Unable to handle Big O

Got a bad time for the last few weeks, no regular output. Take a lot of laxatives and very little results. Thought that I'm getting used to the colostomy. I didn't change the bag for a few days and the result was that when I took it off, the adhesive was sticking so badly to the skin that I ripped it all off and bled terribly, and it was so painful. Had problems cleaning the skin with adhesive remover and barrier wipes for some relief; on top of it, the clean pouch wouldn't stick properly. After 3 days of cleaning the skin and changing the bag, even though it was empty, it is now a bit better, just a few spots on the skin still bleeding. Anyone has had experience how to go about it and how to avoid it in the first place. I wear a one-piece closed appliance only, can't handle other appliances with one hand only. Should use a smaller opening, 25mm instead of 30mm, which lets liquid feces through and the skin around the stoma is inflamed, but my support workers are mostly not here at night if Bubbles is active to help. Appreciate some feedback on how to avoid those. Cheers, schneckerm88.

Dear Schnecker, sorry to hear you are having a hard time with your ostomy. Take heart, it does get better. Ok, so first things first...don't rip the appliance off of your skin!! LOL It hurts, then if you bleed, as you know the new one won't stick!! I understand your situation is somewhat challenging due to being less mobile; however, you just need to implement some new solutions. I remove mine in the shower after it gets good and wet. I'm not sure if that is an option for you, but if not, then try to moisten your flange before removal. Maybe lay some warm wet facecloths around your flange prior to removal. If it is sticking that well, then maybe you are removing it too early. Try leaving it on a day or two longer.

As far as your output is concerned, you should probably consult your physician. It sounds like you may have a partial obstruction if you are eating regularly and not getting an equal amount of output. I would hesitate to take advice from anyone but a qualified practitioner or ostomy nurse.

I hope you feel better soon and keep your chin up. )

Have a great day.

Paul

Schnecker,

Bodyrocker makes some good points. If I might add, as you gently remove the appliance, use the adhesive remover (Unisolve?) and moisten it. Then, as you pull off the adhesive slowly, repeat this process until the appliance is completely removed. Make sure that you use additional adhesive remover to ensure that any residual adhesive does not cling to your skin. Now, with warm water and a non-perfumed soap, wash and dry very thoroughly. Use a hair dryer to warm the adhesive of the new appliance and then apply it. Good luck.

X_

Hi there schneckerm, greetings from across the pond, Nova Scotia, Canada, but we have the same problems no matter where we are when they happen. A few years back I had similar problems and I was using Hollister products at the time and I got this advice from a fellow ostimate and it goes like this: first try and get as close to an exact size of your stoma, and I realize you are using metric size but try to, and if necessary get some help, I found this very important, and I'm sorry but I have to use inches and maybe you can do the conversion. Anyway I was using a flange with a one inch hole but my stoma was seven/eights, maybe just a bit larger, but my friend told me a small squeeze of 1/32inch would not bother my stoma in the least, and he was so right. By having a good fit eliminated anything getting past the smaller opening which allowed me to keep the flange on long enough for the skin to heal and the first time I tried this I left the flange on for seven days and after a week the skin was all healed around the stoma. Of course if you could use a type of seal it would work just as well but I understood you would have difficulties trying to go that route. I wish you luck with your problem, Ed

Dear Gutenberg, Xerxes, Bodyrocker!!! Thanks so much for all your good advice, will follow them re: skin problems and will try a smaller stoma size hole, but I would like to stay on the Hollister large pouch. Never had a leakage with them, whereas other convex one-piece gave me many accidents at night. Certainly will take the advice from Paul re: seeing a specialist for the problem not getting a fair output. Just had an obstruction in early June and this was removed. Nevertheless, going 4 days without any output seems to be not quite right. Again, thanks gentlemen very much appreciated your comments and concerns.
Feeling much better getting online to share with other Ostomates. LOL
Schnecke