Hello everyone. I wanted to start by saying thank you for this forum. It's been very helpful to read people's comments, suggestions, and concerns. I am four weeks out from a sigmoid removal. I had complicated diverticulitis with an abscess. They put a drain in my backside in January, and I lived with that for three months until the surgery. I was so happy to be rid of the drain, the bag, and the pain, but I had no idea what was in store for me instead! Since coming home from the hospital, I can't keep a bag on. I have been to the ostomy nurse multiple times in the past three weeks. My visit this week suggested irrigation once a day and then wearing a cap over my stoma. They've ordered supplies, and we're going to give it a try when the kit comes in. Does anyone have experience/advice regarding irrigation?
I'm assuming you mean that your skin doesn't allow sticky stuff like the bags to stick successfully for any amount of time. I had the same problem, my skin "pushes" the bag off within 6-8 hours, actually my skin won't let anything except Tegaderm stick at all, lol. Since I also have other complications (an "innie" stoma that is concave and disappears into my body) I also have lots of trouble with my skin integrity. I now use Cavilon advanced skin protectant. It's a sponge with plastic tube attached with a glass ampule inside with 0.7ml of Cavilon liquid in it. I have to use one per bag change so every 48 hours. But Cavilon will last a week at least on skin so if you don't have stool breaking it down then you may only need one a week or so, you'd have to play with times. I say this because they're EXPENSIVE. They may be much cheaper in the US but here in Canada I pay between $12-20 EACH! I got special coverage through the government for them. The great thing is with the Cavilon on my skin where the bag is, it allows the bag to actually STAY ON, my skin doesn't push the sticky off my skin! With the Cavilon you break the ampule, suffuse the sponge and glide the liquid onto where you need it then don't touch anything to that area for at least 60 seconds, everything will stick to it, including other skin before it dries, lol. The reference # for the small Cavilon is 5051. There is also a BIG one which is too much liquid so don't get 5050. Hope this helps as the irrigation doesn't sound fun.
This is what the Cavilon looks like.
Hello and thank you for responding. The reason bags aren't staying is because my stoma is very convex, nearly impossible to get stool to go into bag instead all around the opening then loosening the contact. At my last appt they discussed irrigation for better control and put a cap on, which stayed for the longest so far. May I ask what made you decide to irrigate, and if it works well for you? Thanks for your help.
I decided to irrigate after I saw others talking about the freedom it afforded. I tried it and have never look back. I have helped/ encouraged several others to irrigate and so far everyone has had pretty good success at it. If you qualify , I suggest you try it… study long…. Study wrong. Once you get the hang of things, I would recommend you modify your diet for maximum efficiency…. We will cover that later . Good luck and keep me posted of your progress 👍
Good evening, I decided to irrigate my stoma thanks to mild_mannered_super_hero, who gives excellent advice. I adapted the irrigation to my lifestyle, I do it at 5:30 in the morning before going to work, I don't use any collar and no bag. I use the irrigation set (cone and the 1.5 liter bag of water and when the water is all introduced I kneel in front of the toilet and everything comes out in about 30 minutes. Afterwards I put a small plastic bowl which is held by my panties until I leave for work. This way I am safe because there are always residues. Then I put on a cotton make-up remover and a Tegaderm film.
Danielle
Thank you for responding. I too Have an innie stoma. My stoma also lies right in a fold in my abdominal skin making it impossible to keep any appliance on. Just like before my surgery, I can tell when I need to go so I've just been keeping absorbent cloths in my underwear and heading towards the bathroom when it's time to do business! This works out OK when I am home and because I've kept it open my skin is healed up beautifully. That's the positive in this situation! I needed to leave the house this weekend so to feel secure I decided to try cutting a much larger old in my bag to see if it would stay on. It did stay on and it functioned as it's suppose to. I successfully got from point A to point B without any mishaps, but I don't know if this is a sustainable lifestyle. My nurse has given me Cavilon wipes that are used on the peristomal skin. It definitely makes my skin sticky, but it's obviously not enough. Have you ever tried the sponge wipes and if so is the wand that much better than the wipes? I see what you mean about the price, hoping if I'm gonna pay that much it will work well. Thanks for sharing and your support 🙏
