Managing Stoma Noise and Barrier Ring Concerns

Hello, 4 days post op with a loop ileostomy. I've been waiting for my surgery for a long time so I was very ready for it. I'm recovering really well. 

My issue is the noise this thing makes when it's putting out. I work in HR and I cannot imagine sitting in my office with an employee with this thing (my Beenus...kinda like the extra skin on your elbow-weenus) sputtering out fluids and air every 5-10 minutes. 

I'm also so very nervous that I'm not covering my skin properly. When you use a barrier ring before placing your wafer down, does the barrier ring fit snug around your stoma? I'm so afraid of my skin breaking down because I'm not doing things right. 

Thank you for your help

Oh, for sure, just be a little patient; less than a week out. Things will regulate in a few weeks, but you can do many things to keep the noise down, the first of which is clothes. Eating thick foods will help lots too, like scrambled eggs, potatoes, tapioca, etc. I have tried in 35 years just about all products, and I have found the Convatec flexible flanges the best to stay on and still be flexible. Others I find allow too much to leak under the wafer and cause skin irritation (with liquidy ileostomy). A dermo doc also gave me something a while back that changed my life for irritation. It's called Luziq or Betamethasone Valerate. It's a topical "steroid" of some kind, and I put a light layer on for each change, and I haven't had irritation in at least 10-12 years (except for a few small incidents). Not all insurance covers it, but it has to be the foam because it's greaseless and allows the flange to stick well.

35 years at this... happy to answer any questions anytime!

Hello,

Noises will happen.  I tell everyone up front:  I have a colostomy, it makes noises.  Had my teeth cleaned last month.  My little stoma beast was tooting away.  The Hygienist just chuckled. 

I've had it happen in work meetings, out at dinner with my wife and friends.  It is.. what it is.  I don't let it bother me.

First I put unopened barrier ring container between my legs for a minute to warm it up. Then remove the ring.  I cut the ring through one side.  Straighten it out like a ribbon.  Then squeeze and stretch it.  Starting at the middle, bottom of my stoma, I place the middle of the stretched ribbon edge there, right against the edge of the stoma.  Then fit and press the ribbon up and around the stoma sides, so the edge of the ribbon is right against the stoma edge the whole way.  Ending at the top of the stoma.  Does not matter if the ribbon overlaps, just press it together.  If there's a small gap, just push the ends till they stick together. 

Hold wafer with plastic backing still attached against your stomach, opposite your stoma, for a minute to warm it up.  Then pull off backing and install over stoma/ring.  Use hands to gently push down wafer for a minute.  Change hand position, hold again.  

Use of a support belt for 30 minutes is recommended.  

This works for single piece and 2 piece ostomy systems.

Yes, your barrier ring should be basically right up against your stoma. But not strangling it, if that makes sense. 

Hi Smnard,  Fellow permanent loop ileo here.  The noises are probably caused solely by gas, but could also just be your body getting used to its new normal.  It's early days and things may settle down.  If the gas continues, look at your diet for the culprit, lots of gas producing foods out there.   I eat lots of cruciferous vegies, and things like onions, garlic and beans, all gas producing foods, but also foods that are good for me and I like, so I choose to pay the price.  When it comes to your barrier ring, yes, fit it snugly to your stoma, but not strangling, and when it comes to skin preparation, I always follow what my favourite ostomy nurse taught me, and has worked best for me.  That is 'keep it simple', the best surface for your barrier ring and wafer to stick to is clean dry skin, nothing else, no powders or sprays, just good clean dry skin.  This is if your skin is healthy and intact, no irritation or skin breakdown.  The powders and sprays are meant to address skin damage that makes it difficult for the appliance to adhere properly.  I use a Salts aloe barrier ring and a Hollister appliance, and I get a solid seven days between changes and could even push it further.  If you haven't already, try different products, as again everyone is different, and an appliance that works great for one ostomate, will fail quickly for another, so try them all.  It's worth it to find the system that works best for you and can improve your quality of life.  Good luck.

Terry

How to Manage Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

I just said to my husband today that I think I might cut the ring and wrap it around my stoma but I was afraid I'd be compromising the integrity of the ring. I'm so glad you just confirmed that is a good idea. Thank you so much! 

This reply is so helpful. 

It's amazing how well rings can seal.  In the beginning, I stretched rings too much.  Tore a few rings into multiple pieces.  But still placed the pieces, overlapping each other,  around my stoma.  At wafer change time, I looked at the sealing side of the removed wafer.  Ring seal was even all the way around with no breaks or leaks.  I use Coloplast Brava rings.  

This is a lot to process. 🥴

Thank you for this!

New stoma can be very noisy...if it is too loud, gently muffle the noise with your hand or use a thick sweater while in the office. I have worked in the land of cubicles, and sometimes my stoma would make a loud honk. No one said a thing, or I would just say I am hungry or my lunch did not agree with my stomach. Nobody knows.

If I'm afraid the barrier ring was not applied correctly, can I redo the whole dressing?

Is it worse for my skin and stoma to change it too much?

My nurse is coming for the first visit tomorrow. Should I wait for her to take it off and redo?

Since my mishap yesterday, I only have 1 more barrier ring and 2 barrier sheets to work with. My first shipment was ordered on 11/08 but has not arrived yet. I have samples coming soon too. I know I prefer Coloplast.

If you’re not having an issue right now, I’d wait for your stoma nurse. If you’re having issues right now, I’d redo it. 

Hello S

Four days is way too early; your plumbing is still having a stroke trying to work out what's going on. It should calm down over a few weeks once it finds its way. Don't be concerned, although coffee will probably produce the same results, like spit through a Bugle for me 🤣

I always rip the ring into a ribbon as described and stretch it a little. You want that barrier to be hugging the stoma gently. Any skin between the barrier and the stoma can otherwise get heavily irritated by output. I tried to stretch the barrier ring and not rip it because that's how I was trained by ostomy nurses. However, ostomates online gave me this tip a few months post-op and it changed everything!!! Sometimes you need someone else who lives with a bag to help!

I was going to comment and say that a new stoma is super loud! It chills out. When gas comes through, it really tickles my stomach and while it's loud, I can't contain the giggle or smiles. The first month or so, I remember thinking, is there a noise cancellation device for this thing!? It gets better.

My stoma loves to be loud when I eat. I've adapted to playing background music so it's less obvious. In public, at times it may make a strange noise, but no one around us knows that noise. It's more a mental adjustment to this. A trade-off for me of being in the toilet 24/7, and I'll take the awkward moments for that blessing.

Feel free to reach out anytime! I do advocacy stuff online right now while I'm dealing with other health issues. So I'm always honored to help anyone, especially in the early days with a stoma.

One thing I can say is I was terrified doing my bag change. By 6 months of ostomy life, I got it down. If the stoma moves, prepare for it to spit. You will find some products are perfect for you and then they aren't anymore. That's okay and normal. We all have our own perfect. So my system right now is Coloplast and Hollister products because my sensitive skin reacted to everything else. As our bodies change, our products can too. All the companies are amazing at sending samples. I encourage everyone to reach out to companies with complaints so that they can improve their products. Having the support of others who have ostomy bags of any kind is a tremendous help! So you're doing excellent right now!!! I'm here for you!!!

Yes, it is way too much to process; it takes 5 minutes to scroll down the page. IGGIE