Nightmare weekend

Hello Ali,

I am 7 weeks after operation now on my 4th change of bag. I am on the convex now much better no leaks. I have found the Salts bag doesn't make me as red, I think it is just trial and error . When you get the right one stick to it. My output can be very liquid this causes me to be red as it gets under the white ring you put around the stoma. I am now on 2 laperomide 4 times a day, that seems to be working for me at he moment. I do use a protective sealer spray that also helps. 

Just keep asking the stoma nurses, they are so helpful, sure you will sort it out soon. 

Think I am getting there.I am just missing all the veg I used to eat. lol

Julie

Hi Julie, what is the sealer spray called? and i will get it ordered, do you spray it on your skin before you put the bag on?

All companies do the protective spray, it can also come in a sachet, just ask your stoma nurse and they will send you some through the post to try. If you get on with it they will put it on your regular prescription. 

Julie

Hi Ali Bali

I’m not sure first of all what kind of stoma you have-ileostomy or colostomy? I can only speak about my experience with a colostomy. But you are very soon after surgery and this is probably the most difficult time, while you’re waiting for things to heal and settle. From my experience you need to get your skin healed as moist skin will definitely stop the bag sticking. I don’t like the powder at all-I tried that in the early days and found it hopeless. The best thing I found was to let the air to it if you can, put some calamine lotion on a cotton pad and gently wipe over your skin round the stoma. This will immediately soothe it. Let this dry naturally, or dry with a hairdryer on a low setting taking care not to get too close. Try putting the bag on when your skin is completely dry, and warm the bag-blow into it before putting in on, and again gently heat with a hairdryer to improve the stickiness.

You may need to think about trying different products as your current one may not be the best-I’ve tried loads over the years, and your stoma nurse can sort you out with some to try, or companies are happy to send free samples. If your skin is sore, your output will sting and I know how soul destroying it can be not to be able to get on top of your issues. Much is trial and error in the early days, but once you have sorted your skin and got the right product for you, things will be much easier. You can also get extra pieces of tape which go round the bag on either side-I use brava elastic strips-which help the bag to stick on better. 

I hope things will improve for you, but remember it’s still very early days.

Sarah xx

Hey, my mum has an ileostomy and she struggled at first due to the output stinging the skin around her stoma so the stoma nurses gave her these little rings to keep the output away from your skin that attach around the stoma and then to the bag and they've been a god send for her.

Hello Ali Bali

Sorry to hear you’re having this problem, it can be sole destroying. It is still early days and it could well be your body adjusting – I know, not what you want to hear.  As SarahH21 has said getting the right product for you is also important, I tired quite a few before finding one that suited.  Your stoma nurses should be able to help re samples of other products but I tended to do my own research and found the companies were happy to help sending out samples to me direct.

Regarding the stingy output and leaks, I occasionally had this when I had my ileostomy (it’s now reversed) and I was sometimes in tears too.  It was usually when my output became slightly more liquid and yellow or greenish colour, caused by excess bile.  I kept a food diary and eventually worked out certain foods especially fatty foods made this happen (and it also happened after Covid vaccinations).

Do you keep a food diary if so, examining what you’ve eaten might point to a culprit?  But it is early days for you.

What I found worked best for me was Brava Skin Barrier Spray (let it completely dry) with Salts Aloe Rings and Coloplast Sensura Mio Convex bags.  Make sure your skin is completely dry before attaching your new bag.  This is sometimes difficult if your stoma is producing output and sometimes you just have to sit on the loo and wait.  I used to heat the rings and my bag on the radiator before attaching as this seemed to activate the stickiness of it, also make sure you press it down around the edges for a while afterwards too.

I hope things improve soon for you.

Best Wishes, Net77xx

Thanks x I have ordered a sample of the skin barrier and i think i'll try and get the Brava tape that to give me extra security. I tend to have my last meal at 6-6.30 pm but still have to empty bag through the night plus its very full by 6am again x

Hello Nett77,

After reading your reply to Ali I saw you have had your reversal. I am only 8 weeks post surgery so very interested with anything to do about reversal. I have just been on your profile page. Thank you so much for taking the time to write everything down. You hear so many bad stories about reversal it is nice to know you can manage your problems it gives me some hope. I go and see my surgeon on Friday so I'm sure he will give me some indication of time for my reversal. 

Hope things keep improving for you. 

Julie