This topic is all about managing ostomy leakage while engaging in garden or farm work. If you're getting back to outdoor activities like shoveling, weeding, planting, and harvesting after surgery, you might find that your ostomy wafer or barrier loosens and leaks. Here are some practical tips to help you prevent this:

1. Identify the exact leak point:
- Remove the wafer before it completely fails and check where the adhesion has lifted and where the output first appears.
- Look for areas of uneven skin or moisture that might prevent the adhesive from sealing properly.
- Repeat this process a few times to identify a pattern, which will help you make informed changes to your products.

2. Keep in mind that your stoma size is still changing at 8 weeks:
- Measure your stoma with each change; even a 1-2 mm difference can lead to leaks.
- Expect changes for several months and cut the opening to size or order custom products until the size stabilizes.

3. Increase mechanical support during activity:
- Consider using support or ostomy belts like the Stealth Belt or Hollister belt to prevent the pouch from tugging or snagging.
- Hernia belts provide both support and protection, as there is a risk of parastomal hernia when lifting or shoveling.
- A light convex wafer combined with hernia support can help with leaks caused by bending over an uneven stoma site.

4. Review weight-lifting limits:
- Surgeons often recommend a 10 lb/4.5 kg limit early on; exceeding this with shovels or full buckets can risk prolapse or hernia.

5. Change the appliance more often in hot, sweaty conditions:
- Some people find daily changes necessary.
- Sweat can undermine adhesive, so consider adjusting your change schedule on hot days.

6. Product adjustments that have helped other farm/garden workers:
- Light convex bags from various brands can help flatten slight skin dips.
- Barrier rings or pastes can fill uneven skin and reinforce the seal.
- Dansac TRE seals and Coloplast seals are known for being "very sticky."
- Coloplast Brava Protective Sheet can stay on for 7-10 days even with heavy sweating.
- Apply the Coloplast Brava sheet as follows: clean/dry skin → cut hole with a washable template → apply sheet once → add barrier ring → flange → pouch.
- Soft ostomy tape can be added around the wafer for gym or heavy-sweat days.

7. General application tips:
- Shave a 5 × 5 cm area to improve adhesion.
- Warm adhesives with a hair dryer before applying.
- Use skin-prep/protectant wipes if your skin tolerates them.
- Hold tissue around the stoma during application to keep the area dry.

8. Accessories that reduce nuisance but not leaks:
- M9 deodorant drops and lubricating deodorant spray can help control odor inside the pouch.

9. Patience and gradual testing:
- Many people find that leaks diminish as the stoma and surrounding skin mature over the first year, and as they refine their personal appliance system.