• Welcome to Crohn's Forum, a support group for people with all forms of IBD. While this community is not a substitute for doctor's advice and we cannot treat or diagnose, we find being able to communicate with others who have IBD is invaluable as we navigate our struggles and celebrate our successes. We invite you to join us.

Need paste or rings?

Location
Keller,
So I've realized I need convex wafers now I'm trying to figure out if the rings or paste are better. I get leaks right around my stoma, mainly at the bottom. I've tried the eakin cohesive but my poo seems to disintegrate them in a day. And the paste I tried, convatec, burns really bad.
Any advice or personal experiences would be great!
 
I don't have any advice but I am having the same problem, so would be interested to see what people suggest!
I've found the the eakin seals disintergrate too.
Hugs, I know it's really frustrating!
 
I absolutely adore Coloplast Brava strip paste. No sting, easily modable to your shape, and it has stuff in it that helps wounds heal.

I hate paste...it does sting! And I had a weird skin reaction to it.
 
Location
Keller,
Absentminded thanks! I feel for you and hugs to you too!
Hey 2thFairy! I'm hoping to get some of those strips with the samples I requested. Yes paste sucks!
 
With my ileo, I use half of a strip of paste with each bag change. You squish it flat and then mold it directly around your stoma before you put the new bag on.

She's probably too far from you, but if you are in need of a stoma nurse, Linda Chartier, RN, ET, is who I go to at Texas Colon & Rectal Specialists in Las Colinas. (972) 759-2040
 
I was fortunate enought that she is in the same office as my surgeon. However, I was sent out of the hospital with no information at all about how to get my supplies. It's so frustrating that the overall coordination for new stoma patients is just nonexistent!
 
I do have a stoma nurse, and while she is very nice, she's not been massively helpful. I was also sent home with not much information and also really basic supplies. If it wasn't for this forum and a couple of friends I have from the Crohn's group I go to I'd have been completely and utterly lost!
 
Location
Keller,
I know! If it wasn't for this forum I'd be completely lost as well!

Thanks Hobbes! I tried the thin ones j haven't tried the big ones yet.
 
I know! If it wasn't for this forum I'd be completely lost as well!

Thanks Hobbes! I tried the thin ones j haven't tried the big ones yet.

The smal ones seem fine if you're looking to add some convexity to the pouch- you just put the small rings over the bag's opening (one piece bag, that is) and viola, instant convexity. But the small ones are not very good at protecting the skin. Eakin does a poor job of explaining this difference.

Sometims the large ones don't seem to stick to the skin well and you'll notice some sides crumple up, so to speak. That's perfectly fine. When I notice that happening I still go ahead and put the pouch over it as normal, but then use some 2 inch paper tape around the edges. Seems to work great.
 
Last edited:
Thanks! Yeah I don't know why I wasn't given a stoma nurse to call after my surgery. They were just like, ok see ya later!


I never had a "stoma nurse", but the hospital had an rn that specialized in wound ostomy continence. As good as she was, I found other resources that were even better through the product manufacturer. Specifically, companies like Convatec and Hollister have specialists that you can talk to about your ostomy needs and they will recommend solutions. It was through one of them that I learned I needed a pouch with convexity, for example. The nurses have patients in the hospital to care for and may not have the time for us after we leave, so calling on these specialists should help.
 
Last edited:
My stoma nurse is located in the surgeon's office and her sole purpose is just to care for patients after they are home and out of the hospital.
 
Location
Keller,
I never knew about the difference in the small and large seals. Thanks for the info. I usually ask here first then if nothin works ill call the nurses at the suppliers. I find that everyone here has such good advice and tips because they live it everyday.
 

Terriernut

Moderator
I hope the convex works so well for you that you dont need anything else. But, really with the rings it is trial and error. I use the coloplast thin ones. And even then, it's giving me trouble right now. So experiment away! And Hobbes is right about the folks at the manufacturers. They are VERY helpful. So helpful they will send you to a competitor if they dont have the product you need. And quite a few of them are ostomates themselves. So thank goodness, they really DO know what they are talking about.

I will be experimenting myself with things over the xmas holiday period. (only 4 days worth...dang)
 
I used Eakin and found them difficult to handle. I switched to using Salts from the UK and they are great. No need to warm them and they handle very well. They last me about 3 days. They ship worldwide.
 
I found this posted by katiesue1506 in the stoma supplies contact numbers sticky in this subforum.


Hollister:
Telephone: 1.888.740.8999

In the United States, the Hollister Consumer Programs Team is available from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Central Standard Time) Monday through Friday.

Mailing Address:
Hollister Incorporated
Consumer Programs Team
2000 Hollister Drive
Libertyville, Illinois 60048

http://www.hollister.com/us/
 
So I've realized I need convex wafers now I'm trying to figure out if the rings or paste are better. I get leaks right around my stoma, mainly at the bottom. I've tried the eakin cohesive but my poo seems to disintegrate them in a day. And the paste I tried, convatec, burns really bad.
Any advice or personal experiences would be great!
I use the Eaken Seal first, then put a good amount of paste around the stoma and use a flexible wafer. It last 3 to 5 days depending on how active I am. It has been cold, ok cooler (I live in Florida), and I have not been feeling so hot, so I am getting 5 days on average at the moment from my wafers.

Later...
 
Have you all check "you tube" for stoma info? There are plenty of examples of putting them on and some neet gadgets available. There are other videos out there as well.

Something I do different is I kneel and empty my bag. I have found this help me to keep the waste from splashing because I can drop it right on the edge of the toilot and water. I have to emptiy mine a lot and it just splashes all over if I empty while I am sitting on the toilot. But, that is just me.

I watch some of the vids. And quite honestly, I can't just stand there and take my time putting on my wafer because it is almost always putting out something. I really have to work hard at timing when I change my wafer.

Later....
 
I watched a lot of the YouTube videos before surgery. It really helped. I kneel to empty too, though I am trying to get more comfortable with the Sumo wrestler stand/squat to do out in public.

Like you, I have to change mine quick. Even after not eating for 6 hours, it will go off unexpectedly. I use guaze to give a little bit of extra time between steps.
 
I watched a lot of the YouTube videos before surgery. It really helped. I kneel to empty too, though I am trying to get more comfortable with the Sumo wrestler stand/squat to do out in public.

Like you, I have to change mine quick. Even after not eating for 6 hours, it will go off unexpectedly. I use guaze to give a little bit of extra time between steps.
To bad you can't just plug it :ysmile: I have tried to plug it with my finger, it is like have a blockage, not recomended.:biggrin:

I just have everything ready to go, and try not to wig out if I leaks out. I have totally blasted the toliot before. It is just amazing the force that your intestines can shot shit out of the ileom. No wonder it hurts so bad when you get block.

Later....
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
I have a new ileostomy (second time around) which is putting out 2 litres a day even with 16 loperamide a day so there is never a time its not squirting out. And of course everything leaks under the base plate causing skin problems and the last two nights its come off in bed. My problem is that this stoma os oval shaped with one side wide than the other. I've tried stoma paste, no luck and was wondering if the coloplast brava mouldable ring would mould around a very odd shaped stoma or alternatively has anyone tried the convatec mouldable skin barriers (with turtlenecks they advertise!) Last time I used a similar system to this but I had a nice round stoma then. Any ideas, suggestions?
And sorry to Jennarae for hijacking her thread but thought since we're having similar problems I'd add on here......
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
P.s, I've found in the past that lots of these pastes and seals prevent the bag from sticking properly, I use a convex bag, is this just my imagination or have other people found this? And is there a way around it?
Now I'm going to watch you-tube and pick up some handy hints :)
 

Terriernut

Moderator
Yes Anna, I'm having the problem with the rings right now myself. They SHOULD be helping, but they are causing me leaks. So I'm off to try all the samples over my 4 days off at xmas.

My issue is Ollie the hernia. I dont know that I'll get a fix for what ails me!
 
Mine has shrunk down to a more rounded shape now, but was a weird oval shape with almost a lip on one side, which is why I started using the Coloplast Brava strip paste in the first place. You squish the strip flat to however thick you need it and then mold it around the stoma itself, then put the bag on. It may not be what you need, but it is definitely worth trying.

Also, another thing with the Brava strip paste is that when it gets wet, it swells up around your stoma to create a better seal rather than eating up the seal even faster like paste does.
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
That sounds fantastic particularly the swelling up bit. Kinda makes sense to me. I'll give them a call tomorrow and get some samples sent out. And its also nice to hear my stoma may settle down to a more manageable shape. I guess it is early days. Just fed up at the moment with the stinging and leaks. Last time around I got it all sorted eventually so I'll just have to keep that in mind.
 
Location
Keller,
Annawato no problem!!! I feel ya! I just recently tried the convatec moldables but am really allergic to the tape. The moldable part was great though I liked it. It does what it says and molds around your stoma and then turtlenecks around it.

To add onto what someone else said, when I empty I sit sideways at the very front of the toilet, to where my stoma and bag are right over the opening. Then I throw in some TP, lean a bit over and it goes right in with no splashing.

I am so tired of leaks. I called hollister this morning and they're sending me samples of their convex one piece, two piece and convex barrier rings. Hopefully they work. I have no backup supplies so I am wearing the ones I'm allergic to AND I have a leak.
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
Wow! A night of no leaks! No stinging or burning! I'm just using the coloplast paste, so far so good. Not sure why it failed before but something I saw on you tube that I think helps is to use the cardboard tube from inside a toilet roll to press around your stoma once you put the bag on. It seems to help me cos when I used my fingers one side would stick down and the other side would pop up and vice versa so I never got it to stick down properly all around. Also changing bags first thing in the morning before the stoma becomes active.
Jenna rae that must be sooo difficult being allergic to different tapes - I'm lucky that the adhesives don't worry my skin, it only gets upset when the poo leaks onto it!
 
I am so sorry so many are having difficulties getting the appliance to stick. I use both an adapt ring and paste under a convatec appliance. I prepare the appliance and circle the opening with ring of paste, next I wipe off the cleaned skin with skin prep and this makes it a little sticky. Next step is to place the ring and then the appliance with the paste. Finally add strips of paper tape along each side over the tabs.

Next I get dressed - I feel it is important to do this in the morning so that clothes will help hold things firmly until body heat improves the contact. I put an old towel on the bathroom floor to catch any drips.

I have had an ileostomy for over 30 years and this procedure is the result of trial and error but at the moment it works for me.

Good luck to you all
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
So far so good, I'm trialling paste and/ or rings and may try Josies suggestions. Still getting a little leakage on to skin but no bags coming off thank heavens. touch wood. also did the ring around to all the companies to see what they have that might help but nothing new unfortunately. at least I'll get lots of samples to try - its like getting lots of presents when they arrive - Oh how my joys in life have shrunk haha. Excited about getting ileostomy supplies!
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
[QUOTE

It's also completely terrifying when the mailman is late. :ymad:[/QUOTE]

haha! :lol2:
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
Actually Sorry Hobbes, Not funny when its your regular supplies you're waiting on. That is terrifying.
 
A neighbor a block away apparently gets their diabetes supplies from the same company I get my ostomy supplies. They were expecting a package, so just opened it up when it arrived. They had quite a surprise when they found bags and deodorizer instead! Our mailman is not the greatest.... ;)
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
haha, what a shock for your neighbour. They would have been like what the ?. Did they realise it was for you or were they totally bamboozled?
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
I ranf salts about dermacol cos it worked wonders with my last ileo but cos this one is such an odd shape they said they wouldn't work. I've got some left from last time and am hoping my stoma will shrink a bit more and I can make them fit. They are a great product. I used to find I needed to cut the collar down a bit but they solved all the problems I was having.
 
Annawato, did you know that Hollister now do an oval shaped barrier ring? It's called 'Hollister Adapt Oval Convex Barrier Ostomy Rings' and I think it's new for 2012. I didn't pay much attention to it as mine is perfectly round. But I remembered seeing it and looked up the details for you.

It looks like this;



Maybe worth a try?
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
Thanks Michelle, I'll give hollister a call after xmas and see if they have them in Australia. Looks promising.
 
Actually Sorry Hobbes, Not funny when its your regular supplies you're waiting on. That is terrifying.

Absolutely! Not funny at all. Just wanted to point it out as the mailman being late may not be something one thinks about. I always order when I am down to my last two bags. I only change once a week, so two weeks is plenty of time for me to order. Thanks again for pointing out the importance of this issue. xxoo
 
In Australia all our gear is supplied through the stoma associations and comes monthly. So they advise that we always keep one month's supply in advance
 
You're welcome! Just hope it helps! Although I'm kind of disappointed now that it doesn't look like the red lip version that Susan made!!
 
I would design bags that had character faces on the front of the bag where either the nose or the mouth lined up with the stoma. For mine, the first design (of course) would have to be a clown, but when he got tired of that, I'd move on to a pirate. Hahahaha!!!
 
I have tried every paste and ring out there I think and so far none have stopped the leakage,and the paste does burn like fire,I want to cry every time I put it on.The rings do not last long,the output eats right through them.
 
Funny timing. Yesterday I noticed I had one Convatec pouch left, I believe it's one piece brand called surefit. Anyways, used that instead of my hollister lock and roll one piece, and put over my large eakin seal like I would normally do. Today after lunch the pouch is leaking a little on the side. With the hollister and everything else being the same I get 6-7 days without any leaks. This convatec didn't even give me 24 hours and I can't figure it out- other than the convatec is a little bit shorter (I use a clip on the hollister instead of rolling and locking). Everyone has their own unique issues when it comes to what fits best and hopefully you'll find what works best for you soon!
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
I'm in the same boat as Debbie and am using convex base plate. i think its just liquid output seeps under anything.
 
I'm not sure if this is helpful, but as I have an irregular shaped loop ileostomy, my stoma nurse suggested having the base plate adhesive ring cut to a slighly larger size than would otherwise be the case, sitting over an Eakin Cohesive Slims "ring" which is cut and teased out into a strip (it'll shape and stretch quite easily) then put closely around the base of the stoma. The base plate adhesive ring of the flange (wafer?) of the two-piece bag system (which seems to be made of the same adhesive) sits on top and when warm (I cup my hand over the bag for about a minute after applying it) appears to fuse into one (when I remove the bag and flange every three/ four days the adhesive seems to be all one). I find this easier than trying to cut the adhesive of the flange to an irregular shape. Here in the UK I get my supplies from Salts and they cut the base to size (i.e. a regular circle of specified size) for me. Hope this make sense and helps someone.
 

annawato

Moderator
Staff member
Thanks Davmor. I have an irregular shaped stoma too and was having heaps of leaks despite using paste and trialing rings. I cut the hole very snug around the stoma but still found that output would get under and push up the flange. Finally I started cutting the hole larger like you and the amount of leaks has reduced dramatically. Its not a lot larger than my stoma, about a millimetre gap maybe less and I use paste to protect the skin. i also use a convatec belt and convex flanges to make the stoma stick out more.
 
Top