How do I cut a new wafer if I lost the crude one they gave me?
jeanmank5
Jan 22, 2024 5:06 pm
AlexT
Jan 22, 2024 5:33 pm
What size was the last one you cut? Cut your new one the same size. 🤷‍♂️ Not sure about all ostomy bag brands, but Hollister puts a new one in each box.
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Posted by: Karen & Stella
Fay,
I am one of those few people who still have a lot of output at night. However, I suffer from short gut syndrome after seven bowel surgeries that led to the loss of much of my small intestine as well as my large intestine from the initial bowel cancer surgery. It does get better over time as your system adjusts, but an ileostomy can be a challenging adjustment. It's important to connect with a good Enterostomal Nurse - ET nurses who can help you problem-solve over time. It's been five years since my initial surgery, and I had a great visit with a new ET nurse in December. He really helped me with the problem of high output at night. I had been getting up every 90-120 minutes to empty my high output bag because of filling. If I slept for three hours without emptying, I would have problems. My ET nurse helped my husband and me make a nighttime collection system using a Rubbermaid juice container with a handle and my old CPAP hose. This is connected to one of my two-piece high output bags and allows for continual drainage. It isn't pretty, but it has been a real lifesaver. I guess the real message I want to share is to stick with it, find a nurse who you can work with, and together you will find solutions to whatever challenges you face. This website is also an important support for me and others. There is nothing you will go through that others haven't already faced and figured out. There is so much wisdom here. Read the materials they've put together for newbies. There are a lot of great suggestions to use. I hope things get better quickly for you.
Karen
I am one of those few people who still have a lot of output at night. However, I suffer from short gut syndrome after seven bowel surgeries that led to the loss of much of my small intestine as well as my large intestine from the initial bowel cancer surgery. It does get better over time as your system adjusts, but an ileostomy can be a challenging adjustment. It's important to connect with a good Enterostomal Nurse - ET nurses who can help you problem-solve over time. It's been five years since my initial surgery, and I had a great visit with a new ET nurse in December. He really helped me with the problem of high output at night. I had been getting up every 90-120 minutes to empty my high output bag because of filling. If I slept for three hours without emptying, I would have problems. My ET nurse helped my husband and me make a nighttime collection system using a Rubbermaid juice container with a handle and my old CPAP hose. This is connected to one of my two-piece high output bags and allows for continual drainage. It isn't pretty, but it has been a real lifesaver. I guess the real message I want to share is to stick with it, find a nurse who you can work with, and together you will find solutions to whatever challenges you face. This website is also an important support for me and others. There is nothing you will go through that others haven't already faced and figured out. There is so much wisdom here. Read the materials they've put together for newbies. There are a lot of great suggestions to use. I hope things get better quickly for you.
Karen
Beachboy
Jan 22, 2024 7:53 pm
Cut the wafer hole so it is about 1/8 inch bigger all around than your stoma. Use ostomy scissors (curved) to do the cutting. Take your time. Better to make the wafer hole a little big than too small.
When you pull off the plastic backing from the wafer, keep it as a guide for the next time you change.
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Beachboy
Jan 22, 2024 8:00 pm
I don't use the guide. I stand in front of a full-length mirror. Cut a small hole. Put the wafer over the stoma (not on it) and note where I need to cut more off. Many stomas, like mine, are not round. On the back of my wafer, there are circles and numbers in inches and metric. I always keep the metric numbers on my left side when cutting and test fitting. When I'm ready to pull off the plastic backing, I make sure the metric is on the left, then pull it off.
Developing a system for cutting, test fitting, and applying the wafer will help to speed up the process.
MBT
Jan 23, 2024 5:24 am
The guide with several round cut-outs? There is a new one in every new box of pouches. Or, you can:
- Make a new one out of a clear plastic bag, tracing the shape of your stoma with a Sharpie, and cut out the pattern with scissors.
- Reach out to your ostomy supplier, who usually has a surplus.
- Ask your manufacturer for extras. The website has a phone number or even a portal to request items.
Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister
w30bob
Jan 23, 2024 6:57 pm
With scissors. Ok, just being a smart-ass. Make yourself a new permanent template. Take a piece of paper, plastic, or thin cardboard and cut it in half so you have two pieces. Cut a small half-circle on one side of one piece and place the half-circle on the top side of your stoma. Trim the half-circle until it fits nicely, but not right against your stoma, and goes halfway around. Then trace that half-circle you just made onto the other piece of paper/plastic/cardboard and cut it out. Have 2 pieces of tape (any kind) ready. Hold one half of the template so it's up against the bottom of your stoma and the second piece against the top half of your stoma... and tape the two pieces together. Remove it and tape both sides fully so it doesn't come apart, and trim the whole shebang down to a nice size that fits in your ostomy supply kit. Obviously, you'll need to trim the halves a bit in a trial-and-error approach, but once you have one side that fits... just duplicate it and tape them together. Then at your next barrier change, just use the template to mark the new barrier (a Sharpie works great) and cut away.
Once you see where you're cutting your new barrier hole, you'll know how close to the circular markings on the new barrier you need to get and won't need the template. When I first started out, I'd keep the cut-out plastic that you peel off your barrier and simply use that the next time as a template on the new barrier. Each time you cut a new barrier, you get a new template! Have fun and remember... never run with scissors. You could poke an eye out or something. Hmmm... maybe that was with a BB gun or slingshot... but still... don't run with scissors.
;O)