New ileo need help with leakage!

[TerriBird]

I am a new ileo .
There was an oversight with getting a visit from home health nurse and now it is the weekend.
I am having major issues with my ileo not adhering to my abdomen.
It is leaking and coming apart constantly.
Please help!

[Jimbob]

Make sure your skin is absolutely clean and completely dry, do not use any soap that has any lotions or fragrances or maybe use no soap at all.

I use a hairdryer on a warm setting to ensure the skin is perfectly dry. Also the adhesives on the flange are designed to work at body temperature so you might want to warm up the flange, I use the hairdryer for this also, some people put it under their arm. You did not say if you are using other products or not or what you mean by it is constantly coming apart?

Hope this helps until you can see the nurse.

[Mysticobra]

Hello.
I hope I can help.
I've had mine for five years.
Fairly new compared to some here.
I used to just use a moldable flange and be good all week.
Now my stoma has changed over time. Gotten smaller actually.
But I find using a moldable ring before applying my flange works very well. I get 7 days out of a change.
I do find over time no matter what it leaks a bit. I look and watch as I take my flange off when I change. But it doesn't burn my skin or go that far away from my stoma to worry about it.
I use adapt rings. Things are really sticky and work well. Give it a try. It may help.
R.

[To Dream a Dream]

I have a surgically shortened bowel along with the ileo & try to make my appliance changes before I eat or drink anything in the morning. (A new ileo usually does flow almost continually which is a real challenge.) As Jimbob has noted above, it's very important to keep your skin clean & dry before attempting to apply your wafer to your skin. Once you have it in place you may want to avoid any actions that might dislodge it.
I use a ConvaTec Moldable Durahesive barrier wafer which works best for me. There are many choices out there from other manufacturers as well.
I also use 2x2 inch pure (containing no lotion or additives) cotton wipes (Walmarts have them in their cosmetic section in a package of 130 ct) to both cover & clean around the stoma with plain water during a change. I've found them to be much gentler than a washcloth, toilet paper, etc. And more absorbent & less expensive than woven surgical sponges.
Admittedly it is confusing & often upsetting to learn how to manage any new ostomy. It takes skill to coordinate the steps in the process in the beginning which can be exhausting. Have you anyone who could just be there with you at this time to pass you supplies as needed? Or even just for moral support?
I'm glad that you will be having a nurse visit soon & so glad you found our Discussion Board where you can find experienced information & 24/7 support.

[Diane C]

Terri Bird,
Hope you've gotten needed help by now. It'd help us to help you if you provided more details. What appliance and what kinds of "aids" are you using to keep the wafer and pouch on? It sounds as though you are using a 2-piece which is my preference? Gas can cause the "wafer" and pouch to separate but usually you'll leak before that. Gas-x helps me with distention. Many of us ileostomates use Imodium or a generic of it to thicken the output and prevent leakage. I use a variety of strips and tapes to keep the appliance on -- and it's been a learning game. You may have to try various manufacturers. But pls give us more info!

Wishing you well.

[To Dream a Dream]

I just watched an excellent video with Elaine O'Rourke & Ostomy Nurse Anita Prinz about solving problems with leakage on the UOAA website under Latest in their menu. Highly recommend watching this for any person with an ostomy. Many problems were addressed & offers of further help extended. Hoping you are adjusting to the new ileo.
Hopefully, this is their link: https://www.ostomy.org/ostomy-leaks-and-skin-breakdown/
Hopefully it went thru.

[Mjc]

Hello,
I m 65 years old. I got my ileo when I was 24 . I struggled with the WRONG pouching systems for years. I was leaking ALL the time and it was just my life curse. I finally combed this site and found many people had excellent luck with SenSura Mio deep convex 1 piece pouch by Convex and I put Brava elacstic Barriers around the pouch rims. My stoma protrudes just a bit above my skin.
This has changed my life. I do not say that lightly. I can sleep, swim ,sit in the hot tub (use hair dryer to dry the pouch off a bit) and go an entire week with out any problems. That pouch and barrier strip has made my ileo something I attend to once a week - not 2 and 3 times a day....not kidding.
Before that I had other systems and they all leaked all the time - awake and sleep.
My point is keep looking for the right system for your stoma and stomach. Do not give up. There is a system out there for you. Mine is the Convex SenSura Mio 16756 and Coloplast Brava barrier strips
Good luck and do NOT accept that your life has to miserable because of leaks.

[Longtimeileostomy]

Hi, I’m also 65 and I got my ileostomy 25 years ago after having an ileoanal anastomosis with J-pouch that never worked properly for 10 years. I was one of the unlucky ones who couldn’t get the inner J-Pouch to work. I was re-diagnosed with Crohn’s after being told I had ulcerative colitis, and given a permanent ileostomy. I wore Hollister products first, but after a change of station (military life) I was given Convatec products later on which worked for several years. However, I developed an allergy (intense itching) to an ingredient in the Convatec wafers, so I switched to Coloplast which I’ve been wearing for many years now, with an Eakins ring seal. However, after attending the UOAA national meeting last year in Philadelphia, and getting a sample of the 2” ring by Safe n Simple brand, I find it wears better and comes off cleaner that the Eakins. Like the poster above, I also wear Brava elastic barriers around the wafer rim. I helps to avoid curling of the edges and makes for longer wear. I have short-gut syndrome from my multiple surgeries so my ileostomy runs a lot. I have to change every three days. But in between changes I’m not suffering as I used to, with leaks and itchiness. I make sure to use a very mild soap to clean the skin around the stoma when I do my changes. My favorite is mail-ordered Vermont Soap in unscented oatmeal) and like the advice above, a key step is to dry thoroughly with a blow dryer in the lowest setting. A long time ileostomy patient told me to heat the wafer for 30 seconds with the dryer in a low heat setting and after applying it to bone-dry skin, to hold it with both hands in place for a full minute to help it meld into the skin. Later on a Wound and Ostomy Nurse advised me to gently push a Q-tip gingerly around the stoma before applying the pouch, to make sure the wafer and the “caulking” is smushed snuggly around the stoma to avoid leaks. This has worked like a charm. I hope by now you are leading a leak-free life. Do not settle for anything less. Best wishes. Maria

[texazgal]

"Nurse advised me to gently push a Q-tip gingerly around the stoma before applying the pouch, to make sure the wafer and the “caulking” is smushed snuggly around the stoma to avoid leaks. This has worked like a charm." I use an empty medicine bottle to press around the stoma to get it mushed in with the barrier ring. This is fast and if you can find the right size opening, quite effective.