bad night !!

Hi Paul I have had an ileostomy since September last as part of colon cancer treatment, during chemo the output was very loose, after treatment overnight the output thickened, I had pancaking all the time with resulting sore skin and so many leaks. I offer the following which have worked for me. Are you dehydrated, I drink a lot of hot tea and notice that on days out when I don't drink as much the output is really thick. I was putting the bag on far too low and the output was following gravity and flowing under the flange. I now put the hole in bag as close as possible to the bottom of Stoma. Really stupid of me. Also is the hole big enough to allow normal peristalsis movement through, if not then this normal gut movement will simply pump under the flange. I also rinse the bag, using warm water and a few drops of oil in an empty 500ml Pepsi bottle. I only do this when the output is thick. I also push any thick output hanging around the Stoma gently down the bag to allow free flow. Use Stoma powder sparingly on sore skin immediately surrounding Stoma at bag change this will help heal and make better stick The best advice ref Stoma I was given by another patient was to really look at the old bag flange when you change it, this will really show you where there are problems and you can address them either adjust hole size shape or treat inflamed skin. Persevere you will find the best solution for you, I now make a bag last two to three days,am an active 68 year old woman, we took our first overseas holiday since my diagnosis this month and I have dug half of my allotment. There is life after Stoma