Dealing with Stoma Pancaking: Tips and Experiences

I saw my doctor today to address problems with my new retracted stoma. I have pancaking constantly. He and the stoma nurse recommended Benefiber supplement. I really do not get much fiber in my diet. I also drink nearly a 1/2 gallon of whole milk every night. The doctor and nurse said that was bad, but I love it so much. Please share your experiences with pancaking and suggest what has actually worked for you.

Retracted stoma will be nothing but trouble. You can use convex wafers and support belts... but over time, they cause their own problems.

Consider revision to pull out your stoma a bit. A stoma should stick out 3/4 of an inch at its lowest point. My stoma can expand out to 2 inches, then retract down to 3/4 of an inch. Pancaking is not a problem for me, because it all goes in the bag.

Totally agree with Beachboy with regards to revision. As for now, if you use a drainable bag and you get pancaking, lift the bag up from the bottom and open the bag. Now pour about 3/4 of a cupful of water into the bag. Now close the bag and swish the water around in the bag; this will loosen the pancake. Now drain the bag as normal. But try to get your stoma pulled out to be more serviceable.

Regards, IGGIE

Agree with the advice about revision.

In the meantime, I rarely get pancaking because I'm usually very watery. But when I notice the stool starting to accumulate at the top, I remove the bag and clean the stoma. (I have a 2-piece system.) This will usually prevent the stool from getting under my wafer if I catch it in time.

Hey there, I agree the stoma should be revised, but the pancaking isn't happening because you are retracted. Pancaking happens to ostomates all the time, regardless of whether the stoma is retracted or out. With fixing the pancaking issue with your bag, put a little air in the bag and push the air up to your stoma; now you have room for the stoma to output and for it to go to the bottom of the bag. If you have a filter, though, it would need to be covered in order for this to work. When the bag is vacuum-tight or doesn't have any air, you're gonna pancake. You said you drink milk; are you making sure you are drinking enough water also?

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My experience with putting fiber deliberately into your system… when it comes out, there's a lot, and I hope you are ready for it. Mine was oatmeal, by the way. I get pancaking all the time, but my stoma sticks out plenty. As I get pancaking, I don't let it sit there too long; I rinse it out with warm water. Whether you fix your stoma or not, pancaking will be an issue. The difference will be the severity of the issues that come with it. Lube the bag, air in the bag, more water in your diet. In my opinion, if you love the milk, drink the milk because life's too short to not enjoy life now.

I have to thank this site for reminding me about the warm water rinse in the bag. I was a little sore last night, and rinsing the bag out made a world of difference! Even if I wasn't pancaking all that much, because mine is retracted, the output does have a tendency to stay right there instead of falling to the bottom of the bag.

In my experience, getting water anywhere close to my wafer causes it to come off. I do not see this as a viable option.

Blazehuber, when I rinse my bag, I don't put water all the way up around my stoma. And that is why I say air in the bag, but the air has to be pushed up to where the stoma sits, so the stoma has room to push output out, and it will fall to the bottom of the bag. It works and is the best method for pancaking. I have always been one to pancake, and I started doing this 2 weeks after I got my ostomy.

But I agree with you on the water and that it is not a good idea around the stoma.

G-Day BH,

I use Hollister 2-piece drainable, and for the last 3 years, every time I empty my bag, I add 3/4 cup of water, close the bag, and swish it around top and bottom. The bag is then perfectly clean, and I have never had a problem with the bag coming loose.

Regards, IGGIE