Help Needed: Leaking Issues with Stomahesive Paste

It's been a little over a year now since I've had my new companion. I'm having issues with the clear slime getting past the wax ring and destroying my barrier. If I had known this was going to be an issue, I would have bought stock in 3M. Barrier wipes haven't helped me out too much. I was given stomahesive paste, but all that does is crack and create bigger problems when it hardens. Do we have any ideas to help this issue? All suggestions are acceptable as I'm afraid to sleep at night due to not wanting to wake up in a major mess.

There could be a number of reasons why you are getting leaks. You could try using a different brand of barrier ring, or try using a convex rather than flat flange, depending on what you use now. Are you making sure your peri-stomal skin is completely dry before applying the barrier ring? When you change appliances, try warming the back of the flange (the part that touches your skin) with a blow dryer for 30 seconds, and then hold it all in place with your hand for a good couple of minutes to make sure you are getting a good seal. As long as your skin is healthy, you don't need to use any other products, i.e., barrier wipes. Clean, dry skin is the best surface for the barrier ring to stick to.

Terry

Sounds like a conversation with an ostomy nurse could really help you. I found out that Convatec has the ability to set up video calls with an ostomy nurse, which really helped me. I couldn't get into a local one for months, and Convatec fit me in much sooner. The process was smooth; they watched me take the bag off, then had me show them the stoma/hole, then had me show them how it would move when I sat up, as the leaks were happening where I would bend. She measured it with me and then advised I get a different, more flexible bag, and it has made a world of difference for me. I still have issues when I eat too much fiber or I get too active, but it has really helped me. I also have to agree with the clean skin comment. If I can, I get in the shower without a bag on and really soap and rinse my skin really well before putting a new bag on. If that means I need to clean the shower after I'm done, so be it; it really does help.

I use an Eakin ring, which is somewhat absorbent, and then I added Eakin paste. Eakin paste does not dry and crack because it has no alcohol and it never dries. It's more like hair gel. I've also been doing 2-3 layers of crusting below the Eakin barrier ring, using Adapt Stoma Powder and 3M Cavilon spray instead of wipes. See if any of those help! Also, I requested the ostomy nurse from home care, and they redid my template for me.

Marathon will protect the skin if you need it.

Try different brands of barrier rings. These vary quite a bit, and a different ring may work better for you. I use the Adapt rings, and they swell quite a bit, which helps prevent leaks for me.

My Ostomy Journey: Ryan | Hollister

I've been using the Eakin Cohesive rings, and I feel that they are deteriorating with my body fluids.

I'll have to see about changing over.

I do a complete cleanup before I even get into the shower. Even from day one, I refuse to shower with my appliance on (even though I'm still in fear of an oops). And I dry myself off thoroughly. When I'm ready to prep myself for the setup, I try to maintain my clear fluid seepage by holding a paper towel over my out-port. If I don't do that, then my prep is wasted because of the slimy texture.

Good morning MyTwin,

I used the paste when I first started, only to say I did. It was very inconvenient and messy. I've since gone to the Sensura Mio 2-piece system with a Coloplast moldable barrier seal between the barrier and my belly. Coloplast barrier strips on the edge of the barrier give added leak protection. It's worked great for 5 years. I even went camping recently and spent 3 days floating in a river, 5 hours each day. The system worked great. No leaks and it lasted.

You'll find something that works. I hope it's soon for you.

Best of health,

SharkFan

I felt like the Eakin seal deteriorated on me, which limited their effectiveness. But some people love them. The Adapt rings swell quite a bit, which some people dislike, but they work well for me.

It's important to keep trying different products until you find one that works for you. We all have our favorites, but that doesn't mean they are right for you.

There's a lot of trial and error in finding a system that works.

Try Adapt paste. Far better than stoma paste. I've been using Adapt paste for 15 years and have tried several other products; the others suck. It costs about 12.00 dollars.

I have an ileostomy. I use the small Eakin cohesive seal. There is regular and thin size (I have used both with success). They are expensive (I have insurance). I haven't had a leak in over 20 years.

The seal is a waxy ring that goes around the base of your stoma so you can get an excellent fit. The flange goes on top of the seal.

Best of luck!

I haven't yet showered without my bag on, as I'm terrified. But like you said, so be it. I guess the worst thing that could happen can be cleaned up easily, so I may take the chance.

What is crusting? If you don't mind me asking, can you please explain it to me?

Mine swells a lot inside the flange opening. At first, I didn't think that was normal, but obviously, the swelling helps with leaks. However, the swelling is sometimes so thick around the stoma that I worry it's not right.

Is the moldable one a deep convex? Looking for options, but I need the deep convex. However, Coloplast sent samples of a light convex, but I'm still a bit nervous to try them.

I use the Coloplast deep convex in my urostomy and the light convex on my colostomy. I like them.

In my nearly one year of using a Coloplast two-piecer and Convatex Stomahesive Seal, I've had nothing ever leak under it except once when my output was extremely dry and hard and my working the stuff out of the area surrounding the stoma with a lot of pressure from my fingers actually forced some down below it. Do you have access to a stoma nurse? If not, I highly recommend getting one, as they can be very helpful. Aside from that, there are two other very important issues: 1) Does the contour of the back side of your bag or wafer match that of the area it covers around your stoma? and 2) As someone else mentioned, are you drying the skin well and then holding the bag in place for 10-15 minutes? After I wash and dry the area, I use a hair dryer to make sure the skin is completely dry and very warm (both crucial for adhesion), then lie on my back so my abdomen flattens out completely and hold the bag down firmly for 15 minutes to assure it really sticks.

TerryLT is right. This group told me to use a blow dryer for my husband's ileostomy, and it made a definite difference. Initially, after the surgery, he had a lot of gaps on his abdomen due to weight loss, and we used the paste. When he gained more weight, the paste no longer worked. Now we line the flange with waterproof tape for added protection.

I'm herniated as well. With a 2 1/4 inch prolapsed stoma (protrudes from the body about 5 inches at times), I have to lay down to do my changeover so the prolapse retracts, and it makes it easier to access the area on the bottom of the stoma. But once I stand back up, I start to prolapse again. Yes, that makes it hard to conceal.

The cracking paste was itchy, so I switched to Eakin paste, which has no alcohol and does not dry. It's like a gel, and you can put a layer on the edge of the wafer cut-out opening. Not too much. Hope that may work for you.

I shower with it on, then take it off just before I finish, cover the stoma, and clean with baby wipes. Less mess.

Swap bags, you can get samples sent out.

Try Hollister Premier

I just received samples from Coloplast. SenSura Mio Convex Flip. It's a 2-piece system with which I'm very impressed. Yesterday, I worked up a sweat doing minor chores, and the wafer never thought twice about staying put. The Hollister wafer I was using before would have started to pull away from my skin at the thought of sweat. The design of the star-shaped wafer hugs my herniated area as if it is being held on by a vacuum. The adhesive is awesome, and I highly recommend using the star-shaped wafer to anyone who suffers from a hernia behind their stoma.

I cannot use those; they swell up and seep through, and I feel it goes through the flange too much. I use Adapt paste; it never leaks at all! This new lifestyle is trial and error; eventually, you will get what works for you!