Help Needed: Wafer Not Sticking When Wet

Ok, so I have been having trouble with my wafer not sticking down when I take a shower and it gets wet. I have tried wafer extenders, and they don't stick down when they are wet. I bought an adhesive that was suggested on here, and I paid nearly $30 for it. It was a 1 oz bottle, and it didn't compress and spray. So... I couldn't even try it. I'm not going to spend more money to buy it again. It was called Ten Aces, and it was a total waste. I don't know what to do. The Cavilon Barrier Wands don't hold the wafer in place when it gets wet. So now I have no confidence in going swimming anymore. I have no confidence that I won't have to make a bag change if I take a shower, which is an issue because I want to take a shower regularly. I don't have enough supplies to change my bag every time I shower. It's ridiculous.

Hey there - don't despair. There are solutions. Personally, I use Mckesdon - skin barrier film non-sting wipe. No: 176-5728. Get some samples. Living in Florida with the heat and ocean - so far they've worked. Good luck 🌈

I made a little shower curtain to keep the direct spray off. I use a skin prep, a Salts ring, a Hollister flange, and a bag. I use flange extenders if I see the flange start to lift. I can get 10+ days before I need to change. I've never had a problem in the pool or ocean. Something I do is use an empty tape spool as a steam roller when I put the ring on. I put the ring on, put the backing down, and roll each side a few times.

Good luck to you.

Infinity, this is a new problem, right? Did you change products? Are you sweating more because it's summer? Moisturizing too close to the flange tape? When I first got my ostomy, I tried to keep it dry in the shower by covering it with Press 'n Seal and then taping it down on the four sides. It worked well, kept things 90% dry, and it's pretty inexpensive. As far as the pool goes, these might help:

Amazon.com: Nuanchu 50 Pieces Dialysis Catheter Cover 7.87 x 7.87 Inch Shower Cover Peritoneal Dialysis Accessories Protector Waterproof Transparent Bandage Wound Bandage for Swimming Tattoo Dressings: Health & Household

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I have also used these. They do work well.

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Time for a change. Nothing lasts forever. Sounds like your current bag isn't suitable for you anymore. Get some samples of other bags to try and see how you get on with those.

I use 3M tape around the wafer in the shower and skin tack wipes under my wafer when I change to help between changes.

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I am so sorry you are having this issue. I highly recommend speaking to one of the ostomy nurses that work for any of the companies that make these products. I personally am using a Convatec bag and was having other issues that a video call with the Convatec ostomy nurse discovered my actual problem - I was getting leaks on each side of my bag and she noticed that was because the bag was not bending enough, so she recommended a less convex bag and it's working well so far. I wonder if some bags just work better in water environments though, because my Convatec bags never have a problem with me showering daily, and the Hollister bags had issues sometimes - though that may have been my skin reacting negatively to the adhesive too.

I used them when I was leaking five years ago. I cut a hole in the middle and fit it around the flange. Definitely, extra peace of mind!

Sorry to hear you are having this issue. Seems that as an ostomate, we are presented with these dang different issues from time to time. Finding a perfect “fix” is always so very frustrating, and I feel your frustration. Hoping you will find the answer you are looking for to correct this problem. Sometimes I believe my skin goes through changes and then improves again…I know rashes, etc. create all kinds of dilemmas…hopefully you will get through this in short order….jb

Hi infinity, I had a similar situation when here in the UK we had a blistering hot day. I had to have 2 showers on this day. The area, as you are aware, must be completely dry for the adhesion to work. So I had to keep a dry wipe over my stoma to absorb the sweat coming from my skin around the stoma. Eventually, when the area had virtually dried, I dressed the area around my stoma with an unscented ladies' roll-on called "MUM." This solved the problem around the stoma and kept it from sweating any more, giving the bag a chance to adhere to my skin. Hope this may help. I have always used the Hollister convex bags ref no. 54101, together with Cohesive (like a washer), and have no problems. Good luck.

Such a good tip! Now Amazon is wondering why everyone is ordering dialysis covers. I was using plastic and waterproof tape, so I wouldn't have to dry my bag, but it took a while.

I mentioned this in another post a few minutes ago. You do need to try some other products, but I use this bonding cement that's available from my ostomy supplier and may be covered by insurance (mine pays for it).

I credit this stuff with increasing my wear time to at least 7 days. No promises that it will work that well for you, but hopefully it will at least get you back in the pool.

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I have been using only Convatec flanges and bags for 25+ years. I go about 4 to 5 days between changes of the flange. I have no problem showering. Contact Convatec. They have great representatives that will send you samples. I have a separate flange and separate bags.

3M Micropore tape around the edges of the flange if you haven't tried it yet, cheap and available. I used it before I discovered flange extenders.

Thank you, everybody, for your suggestions. You have given me a lot to think about. I hate to have to buy more stuff just to make my ostomy bag stick, but it's got to stick or it's no good to me. I found if I put the flange extenders on when I change my bag and everything is dry, it sometimes sticks even in the shower. Then I dry it off very well afterward, and only the ends stick up. The main part stays down. But I have to use more adhesive remover when I change my bag, and I have to buy the adhesive remover myself because my insurance doesn't cover it. Well, Byrum doesn't carry the spray anymore anyway. So only wipes, and they don't work worth a darn. So either way, I am going to end up spending out of pocket for something. I am so sick of out-of-pocket expenses. I have so many of them these days it is not even funny. I have to pay Medicaid for the right to use it—242 bucks before they will cover anything. And they are so behind that they don't know when I have paid it. They date letters a month previous and send them out too late. They tell me I owe them when I have already paid my spend down. Then along comes Medicare with its idea that I have the money to pay 20 percent of everything. If I had this kind of money, then I wouldn't need Medicaid or Medicare. It's ridiculous. So I guess I will try a few products and see what works. I know that a defective spray bottle doesn't work.

Sweetie, send me a private message with your address. I was gifted some adhesive remover from a guy who had his reversed, and I'll throw in a can of the adhesive to try. I have really good insurance, and I've got a stockpile.

It won't fix everything, but maybe it will give you some breathing space.

This happened to me. I used the Independence Fusion Glue Barrier Film Applicator, and it worked wonders.

If you bought the 10 Aces Adhesive Spray, I had to really press hard to get it to work; now it's fine. If not, contact them, and they will send you a new one. The owners are so nice.