Hi...hope that lately things have gotten better! In July I had a total colectomy with ileorectal anastamosis. The anastamosis
opened and the leakage caused serious complications, ended up in ICU, had an ileostomy performed. Due to a blood clot, the medication made my incision bleed and remain
open. While in hospital, I had a wound vac for 2 weeks. Monday, Wednesday, Friday dressings were changed. I had daily ostomy leakage, and fortunately only a little got under the wound vac tape. I was disappointed with the ostomy appliances given, the wound care nurse was ruff and my skin was suffering, as I physiologically. Because of all this, she was adamant transferring me to a nursing home for a month. I disapproved. Upon discharge, I was so weak and malnurished, could barely stand. I didn't know what was worse, the wound or ostomy. Because of wound drainage, and no proper appliances, wound & stoma so close and scar dips, and not knowledgeable on application, my ostomy was leaking every few hours and then also had to do my own wound care. How I forced myself to do all this every few hours, as I could barely stand, in retrospect I still shake my head. This lasted for 2 weeks until a ostomy nurse finally came. By then I was physically stronger, but so desperate...should of spoken sooner, demanded help!! She referred a convex mold to me, I ran to the ostomy medical store instead of waiting for my insured order to be mailed and it worked! 9 days on! Regarding the wound in the first 2 weeks, I was using for about
6 days wet/dry dressings, 2x a day. Then the nurse brought Aquacel...a calcium/alginate dressing that speeds up healing time and doesn't produce leakage. The dressing turns to gel with wound drainage, so that solved that issue. Changed 1x a day, can go to every other day, but then a stench is given because it is an alginate product. Speeds healing time too. 2 weeks home, the wound vac came. I was doing well with the Aquacel, controling wound leakage, felt I had more control than I would with the vac incase of ostomy leads, so denied the wound vac and nurse was discharged. Again, hope your doing better