you would even need the sureseal. I use a Hollister hydrocolloid flange, and the sureseals work very well for maintaining the integrity of the edges of the flange during times where I spend a lot of time in the water. I only use the sureseals when I go on vacation and am staying in the water for hours throughout the week. Also, If I'm not mistaken, the sureseals are breathable...to a point, and I know that when I swim all day, that my flange, under the sureseal is wet, but it does dry off, that would indicate breathability to me.... We need to figure out why your flange is leaking. After that, swimming shouldn't be issue for you.

David

[nickolas]

I too have that rash/fungus and boy can it itch. Mine popped up about 6 months following my colostomy surgery. It's not so much lake water getting inside/under of your flange, but rather your flange getting wet, and that wetness next to your skin is causing a fungus in your body to flair up.

I was told years ago, that athlete's foot, yeast infection, and jock Itch are all caused by the same fungus. I got my athlete's foot in my high school gym shower. That fungus eventually settled around my stoma.

My ostomy nurse recommended Micro-Guard "Antifungal Powder with Miconazole NItrate 2%". Made by Coloplast for effective treatment of topical fungus infection. It works great, I highly recommend it. Have not had a problem or outbreak in years. I just apply a thin layer prior to applying my skin prep spray. My son has a problem with athlete's foot, swears that powder is the best if he has an outbreak.

As for some of your other questions. If I get my flange/wafer wet, yes I do have to change it. I use a hand towel and a removable shower head when taking a shower when I am not going to change my flange. If I am going to change my flange, I take a normal shower. Otherwise I tend to be bent over with a hand towel covering my wafer and bag. That wafer is 99.99 to 100% dry. it works for me. Some people have found success using a hair dryer over the flange to dry off faster once out of the shower. That solution did not work for me, only a towel over my appliances.

Some people have found great success with Walgreen's brand waterproof tape. Get the wider size and apply directly over your flange. Cover all of it and a bit more of skin. I have not tried this while swimming so I am not sure how good it will work, but it should be okay when taking a shower. Also look around the internet, I believe someone invented a solution for keeping the ostomy appliances dry a few years back while showering and/or swimming.

When our kids were younger, we always spend 7 days in Florida seeing Grandpa and hanging around the beaches. I love to body surf, and yes when I was done playing in the water/ocean for the day, I would change my flange with in a few hours to avoid a fungus flair up.

Hope this helps some, keep looking for that solution that will solve your issues, it is out there. Good luck,

nickolas

[hillslife]

Thank you for the tip on the Antifungal powder.. ordered some today from Amazon.. been having the same issue with moisture and rash/itching with the humidity.. tried several things.. hope this helps !!

[nickolas]

Thank you for the tip on the Antifungal powder.. ordered some today from Amazon.. been having the same issue with moisture and rash/itching with the humidity.. tried several things.. hope this helps !!

Hope you have it by now & that it works great. For me, the relief was almost instant. The ostmy nurse knew the bottle was going home with me by the expression on my face

nickolas

[hillslife]

Am using the powder daily .. seems to work well, but when I change my bag I can’t help scratching the area... so flares up again... . So still struggling.. that itch is so irritating

[To Dream a Dream]

https://www.ostomy.org/ostomy-leaks-and-skin-breakdown/
Here is a link to an excellent UOAA video regarding this problem. Hope it is a help.