OSTOMY TIPS

Tips for Preventing Ostomy Leaks

Clean skin well with soap and water and dry well - no lotion or lotion soap around stoma area! DO NOT use skin prep! The prep prevents the barrier and ring or paste from melding with the skin. It used to be recommended, but not with today's products. Cut the barrier and peel off plastic on barrier and let sit a few minutes before applying. Do this also with the ring. Use rings instead of paste. If you have to use the paste, put a thin layer around the cut barrier device and let it set a few minutes before applying. Remember, the paste is not a glue. Overuse will cause a leak, not help prevent it! When the barrier is placed over the stoma, have the patient hold their hand over it for a couple of minutes. The warmth of the hand will help it seal. You can use your own hand if the patient is unable to.

Hope these tips help.

Eddie

Good morning,

I use the skin prep and have never had issue.  I have found with ring if I warm it 5-10 minutes depending on how much body heat a person puts out this helps a lot.  Ways I have warmed are still wrapped under armpit, sitting with it under bare leg or in bra. I also use stoma powder after prep and as long as one let's the prep dry don't see an issue.  If not dry yep can leak.  Learned this early on from home health nurse when she came 3 days a week for wound vac.

I can't use paste it dries like a hard plastic ring and was very painful to remove.  Took over 20 minutes and a ton of tears.   Home health nurse suggested it for added protection, she was here the day i was to put on new appliance and we agreed it wasnt for me It works for others though, just not me.  I think any ostomate would agree to new and improved if having a problem, its worth a try.  I grew up being told if it ain't broke don't fix it. 

Good Morning Eddie,

I also use a skin prep and have never had a problem as long as I let it dry before putting bag on. I must say the wipes work better for me than spray preps. I only use spray prep after applying stoma powder in trouble spots around stoma and just on powder, no where else. I have also had better luck with paste instead of rings for preventing leaks but you have to let it set for a minute or 2 before applying. I guess it just goes to show us that everyone is different and it's all trial and error and error and error before you find what works for you.

Darlene

Lol. Loved the error and error and error.  Ain't it the truth.

Hi my south of the border friend,

It is the truth. I had days where my bag leaked 3 or 4 times right after changing. So frustrating. I realized I said everyone is different. I once said that if another Dr. told me that I was going to strangle him with his stethoscope and then I use the very same line. Good thing I'm not wearing a stethoscope.  : )

Darlene

Hey good day, those were tips

I wrote for my nurses they get very little ostomy care training in college, if you skin prep and have no problems great!, I was told by ostomy suppler not to use it. To each his own.

eddie

A food journal is a good idea to help a new ostomate learn what foods may give you problems. It is also good when you try a new food that you try only a small amount and increase the amount over time.

I know I can eat nuts but no more than I can fit in one hand anymore and I'm asking for trouble.

Cann,

Why not use a hair dryer on the ring. Set it on high for 30 seconds. I find it works like a charm.

hey Eddie, 4 mos post surgery and i still am having leakage problems. thanks for your advice... i know i have tried every combination and after the leak this am,  we are thinking of another 'ways' to try. i will keep coming back to hear success stories and can't wait till i can post mine! i think i have tried the sensura mio but...?  i'm going to ask for another and maybe  Hollister "dome" 1 piece( think it may not have worked ??), and the Hollister 1 piece sent home with me (which seems the most comfortable).  i'm bound  and determined to make a decision SOON.  Lord, only knows when, not if, i'll need to find another (fat gain,  etc.) lol ...  I have other issues still like pain and if i do too long an outting (which i don't!!), i'm down, as in the bed for rest of day!  :(  

Anyway, hi all! take care,    Duncan

Eddie. Great message with which I partially agree. If my skin starts looking a bit irritated I use Adapt stoma powder and Cavilon no sting barrier film wipes in appliance prep. There is no difference in efficacy with using or not using these skin products...no leaks either way. Using them,when needed, really keeps my skin healthy. Maybe I'm just lucky?

     I read this forum all the time and find it very helpful and interesting although I rarely speak up. Hope my thoughts here are helpful to some.

I do what you do.  It has worked great.  Was told the less stuff you put on skin the better.  Keep it simple is my way.  Had my ostomy since

aug. 2012.

Hi Eddie, thanks for your post. I was recently at Jackson South hospital in Miami having surgery for a fístula under my belly button. In the process I got a new ileostomy; the original one was done in 2010. I noticed that nurses didn't use alcohol, iodine or another disinfectant to clean my incision or my ileostomy; they used soap and water. Before the surgery I was using alcohol followed by hydrogen peroxide to prep my ileostomy. Now I know, like you said, soap and water is sufficient for getting rid of any germs around my ileostomy. And this way it's much less harmful to the skin. 

On the subject of leaking wafers, I'd like to share that I've been using Herb Pharm Friar's Balsam just before I apply the wafer to the skin. It serves two purposes: it heals and protects the skin from any irritation and it helps the wafer adhere to the skin, preventing leaks. A word of warning: if your skin is irritated when you apply the balsam, it will sting a lot, but for less than minute.

For me, skin prep is a must and the difference between ugly broken skin and perfect intact skin. You can give tips, but they're not a must or the gospel. What is good for you isn't necessarily good for everyone. I'd hate to see you put people off with your post, when you sound so absolute. There are no rights or wrongs. Regards.

Dear h5g,

I totally agree with you that what works for me may not work for someone else. My intention was to share what has worked for me; in fact, I previewed my comment by saying that I wanted to share my experience. I regret that you interpreted my comment as a "must do"

Jim from Canada

First timer here. Today I'm four ( actually 74 ) four years ago I had my operation so I have a birthday every year since that.  I have been very lucky, as I have only had about 5 leaks in the four years.  ( I think out of the box!)  I did not have anyone show me just what I was supposed to do after my operation, so I figured it out for my self and it all works fine.

First off, I NEVER put any kind of soap on the area as I found it causes leaks.  I don't use thing period! I am also quite hairy in the area so have to shave it every second time or so during the process I'm about to describe.  I change every three days or as I call them "Number three days" those are days that are divisable by three on the calendar.  Here is exactly what I do, over and over!  ( I use a Holister two piece.) 

 I set, the pouch, with the mirror sitting on it and the barrier sitting on the mirror,  ( start pealing the plastic cover on the glue off, but do not remove it )  and set it over to the left of my sink sitting on my ceramic toilet tank, ready for action.  I have a very small hair dryer and set it on the left side of the sink bowl.  I take two folded half sections of paper towel  ( from the kitchen roll type of paper ) and set them over to the right behind the fauset, where they cannot blow away later.  I also have a piece of stiff clear plastic tubing, two inches long, and 1.5" in diameter with a 1/4" thick wall.  (I bought from this from a company in New York ).   I set this along with my razor and a comb on the right side of the sink bowl. I have a towel bar with towel and a baby terry wash cloth on the right side as well.  I always shower first, with the pouch on.  ( This makes it come off with out skin tears etc. ) 

After comming out of the shower I dry off and then belly up to the sink! ( Note: a towel on the floor near the sink is a good idea. )   I remove the two piece Holister pouch at one time ( it has to be empty of course ) and deposit it in the plastic bag in the waste basket for later disposal.   Do this by slowly and gently holding the edge and pushing on your skin to seperate it from your skin.  When it comes off, I then use the baby terry cloth towel ( You can buy them at Target  in a pack of 6 ) and vigoursly rub the the rough side of the wet  baby towel on my skin to be sure to remove all the adhesive that may be sticking on my skin. ( I pick the glue back off of the towel one piece at a time.  when the glue is removed from the area, I use the paper towels to remove any wetness by patting and wiping the area quite dry. Next, use the hair dryer to completely dry the whole area. Here is the good part!  Use the hair dryer to heat the glue part of the barrier, not real hot but quite warm.  This will make it so much better for sticking onto your skin.  Now put down the dryer and pick up  the barrier and remove the covering plastic from the glue area.  Use the mirror to center the barrier over your stoma.  Now I use the plastic tubing I mentioned eaerlier.  This tube fits exactly inside the barrier and over my stoma.  I press the barrier tightly to my body. Note: it is still warm from the hair dryer heating it.  ( This is the secret, it stick so much better! )  I peal the two stips that are on the outer part of barrier off and press the outer barrier ring to my body as well!  Snap on the outer pouch and ladies you  done.   I mensioned I'm hairy so I shave around the area near the stoma when required to keep the glue from sticking to the hair, which is a problem!  I do not shave all over down there so some times hairs will get stuck under the edge of the pouch.  They pull and it hurts, so I use the comb to catch them and pull them out from under the edge pouch before they become a problem when I move about later.

I know this was long, but I hope the clarety of it helps a lot of people who are having troubles.  I have had absolutly NO TROUBLES  from doing this routine.  Try it, or as close to it as you can get with what ever company brand of supplies you have.  

My motto:  Live on the edge and rememer what ever you do from here on in is free because you would not be here!

Can you please share the stiff hard plastic company info from NY.    I have always wished for something along this line to tamper down inside wafer.  I have tried a few PVC contraptions from hardware store but smooth edge has been problem.

Hi. if you stoma is fush with you body or an inny Try convex products that is what I had to do to stop leaking Good Luck eddie

No Innis or flush

Mmm... I see a lot of no's and do nots- those are commands not tips. It's all good IMHO, we all think and do for ourselves, you just came across a bit put off-ish. Could have been worded a tad more helpful and supportive. We have a lot of new folks and sensitive readers, I'd hate for them to read you as the gospel. :)

are you talking to me?

Search the internet. I'd like to tell you but it will be a form of advertizing and the admin will remove it.  Sorry about that. Jim

Cann  Put the words Stoma and Plex together and search that.

Jim

Jim

Thank you for the tip I found it just fine.

Glad you found the info, Cann. i certainly could have told you the company, name of bag and bag# ... lol.  My issue at this time is ... my stoma is an outty, i have a little swelling (or maybe fat; doubt that because i weigh 130 at 6' tall..lol) right over stoma and then rest from stoma down is flat. how the heck do you eliminate leaking when you are shaped like that?  still pushing forward and today is my birthday but i don't real birthday-ey.  :)  take care all; talk soon. Duncan

Like you I am slender, but right under my outty stoma my skin although not concave has always been more inward.  Coloplast curved strips work well for me on underside of appliance, no leaks.

Thanks...will try.  :)

Great post eddie! I'm sure it will help anyone who reads it .

Thank You Miss A-1 LOL