The Joy of Using Adapt Barrier Rings for Ileostomy Care

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gutenberg
Nov 23, 2009 7:36 pm
Well, friends, I'm almost at a loss for words, but here goes. I got my ileostomy around Easter of 2003, and since that time, I have gone through hell with leaking wafers and blowouts. All that came to an end last week when I got some free Adapt Barrier Rings from Hollister. Now I had to figure out how to use them. I got a notice that I had mail in my inbox from a dear lady in Florida who suggested I use a hair dryer on low for about 30 seconds; this made applying the ring so much easier. After one week, I finally removed the flange; it was as clean as when I put it on. Then I found out my Pharmacare will pay for these expensive little suckers; life is looking good. But to get to my reason for this screed, I kept thinking there's something in the back of my mind to make this job even easier, just like at work, you learn to adapt. Well, my idea was this simple adaptation. My stoma is approximately 1 inch and round. The hole in the barrier ring is about 5/8, so what I came up with was this. In my shed, I had a 1'' wooden dowel 3 feet long, so using a grinder, I tapered the end of the dowel from 1/2 inch to the 1-inch size, cut off four inches, and voilà, heat the barrier ring, slip it over the tapered end, and it slid right down to the 1-inch size and just slip it over the stoma. Simple is good. Thanks again, Barb, Ed




PS: These wooden dowels come in many thicknesses, should anyone care to try.
eddie
Nov 23, 2009 8:20 pm


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Thanks, Ed, that is a good idea that I can share with my patients. I am lucky my adapt ring fits exactly around my stoma without any need for stretching! I am so glad you got the rings. I have to use the convex ones. I too had so many leaking problems, skin erosion, and pain before I discovered these rings!

eddie
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lottagelady
Nov 23, 2009 8:27 pm
I have recently sampled these rings after reading about them on here, although I didn't really have many leakage problems anyway. The first attempt was exceedingly messy, but I now just put them on the flange and have no problems with leakage there - HOWEVER, I am having much more trouble with the 'glue' between the plastic ring and the pouch itself giving way, and causing leakage around the front or side of the pouch. This seems to have been happening since I started with the rings - is this just a coincidence?
baba
Nov 23, 2009 8:40 pm
I am just thrilled that I could help--sometimes it is the little things that  are just so easy- actually, I can't take credit for this as a wonderful guy on this site helped me through the worst time in my life-last May and June.  He changed my life with the help he gave me and the steps he gave me to get my appliance on securely.  So, we all help one another.  I can only say that this site has helped me more than any ostomy nurse.  The folks on this site know a lot more as they are living it!!
baba
Nov 23, 2009 8:44 pm
I have to tell you that with the eakin ring, you don't need any paste or glue--just warm it up and apply it and hold it and put pressure on it for about 30 seconds--then apply the wafer--it is magic!!
 

Getting Support in the Ostomy Community with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

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gutenberg
Nov 23, 2009 10:48 pm

Speaking of ostomy nurses, last March I went to the hospital seeking to see one, but apparently she only comes once a month, so my name went on the list. The clerk said, "I doubt she can see you next trip," as I glanced at the sheet and where my name was, I knew it would be a while. When May came and went, I went back to see where I stood; my name wasn't even on the new list, so I said, "The hell with it," I just ask questions in this forum, and there is no shortage of input, and I'm truly grateful for the way we ostomates try to help one another.
I have gathered up all my pastes and Coloplast strips and put them away, hopefully never to use them again. Now that I think everything is under control, I get a call from Convatec telling me they would be sending samples, and an email from the Eakin people saying the samples are on their way. When things start going this good, my sphincter goes into overdrive!
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gutenberg
Nov 23, 2009 11:13 pm
Coincidence sounds reasonable, what isn't reasonable is the leaking between the pouch and its seal, assuming you have a two piece appliance the pouch is a unit unto itself. I'm only guessing but it sounds like you have a bad batch of pouches. I would be on the phone to the manufacturer, just be your sweet self and I'm sure they'll send you some new ones or figure out what's going on. Luck. Ed
Past Member
Nov 24, 2009 12:56 am


Rachel... What glue? What system do you use? Trying to figure out where exactly you are having the leak?
lottagelady
Nov 24, 2009 10:40 am


Rachel... What glue? What system do you use? Trying to figure out where exactly you are having the leak?      

Difficult to explain, so I'll do my stuff with the photo thing later when I have time. In the meantime, I use a one-piece Hollister Moderma Flex Drainable Pouch with Integral Convexity. Catch you later, boys! x
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eddie
Nov 24, 2009 12:28 pm
Hi Ed, I am not an ostomy nurse, but because I live and work with an ostomy  several of our doctors and nurses ask me to work with patients who are having problems with application of equipment or dealing with the acceptance and coping involved with having a new ostomy.  Glad you found something that works

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eddie
lottagelady
Nov 24, 2009 1:53 pm
Now then, it seems that WAB has posted in the wrong thread and what I need is actually some of his





' Ass Glue........it cures everything.....lol'



That might also come in handy with the rectum removal thing I will have to decide on soon.....



Anyway, found it difficult to get it very clear, but with the help of a kebab stick, here goes...





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The bag leaks where that plastic ring meets the fabric of the pouch (end of kebab stick!) I used to get 3 - 4 days before it would leak there anyway, but since using the rings it has generally been 1 - 2 days only? The flange area is 99% leakage free,  only very occasional leakage there lately, so lucky in that respect. Any thoughts anyone or have I just got very acidic s**t or something?





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gutenberg
Nov 25, 2009 1:03 am
Rachel: I'm not a gambling man but... I would wager that there is no glue holding the bag and the ring together, I would be more inclined to think the two were mated together with a heat  and/or pressure method. I bet MMSH has a better explanation. Be interesting to hear how this is solved, keep us posted. Ed
Past Member
Nov 25, 2009 1:29 am

Rachel, I suspect the hard "ring" is injection moulded as one piece with the base of the flange... not too familiar with the one-piece system, having never used one. Still, I have a contact at Hollister and, with your permission, will direct her to this thread... perhaps she can shed some light on the problem. Thursday is a holiday, so it might possibly be the first of next week till we get a reply. You're getting good with that camera and photo posting!

lottagelady
Nov 25, 2009 5:15 am

Four o'clock (4:45 am to be precise) in the morning, and it looks like there's going to be another
sleepless night...

Many thanks, gentlemen. It looked like some sort of glue to me as it sort of gets 'thready' when it's being pulled apart, but what do I know? Looking forward to hearing from the Hollister person; that would be useful.

I believe that I should now wish you all a great Thanksgiving. (We miss out on that one; we just seem to celebrate the banks having a day off...!)

Happy Holidays to all my friends across the Atlantic xx

Past Member
Nov 27, 2009 8:16 am

As an ETRN, I have found Convatec Durahesive wafer material very helpful for ileostomates and those with urostomies... and convexity usually adds a better seal if peristoma skin is loose, as in a jelly belly, or just plain soft skin that has a little "give" around it.
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Past Member
Nov 28, 2009 12:26 am

Hey... Welcome to Ostomate on your first post. I am sure I speak for everyone... We really appreciate you nurses...

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Rachel... I am still looking for that contact info... I wrote it down and put it in a safe place... Er... Well, do I need to explain further? LOL... I promise I will find it!!!
gutenberg
Dec 01, 2009 1:01 am

Now it hardly seems a chore. I used to hate having to change every day; now I put that time to good use, doing nothing. Not really, but close. Thanks again. Ed

jonnyt41
Dec 04, 2009 9:53 pm
I started using Adapt awhile back and am very happy with them. My wear time went from four to six days. I cut my little 2" rings into four pieces and roll them out and make four loops out of them.
gutenberg
Dec 04, 2009 9:59 pm

Now that my ostomate friend sounds like one hell of a good idea, we can never have too many. Good work, Ed.