Convatec vs. Coloplast - Struggling with Leaks and Fit

I am so frustrated. At the hospital, they put Convex+ Doughnut Convatec and I didn't leak for 5 days.

I do the same with Coloplast.

1 Doughnut too thick, appliance doesn't reach my tummy.

2 Cut doughnut in 1/2, thinner appliance connected—never sticks. Big gaps.

3 Friggit put appliance on power protectant. Looks good. 3 hours leaked even used 1/2 moons on bottom.

I can't get to the hospital and blew through 4 sets in 1 day. Is there a difference between Convatec vs Coloplast??????

PS was outtie but now in flat tie so using convex— I saw there was slight convex and more aggressive convex. Urostomy Dec 9.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Sounds like you're going through the same BS we all do in the beginning. Seems they don't provide much information to ostomates before we leave the hospitals these days and then you find yourself at home saying WTF? You're going to need to sort through the various brands and products to find what works for you and what to avoid. There's a lot of details regarding your skin, stoma placement, etc. that need to be taken into account to get you to the right products. If I were you, I'd call around to your local hospitals and talk to their Wound Care departments and find an ostomy nurse to talk to and go see. I'd also call each of the major ostomy suppliers (Hollister, Convatec, and Coloplast) and talk to each of their ostomy nurses so they can send you the right product samples to try. Nothing is a slam dunk with this ostomy crap; it's really about trial and error. But an ostomy nurse should at least get you in the ballpark and will probably have access to a variety of products to try while you're waiting for your samples to arrive. To answer your question... yes, there's a difference between the products of the major suppliers. That's because not everyone's skin reacts the same to everyone's materials. And yes, if your stoma is now flat, or even with your abdominal skin... you need a convex barrier. How convex really depends on your situation. If the minor convex barrier fails... try the more convex barrier. But look very carefully when you remove your failed barrier and see where exactly the leak is coming from. Are you not cutting the barrier so it fits tightly around your stoma, but not so tight it strangles it... do you need barrier paste to fill in any dips or rolls in your skin before you apply the barrier... etc., etc. It's important you figure out WHERE and WHY it's leaking, and not just that it's leaking. Once you know WHY it leaks, you can find products to address that issue. Finding an ostomy nurse just makes that whole process much faster and foolproof. One last thing... you mentioned using 1/2 moons. Those are not to prevent a leak... those are to keep the edges of the barrier from lifting from your skin, like when you swim or sweat. If your barrier is leaking but the leak doesn't get past the 1/2 moons, you're still in a heap of trouble, as the skin under your barrier is awash in output, which is really bad. You don't ever want your output getting under your barrier, and just because it can't escape at the very outer periphery, where you have those 1/2 moons applied, it's still a leak. Find that ostomy nurse... or talk to our resident one on here if you can find her. Until then, we can try to talk you through it if you give us a lot more details on what's going on.

;O)

Bob

Your reply was most helpful. Out of frustration, I never looked at the barrier to see where the leak was coming from. I just know the bottom of the barrier and the back of the bag and tummy soaked. I have a towel there now and it's getting soaked.

The ostomy nurses at my major cancer center put convex, doughnut powder, and protect and Convatec and never leaked for 5 days.

I measured and I've healed from 11/4 to 1 1/8 and been buying pre-cut barriers from Coloplast.

If I have a Convatec bag, I don't have any night bags and I'm out of network so stupid going to the ER for a bag lol.

I will reread your post several times as there was good info and I'll let you know.

Bobc

Hi Bob

I understand your situation and I know how scary and pissed off you are at the moment. At first, you have to look very carefully when you remove your failed barrier and see where exactly the leak is coming from because you need barrier paste to fill in any dips or rolls in your skin before you apply the barrier. It will be advisable for you to know where and why it's leaking because that can be the major problem. Hopefully to hear from you back

Mag

Hi, my experience is that in the beginning, I'm using the barrier rim to circle around my stoma because my stoma shape is not perfectly round, so it has a space to put things on first. Then adding the flange, which does not need to be cut, it can roll open type of a convex on top of the rim.

After 6 months, when the skin condition and bleeding around the stoma are better, now I'm just using the pre-cut size. Mine is 57mm. No leaking or any other concerns.

How to Manage Emotions with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

The Convatec ActiveLife Deep Convex has been the best in my experience as the wafer is not that thin melty stuff, it's actually hard but does not hurt. It just keeps things pushed back. Very sturdy appliance. I use it with a Hollister CeraRing. It has a clip, but I myself prefer a clip after a 7-month stint with Coloplast leaking from the Velcro ends.