Trouble with my stoma and bag. Any advice please?

Oh dear Elayne, you are going through a rough patch with your stoma at the min aren't you? I've had mine for two years now and it's permanent. We all have little blips sometimes but soon get used to overcoming them and honestly things will get easier for you.

You should have a stoma nurse and it'd be a good idea to contact her with any problems you have. She's the expert and can give you advice and samples to try. The GP needs to prescribe you some type of cream to promote healing the skin. So I suggest going to see both.

Are you a member of The Colostomy Association. Check it out on the web, they are very supportive and have a 1/2 yearly magazine with lots of useful tips.

Sounds like your pancacking and sore skin is a vicious cirlce. Sort out the pancacking and the sore skinn will recover. I too still get pancaking at times but then I do wear jeans and refuse to give them up. But when it happens I change the pouch straight away, even if it has to be changed a few times. I also use a barrier wipe to protect my skin, every time I change a pouch. There are many different ones on the market to choose from. Though with sore open skin you probably can't use them at the min.

I also use conceal plugs, which are actually inserted like a tampon into the stoma for up to 12 hours. This stops the stoma from passing anything at all until it's removed. It gives much freedom, and you don't know it's there. You can wear anything with comfort and it gives me much confidence. It would also give your skin a breather and a chance to recover 'cos no output means no pancakes eh. You'd have to ask your stoma nurse 'cos not all stomas are suitable to be able to use the plugs.

Hope you get sorted soon, let us know.

Take care

Jan x

Hiya...ouch!

I get the soreness round my stoma when I get a cold...Hmmm don't ask!

My stoma nurse gave me some Sorbaderm lollipop shaped barrier wipe-thingies which I whoosh round Jackson (my stoma is called Jackson) every time I change baggies...they are fantastic.

Check it out with your best friend-your stoma nurse...

Good luck and hope your comfy soon...jane c

Hi Elayne Like you I have a temporary Stoma, an ileostomy, I finished my chemo three weeks ago. I call my Stoma, Clegg, and joke that bags stay on for three hours or three days there's nothing in between. You will probably find that the chemo will really alter the consistency of your output,making it very liquid,this puts an end to pancaking. Stoma barrier cream again in bottle and sachet for travelling Absorbent powder for when skin around Stoma is really breaking down, but don't use this all the time as it makes the new skin very granular and then adhesive doesn't work so well..calamine lotion can also be used as this is soothing and leaves little residue on skin to interfere with the bag Use a hair dryer to really dry the skin surrounding Stoma before putting on new bag in the first few days the more time You take to prepare the skin around the Stoma the better the stick. Also the bag adhesive are same as some dressings so every time you change the bag you are applying a fresh dressing.you can get some arc shaped extensions to bag adhesive for extra confidence when out and about. I also use some oddities, a maternity belt to support the bottom of the adhesive bag ring, I find that when I am out and about this helps to support the weight of output in bag and reduce leaks, available from Amazon. I also use tie on baby terry bibs on top of the ring adhesive and under the bag, this reduces perspiration from bag plastic and if I shower or bath with bag on keeps damp bag away from skin it also protects clothes if I have a leak. Hope this has helped.good luck I remember my first weeks and I was distraught .

is that a bit dangerous could cause a blockage