UOAA Discussion Board

Hello all, I've just got a kock pouch due to pestering my surgeons in the uk after many unsuccessful attempts at a J pouch. Anyway, they take the catheter out shortly and I'm wondering what i'm going to use to cover the stoma. I've read that I only need a plaster and my stoma nurse says i should use one of those coaster-type stoma caps - I'll be draining the pouch about 5 times a day at first though. No-one out of the nurses here has any experience with kock pouches hence i'm asking on here.

thanks in advance to anyone who can offer advice and regards to all

Lucas,
I use the Ampach Cover by Austin Medical. It's like a large Band-Aid. They came in different sizes with different absorbancies and different types of adhesives. If you contact them I know they will send you some samples and literature. Welcome to "the club" !

http://www.ampatch.com/

Other people use feminine mini pads, cut up disposable diapers, gauze pads ...............

Many thanks Lynne

I keep Ampatches on hand but I use nursing pads all the time.

Ampatches are expensive, and for me are not covered by insurance.They are also changed each time you drain the pouch so doing so at 5-6 times a day can add up.But they provide a great barrier.

The nursing pads are much more cost effective (for not having med coverage) You can either use paper tape (changing the position of the tape strips) or for me my undies keep the pad in place.Some people use feminine hygiene pads cut to size.

Where in the UK did you have this done? I only keep hearing the Kock isn't done there

Hello Lesson, I had the kock pouch operation in Hope hospital, Manchester. Unheard of. None of the surgeons here had seen one done as it's considered outdated. After a lot of pestering I was a seen as a good candidate in that I'm a healthy 35 year old but I had my colon took out in emergency surgery in argentina which saved my life and left me with a pelvis that was unoperable because of the widespread scar tissue and subsequently lots of failed attampts at a j pouch. I got my kock pouch off 'probably the only person in the uk' that had any experience in it: The wonderful professor John Nicholls from Harley Street, London. It's uncharted territory for the surgeons and specialist nurses at Hope and they ask that I write about my experience. I have my catheter taken out in 2 weeks so we'll see... I'm really grateful obviously.

cheers

p.s. what are nursing pads?

Lucky,
Keep up the good work and please keep us informed of your progress !

You should keep a journal of your progress.

Nursing pads are used by new mothers who are nursing their babies too prevent leakage onto their clothes. There are disposables (I use) and washable. They can be found in the baby aisle of most stores.

hope you keep feeling well

Thank you both - I was also wondering what the normal size for a stoma on a kock pouch usually is? I was told by the surgeon that it would be quite flush with the skin but mine is quite proud still. maybe it will settle down some more - its been 5 weeks...

it's like half-a-large-grape-sized i'd say - is that about right?

When I started (with my Indiana Pouch) I was using band-aids, but sometimes the skin would become sore. I now wear nothing on the skin but almost always wear a thin a-frame shirt (a.k.a. wifebeater) under my clothing or I wear a dark colored fabrics.

I'm about 3 months in with a kock pouch now and I'm happy as Larry with it but...

In the early mornings i'm woken by small amounts of gas escaping through the stoma - is this normal? I do have a little trouble getting the tube in and there is sometimes blood - normal?

Also, I do ooze a lot of clear, odourless liquid out through the stoma to the point where the stoma caps i use leak a little. Is it normal to have a lot of liquid ooze out slowly...?

I'm going to dry cut up nappies or those pads kindly suggested on here before

(I'm asking lots of questions on here because no-one at my hospital knows anything about kock pouches first hand)

regards and good luck to all on here

Lucas,
I have not experienced the gas. Sometimes I do see a tiny bit of blood. I've had the oozing problem occasionally, but I find that if I use some type of skin prep on my skin before applying the Ampatch, the problem is resolved. You might also try a covering with a bit more absorbancy.

You should not pass gas at all through your stoma with a continent ileostomy. I would report this problem to your surgeon. I almost always have a little blood when I catheterize as the stoma is full of blood vessels and bleeds easily. As long as it is not a lot and stops shortly, its fine. Also, the stoma naturally secretes mucus that is clear. Sometimes I notice it more than other times.
I don't use AM patches because I dont' like how sticky they are, instead I use a nursing pad cut in half and a little bit of paper tape to hold it on. works great and very absorbent.

I forgot to mention that the j-pouch webboard http://j-pouch.org/groupee/forums
has a section devoted to kock pouches too, there are quite a few regulars who check the boards every day which is great for advice ( my kock pouch is new too - May 11, 07)

Thanks so much for the advice - I'm going to see the surgeon on thursday re gas and mucus. I've had no problem with the former for a bit but it's stilll a worry. The specialist nurse says she's got some more stoma caps for me to try so all good.

I'll be checking out that other forum kat girl. You beat me by 3 days with your pouch installation

http://j-pouch.org:80/eve/forums/a/frm/f/5531006091

http://www.continentostomystore.com/Mer ... de=CONTOST