Struggling with Adhesive Issues for Ileostomy Appliance

I am 6 months in and I feel like I just got out of my 3-week hospital stay. At first, I was having terrible leakage problems and I still do at times. Now the issue is making this 'appliance' adhere to my skin, especially at the top. I have tried lying down when I change my bag, but this needs the assistance of someone else. I have also tried standing up when applying, sitting down, etc. I empty frequently for I have a very active ileostomy, but also I don't want the weight to pull on the adhesion. The placement of my stoma is directly under my right breast and I wonder if that is an issue. I am sure that the site is dry when applying, but lately, I live in fear of leakage. In all honesty, I thought by now I would be over all of the inconveniences, but they still remain an issue. I feel like I am 'hermitizing' and not wanting to go out just in case. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I got a tip from Coloplast of warming the adhesive flange with a hairdryer to soften the glue before applying. Works a treat.

Sometimes it happens. 😕 It has been three months since I got my ostomy. It is also located on my right side, perhaps a little lower than yours. Due to skin, anatomy, or who knows what, my adhesion would always come loose at the top. This happened with both ConvaTec and Hollister appliances. The solution for me was flange extenders. I am currently using ConvaTec Ease Strips. The Hollister strips adhered well but were too difficult to remove. Both of them have curved strips, whereas Coloplast has curved as well as straight strips. You will find many vendors sell flange extenders, and they all offer free samples so you can see which one works best for you. If that doesn't work for you, torbot.com sells:

1) Skin Tac Adhesive Barrier Liquid https://torbot.com/product/skin-tac-adhesive-barrier-liquid-4-oz/

2) Torbot Liquid Bonding Cement https://torbot.com/product/product-375/

If none of this works for you, try medical tapes.

Hi Emilia, I use Convatec products, and by the time I have to make a change, the top of the wafer is starting to get loose, so I get pink Nexcare brand tape from Walmart and tape around the edges.

Welcome to the site. Make sure that your skin is completely dry and free from any soap or oily residue. I use a blow dryer on warm and low. Then you can use a no-sting skin prep. I use Smith & Nephew ref# 59420600. Your insurance will cover it. If you are using the stoma powder, make sure it is wiped in well. A little dab will do you. Blot with the skin prep. Then make sure that it is dry (using the hair dryer again). This makes a tacky surface. You have good ideas from the others, so just try and see what works best for you.

To me, it sounds like the weight of your bag (gravity) is pulling the top of your bag loose. I guess if you have really big boobs, those could be pushing it down too. 😁 Anyway, do you use any type of belt or wrap to support the weight of the bag so it doesn't pull on the adhesive part as it gets heavier? How about using a barrier ring for additional adhesion or the flange extender thingies or tape to help hold it also, like others mentioned?

The barrier rings have been a game changer for me! My bag does sit in the middle of my belly, but I am really crinkly there from surgery. Using just the bag, I was getting lots of leaks, but once we started using the barriers, no leaks from the sides. I have also started placing a barrier on the underside after day 1. It is all a learning curve to see what will work for you.

I have heard that before as I was browsing around. It's just that it is one more thing to do when changing the bag. Unfortunately, even after 6 months in, I am having trouble just comprehending that I have an ostomy and will for the rest of my life. It's just a mental block, I guess. But if this adhesion thing continues, I will have to resort to things such as you mentioned about the hairdryer. Thanks for responding.

Hi there, I use Convatec too and I like it so much better than the Hollister brand they gave me in the hospital. I have been using surgical tape, but your idea seems to be an inexpensive way to help. Thanks so much.

Warming the skin barrier with a hair dryer may be an extra step, but it is one that should not be skipped. In the hospital, I was told to hold my hand over the bag for 5 minutes after application to warm the barrier. Using the hair dryer is so much more efficient and reliable. That and dry skin are two of the most important steps in an appliance change.

Daniel

I agree with Daniel. Doing whatever you need to do to get things to stick, no matter how long it takes. I had many issues early on. Thanks to the tips on this forum, we are getting into a rhythm and finding what works and what does not. No rushing when it comes to changing the bag. It is a step-by-step process.

First, do you use a ring? That can help with leaks. Second, you can get wafer extender strips that you can put over the wafer to help with things sticking to your skin. I use ease strips sometimes if the wafer starts to peel or not stick.

Hi, I had a big problem with leaking in the beginning, 3 times in 1 night before because I was washing the area down with soap or wet wipes when changing my bag. But my stoma nurses had originally told me in the hospital to only use the sterile water from little bottles or lukewarm water boiled from a kettle, then use dry wipes and just air for 5 minutes. This is the most important part of the process, I think, to make sure your bag sticks. I should have listened to them in the first place because soap and other cleaning products make the area too slippery for them to stick to, even if they are 100% dry. After that, correct size hole, barrier ring the same size as the hole, then elastic tape around the bag. They are known as donuts and bananas because that's the shape of them. I think a few people will know what I'm on about. I know everyone's stoma is different and people have their own way, but I've found this to be foolproof. If your stoma is leaking liquid out whilst doing this, you really need to wait till it stops because even a little part not dry enough can unstick when you're moving your body. I've tried to change my bag so many times in the beginning because I tried to rush it as liquid was coming out. Hope this helps.

I had the same problem until an ostomy nurse suggested the Brava Protective Sheet. It comes in a couple of sizes. You will have to cut a hole into the sheet the size of your stoma. This is the first thing that goes over your stoma. Then use your preferred products over it. I use the 6 x 6" because I have a large stoma and because of previous hernia surgeries, my abdomen is not flat. It has several areas where the height changes.

No one told me about this product until recently and I am almost a year out from my emergency ileostomy surgery. It has made a huge difference.

I hope this helps you.