WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Hi Mark, 

I think you may need to change your make of bag. I have lots of allergies and in the hospital they did a patch test and gave me Welland bags with Manuka honey adhesive parts.

Back at home the local stoma nurses gave me different bags (they are all employed by the bag makers/delivery companies so push their own brands) and I had a lot of itching and open sores so Insisted on going back to the Welland ones.

I do still have a little soreness, especially if it didn't stick as well as it should and urine gets inside the sticking bit (wafer I think they call it).

They advised me to use calomine lotion or a steroid lotion to cure the problem. Some people use creams but while they help the skin the bag doesn't stick properly on greasy skin.

Ring your stoma nurse and make sure she does something. Life's too short to be itchy.

All the best,

Latestart

Hi latestart 

I've been using calamine lotion the past few days recommended by my stoma nurse. The redness seems to have lessened. I suppose it's all part of it and it will settle down soon 

Iam using a bag called dansac nova. They are a lighter bag. I found the ones in hospital a bit heavy.

Best wishes latestart 

Mark

Never heard of them, but now I'm back on Welland I shall stick to them (sorry for the pun). When you say lighter do you mean they have a lower capacity so they fill more quickly? ie before they become heavy. My bag itself feels light when I attach it.

Best wishes,

Latestart

Hi latestart 

No there's no difference in capacity . The other bag I used at first was coloplast sensura mlo. All very exotic. The sticky part is different and it's made of a slightly heavier material 

Best wishes 

Mark

I see. I use coloplast spray to remove bags, (am not allergic to that though was to other brands). It's all trial and error and I've learnt the hard way not to use anything without a skin patch test.

Best wishes,

Latestart

Hi Mar09

Just reading through your post and answers to what happens next. I’m now 14 months on from RC and have settled into a routine of 6 monthly CT scans and meeting with surgeon or one of his team and to date everything is going well.
I had a meeting with surgeon 4 weeks after discharge and in that 4 week period had 2 home visits from my Stoma nurse who set everything up regarding monthly supply of bags, night bags when needed, wipes adhesive remover etc. I was given Welland bags in hospital and after checking I had no skin reaction she said to just stay with them. She is very helpful, knowledgable and always returns any calls promptly. I saw her in clinic a couple of times at my local hospital in the first year and now it’s just ‘ring and call in to clinic if you have a problem’. Fortunately my local hospital is just 2 miles away.

I had very few problems after the first six months. Bowels very gradually settled down but that took almost a year to feel absolutely normal. Had leaks at first but mastered the armpit warming technique for about 5 minutes which stopped the problem. I change daily after shower and the changing part is just a 15 minute ritual. Never let them get too full which can be difficult if away from home for any length of time. Night bags can be tricky and can air lock. Have found the best way is empty a part full stoma bag into night bag whilst standing to prevent this.

This is what came next with me and seems pretty standard with NHS. Only other advice I can give is to keep in touch with stoma nurse and try and take a daily walk when you feel fit enough to do so.

Hi stapled 

Thanks for taking the time to write all that info. 

Yes iam now checking for air locks by emptying some of the stoma bag into the night bag before bed. As i posted I knew nothing about a biopsy being taken during surgery and only found out when I contacted my cns. I now have to wait anxiously on that coming back. Iam now four weeks post op and I hope it won't be long. I guess I'll have a meeting when they get them.

Best wishes and thanks again 

Mark

Hi Mark,You should get an appointment soon.Mine was 6 weeks after discharge.It’s interesting how we all have different ways with the night bag.I don’t empty urine into it first but I do straighten out the night bag before I connect it.I have  had less than 5 leaks at night in over 5 years.Jane x