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I have had leaks before, and we stopped them - but the whole appliance fell off, flange and all!

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Ostomies
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schrek-chewbacca hunk
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2005
Posts : 2666
Posted 10/19/2009 1:10 PM (GMT -8)
I really need some advice on this one.  I am six months out from surgery, and I have had leaks due to my mistakes and the my stoma taking on a new (and not circular) shape.  We learned how to cut and oval (sort of) flange from a template my ostomy nurse made for us, but this Saturday, just two days out from a appliance change (I change twice a week, or every four days), I woke from a nap to find the entire appliance - bag still attached to the flange and the barrier ring attached to the flange had completely come off and was in my underwear.  Of course my output was active so there was a mess everywhere (we are not telling my mother in law if you read my earlier posts about her opinions on ostomates).

What would make the whole adhesive give way like that?  Frankly it scares me that it would happen again.  I wash with only Ivory white hard soap (I found the liquid Ivory has lanolin in it).  It was only just two days old?  I used no lotion or anything like that in the area.  My wife helps me to change as it goes more quickly than when I do it alone - and we did everythiing the same - or so we think.  We haven't changed or used any new products.  I shaved my body hair the week before - so that wouldn't be a reason.

Can anyone help me figure this out.  I was just gaining some confidence about myself - and I would be mortified if this happened if I were out and about.  Has this happened to any else - where the whole bloody thing just gives way?

It is amazing how one accident like this can change my mindset and get paranoid like I was in the beginning.  Confidence was building in me when I was able to control the small leaks I was having earlier on - but this one event (because it was large and very messy) seems to have unsettled me and made me nervous about going out again.

So far so ggood with my change of appliance on Saturday afternoon - it looks to be adhering well - Could this just be an anomally?

Love to all here

bob      

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summerstorm
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2006
Posts : 6575
Posted 10/19/2009 2:52 PM (GMT -8)
glad to hear from you, i was wondering how you were!

I would think that if you were doing everything the same and usually getting four days, that you just had a random pop off, lol. Sometimes that happens. You may have had a bad flange, that happens every once in a while.
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schrek-chewbacca hunk
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2005
Posts : 2666
Posted 10/19/2009 3:17 PM (GMT -8)

Thanks for the reply, I didn't consider a bad flange.  It didn't feel any different but who knows.  I'm glad some one else had experienceed this and I am not the only one - but I am a wee bit nervous again.

bob

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Trigirl
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 768
Posted 10/19/2009 10:42 PM (GMT -8)
Nice to hear from you shreck---

OK, that's scary. Mine are coming off too. I thought it was the moving and twisting I do regularly. Every Thurs. after I teach my fitness classes I come home and the flange is leaking or undone, or the other day the bag just popped off the ring.

I thought I was alone feeling so insecure and nervous about the appliance all the time. With me, the stoma hurts too from leaks. Skin is looking red and tender all the time.

NASCARon made some good suggestions that I will keep in mind. I don't have to worry about shaving anything (thanks goodness). I'm finding the Eakin seals great for leaks right around the stoma. Heating up on the space heater before moulding works good.

Is it that some people just get longer wear than others? Mine last 4 days max and usually 2 1/2 days. I got some stuff from Convetac thanks to a suggestion here and can hardly wait to try that. I feel like writing them a thank-you note for their kind telephone person and the prompt delivery.

Hope you can find some answer and then share them. I feel like I need all the advice i can get.
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Shaz032
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2003
Posts : 1251
Posted 10/20/2009 12:09 AM (GMT -8)
Trigirl, yes everyone's skin is different and so will get different wear times. Never ever let anyone tell you what weartime you should be getting, because everyone is different. Having said that, it is nice to aim for more than a day's wear if you can but some people just can't.

Schrek, don't let this discourage you. Things like this CAN happen every now and then not necessarily due to you doing anything wrong but try not to let it get you down. I can usually get a week's wear but this past week I've changed 4 times in 3 days. These things just happen (more rarely as time goes on), sometimes you can work out why, sometimes you can't. You just clean up and get on with life. Remember, no one ever actually died of embarrassment (as much as we'd like to at the time!)
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Tom1
Regular Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 292
Posted 10/20/2009 1:21 PM (GMT -8)
In addition to everything stated above I've learned that using a hair dryer to heat up a new appliance greatly increases adhesion.
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Trigirl
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 768
Posted 10/20/2009 1:28 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks!! That one I haven't registered before. (Even thought someone might have said it)
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