My low profile stoma in a belly fold solution UPDATED Now 6 days!

[Shamrock4806]

Got an actual 6 day bag, my jedi skills are improving.

[GeorgeS]

Another purpose for a two piece is the ability to see your landing better.

[Shamrock4806]

Another purpose for a two piece is the ability to see your landing better.

I don't have a problem with that, I apply my paste skin side first, aim the end over the crotch, then aim the wafer hole bottom first and then center it before pressing it on. Pretty easy.

I've got another 6 day bag on, this is absolutely fantastic

I've made another improvement, cutting the 1/3 extra large barrier strip around the belly button in the left belly button fold so it doesn't grab the sensitive scar tissue. It gets covered by a full barrier strip later.

I have to put a spare barrier strip in that left belly fold because it likes to grow mold in there and itch, then I lose barrier adhesive. I also cut the spare piece in half and stick it in the belly button hole itself so it doesn't sweat in there neither.

Little by little I address all the little pains and issues so I finally have some peace with this thing.

[Shamrock4806]

This new method by far has been the best ever!

I feel almost nothing, no nagging little pains or irritation. I feel ready to try out a pool now.

To review check out the first post on this thread as I update it.

[Shamrock4806]

Update: I asked ChatGPT what the expected wear time is for various ostomies.

Ileostomy (liquid / enzymatic output)
2–4 days Many stick to a scheduled 3-day change routine to avoid leaks and protect skin.

Colostomy (thicker output)
3–5 days

Urostomy
3–4 days

I'm getting a consistent 6 day wear time which is twice as normal.

The factors contributing to it are as such:

1: Stoma sticks out 3/4 inch now due to some weight loss and loss of swelling after surgery. This is ideal.

2: Excellent and careful skin preparation, hands and body are absolutely clean, not greasy and dry. No sweating and a dry environment so no humidity gets trapped under the wafer or blocks adhesion. The object is to make the skin sort of thirsty like so it just grabs the adhesive.

2.5 Laying on ones back to ensure the belly fold is flat as the wafer is flat. Flexing the wafer horizontally beforehand so it bends a little and not super rigid. Adding stabilizer pieces of wafer cutout around the edge of the wafer hole to reduce flexing and warping.

3: 5 minutes of pressure using a toilet paper tube or similar product around stoma to get the barrier adhesive (especially) to bond well and completely all around.

4: Laying still for a few hours on ones back avoiding movement so the adhesive has maximum bond time.


I think one of the biggest issues is that the wafer around the hole area is sort of thin so it can be cut to various sizes, shapes and easy to cut with sizzors unfortunately causing problems later with wear time.

Using the wafer hole cutout pieces as stabilizer and as a solid filler instead of paste or rings which can melt or run if applied too thick. It's sort of like making ones own custom fitted ostomy wafer, something molded to better match ones own contours. The paste fills in the gaps like a caulk. But just like caulk it needs to be not too thick and adhere well to both surfaces. Often when I pull the wafer off paste separates leaving some on both surfaces, which indicates a very good bond occurred and remained secure.

It wasn't easy coming up with this method, I was pleasantly shocked to discover that now I get twice as much wear time as the typical illeostomy sufferer.

Now I just wish I didn't have to use the bathroom so much.

[Shamrock4806]

Holy cow, this latest and most complicated procedure yet has resulted in the absolute best bag I've had on.

Basically I had to fill my chest scar divot and my belly button up level with the wafer. Using the backing of the wafer on the stoma as a guide I then filled the chest scar gap with layers of barrier strips avoiding the sensitive scar tissue then a couple of pieces into the belly button and topping both the belly button and the sensitive scar tissue with paste. Put paste around the stoma, stuck the wafer on, 5 minutes of hard pressure with the toilet paper tube then two full sized barrier strips going around, under the belt hooks this time, to secure it all nicely in place.

The belly button and combination scar divot presented some serious obstacles but now I feel no pain on my sensitive scar tissue and no itching under the wafer due to moisture and fungal growth.

It's also much more solid, holding a bag with half output no problem, not pulling so much on the left side like before.

The belly button and sensitive scar tissue paste covering did spread out vertically under the barrier strips some but doing an excellent job of not creating a moisture pocket.e

I've updated my original post to account for the changes.

I'm going to have to find a way to speed this process up in the preparation stage. Sometimes Mr. Stoma doesn't want to cooperate with long bag changes.

[Shamrock4806]

Okay my stoma has gotten bigger so now I've updated my guide for the new measurements.

I've also removed the step of applying petroleum jelly to the inside of the bag, it was problematic. What I've done instead is slightly altered how the paste is applied so less of it gets squeezed out around the stoma. Then I'm removing it from inside the bag using the butter knife so it's flat (after the five minute hold period) while it's still rather moist. I think the paste dome if was creating was holding output against the stoma and irritating it. It wasn't appearing when I had 3 day wear times but did so when I started getting 5-6 day wear times.