Very bad leakings changing bag several times day

Oh dear. I’ve heard of this before with colostomy’s. Sadly I’m no use. My Ileostomy was fast and furious and I managed the consistency with diet. Certain foods like dry crackers thickened it. 
A little baby oil is put in the opening and pouch and move it about around corners ect. It oils it and gives the output to be encouraged to the bottom of the pouch. You can add lavender oil for a nice smell 

SarahH2 has lots of experience with her colostomy she’s taken hers to the Maldives so she would be the one to help. I’m going to see if I can tag her. Though not done it before 

No……. Not able  need training in tagging 

best wishes 

 SarahH21 

Yippee trained. I looked it up xx

Where is a smiley reaction when you need it?! Just come on and saw this. Now I’ll go back and read the posts! Thanks Ann.

Sarah xx

No only thumbs up. Tech need to add a smiley xx

Hi MissTee 

Gosh you’ve had such a time of it, and I’m sad to see you are having issues with your colostomy. I’ve had my permanent colostomy for nearly 3 years now, so I guess I am very used to it and I don’t have negative feelings towards it-I know it can’t ever be reversed, so I try to look for the positives from having it.

I would say from my own experience and from what I read from others on here, that it’s easier to control the ileostomy with diet, not so much the colostomy. I had very liquid output in the weeks after surgery but mine is very settled now, and I don’t have any real restrictions on my diet, although certain things will make it work more often. I’ve never once had to take senna or loperamide, so I don’t have any experience of suitable dosage etc. I cannot control it in any way through diet, but maybe others are more successful than me. 

What I do have experience of is the walnut whip look, which I have frequently! My output often struggles to go into the bag-I am often pushing it down, but it doesn’t bother me too much. Mine does not produce every day-I can go a couple of days with nothing and then suddenly have a big clear out, but I can never predict it, which can be frustrating. Some days I have diarrhoea, just like anyone can, so as I use a one piece closed pouch that can mean a lot of bag changes. I use an adhesive remover spray which I really need as otherwise removal can be a struggle.

I’m really glad you have been able to find the right products to suit you-that’s a huge part of this. I’m sorry I’m no help as my experiences seem very different and how I view my colostomy is very different but I hope things settle down for you and things become easier to cope with. 

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah, it's not such a chore, apart from when it's in overdrive, the consultant said to take senna as I'd gone from Friday til tursday with no output, I've gone a week before, before my surgery my bowels were stubborn, if I went once a week I'd be doing well, but I took senna and docusate every day, I wouldn't have been so bothered, but I won't be using senna again, it's 2 days of hardly any sleep. I woke up today and my stomach, right at the top, just between the ribs, was so painful, never had that before, cramps yes, even with the stoma, but never the top, took buscapwn and it helped, other half gets annoying if I'm in pain, as when I had ileu and the the emergency op, it was him who literally dragged me to the hospital where I had had the op, so not my local, but I was seen by my consultant. I just wanted to sleep, every time I opened an eye he was stood over me, I called him "creeping ajesus" and just before my emergency op apparently I was singing one day at a time sweet Jesus, I don't remember much both times, I was eating nothing, it was he'll when they put the tube up my nose to drain my stomach, I was throwing up so much the consultant hid behind the door!! She did have a nice dress on. I'll egt used to the stoma, I doubt I'll ever really get on with it, but it was needed at the time. 

Hi Magps

I am so sorry ti hear you’re having issues with your stoma bag.  It is a challenge in itself just having one.  I hope you can find a solution fast.

I too had a leakage on my first night home from hospital with my stoma bag. I slept through the night without emptying my bag and it leaked as it was so full.  Once the output reached my stoma as it was thin it leaked onto my skin.  I also had leakage from it coming away.  So my experience taught me to empty it when it was a third full. 

• I also had a flat pouch and my stoma nurse changed it to a convex one (mentioned by Ian) which is slightly raised around the ring so I now use a Hollister 54000.
  
  There was still the odd leakage which caused my skin to go red raw & attaching a new bag always stung.  When I walked it pinched and stung which was rather painful. I stayed home because of the pain. 
  
  
• the stoma nurse then ordered Cera rings which attach to the ring and sticks directly onto my skin.  I make sure the ring edges (the ring is like putty/plasticine), are pressed slightly passed the inside of the cut out circle so it adds as a buffer to stop output hitting my skin.  The circle needs to be only a tiny bit bigger than the outline of your stoma. I was shown this by my nurse. 
  my nurse gave me the powder which also helps heal the raw skin.  You don’t need to use too much though after you have dried skin around your stoma.
  Following the new convex bags & using the Cera rings, I have had far less leakage and my skin healed quickly. 
  
  
• my nurse ordered the Brava adhesive semi circle tape as mentioned by another member but these didn’t work for me, it may work for you. 
  
  

I change my bag every second day or even third but the earlier the better seems best for my skin. 

It seems that you are having longevity issues with the bag adhesive because your skin is getting wet and is raw.  

• Are you emptying your bag early enough?    I was told to do so when it was a third full so it didn’t reach my stoma. 
  
  
• is your output too thin?    I have a prescription for Loperimide which is equivalent to Imodium, it thickens your output to a porridge like consistency so less leakage.
  To thicken your output, you can also eat smooth peanut butter, toast, marshmallows, jelly babies, cheese, potatoes, crisps.  And not drink a lot of liquid too quickly.  This will reduce leakage.  
  
  
• I wish I could help with your adhesive issue.  Are you drying your skin sufficiently?   Dry wipes will help and especially the powder.  
  
  I have to press the rim of the circle (of my bag) to my skin to stick down… do you have to with your bags?  I know you’ll be tender with your skin raw but it may help. 
  
  

I hope something above helps you resolve your leakage very quickly.  

All the best

Sebbie

Hi, glad to hear things are better for you.  

I sent a recent message (long one!) just now to Magps… unsure if that’s your username. Sorry I didn’t realise your original post was 2wks ago… I just wanted to share my experience like others in the hope it would help. 

I'm glad you’ve changed bags.  Convex worked for me to stop leaks with a Cera Ring.  Plus making sure my output was thicker. 

Hope everything improves from now on. 

all the best

Sebbie