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May 28, 2018

Waterproofing Ostomy Appliance & Travel Tips for Viking Cruise

This topic is all about finding effective ways to waterproof an ostomy appliance, especially for activities like swimming, showering, and dealing with humid conditions. It also covers practical tips for preventing nighttime leaks, particularly during a Viking cruise. The person seeking advice is using a Hollister 8614 one-piece system and has some challenges due to an indentation from a stoma relocation. Here are some helpful suggestions and insights:

1. Keep your appliance fresh:
- Change your pouch or wafer before engaging in activities like swimming, scuba diving, flying, or any heavy activity days.
- Many people find changing every 2 days or on the morning of a flight helps with adhesion, while others can go a full week if their output is predictable.

2. Use skin barriers and wafers that hold well:
- A Coloplast 4 × 4 skin barrier under a Hollister 8632 one-piece pouch has been effective for some users, even during heavy physical work.
- Coloplast SenSura one-piece drainable pouches are known to stay secure in pools, hot tubs, and the ocean without needing extra products.

3. Consider waterproof over-seals:
- Sure Seal Rings act like shrink-wrap over the entire wafer and are highly recommended for pool, ocean, and cruise use. They last up to 3–4 days but may need changing sooner in hot, humid, or very active conditions.
- Brava elastic barrier strips are preferred over generic pink 3M waterproof tape, which can fail in heat and water.

4. Fill or bridge uneven skin:
- Coloplast moldable "putty" can be used to fill indentations before applying the wafer. Samples can be obtained from stoma nurses or Coloplast.
- A larger-diameter wafer might provide more adhesion time on uneven peristomal areas.

5. Protect your bed and travel comfortably:
- Use disposable bed pads or a washable mattress protector on cruise-ship beds for peace of mind.
- Carry a spare pouch, wafer, barrier ring, and a disposal bag during shore excursions. If the pouch overfills and no toilet is available, you can remove it, seal it in the disposal bag, and apply the spare.
- Follow the "empty at one-third full" rule to prevent ballooning, especially if the charcoal filter clogs during flights or after swimming.

6. Use support garments:
- Swim wraps from ostomysecrets.com help keep the pouch close to the body. If an adhesive fails, the wrap contains everything until you can change. They can also be worn at night for added security.

7. Additional tips and observations:
- Sure Seal combined with the correct application technique can prevent most leaks; practice before your trip.
- Heat and sweat can be more problematic than water, so consider resealing or changing sooner in hot climates.
- A homemade waterproof cover can be made from a cut-up zipper plastic bag and pink tape, though results may vary and leaks are still possible.
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