Ileostomy and the Best Flexible Wafer

I have an odd-shaped stoma opening due to a stoma fistula, and that, coupled with liquidy output, I'm getting leaks. I'm wondering if it's because my belly takes on a different shape when sitting and possibly loosens the wafer around the stoma. I'm using Sensura Mio now and overall like it. Any thoughts?

Hi. Are you saying there is a fistula alongside your stoma?

I use the Mio too. Great appliance.

What O-ring are you using? Are you applying it to your skin first or the mounting plate?

Patricia,

Probably yes to sitting and shape - I have found in the past that an oval wafer can help - its "pull" is subtly different from the round wafers.

BW

Jayne

Hi Pat,

Before I got my stoma revised, I used the Mio. Liquid output and barrier/ring sealing polymers don't play well together to begin with. Having a fistula just complicates things further. Where does the fistula exit? Is it under the barrier or beyond it? I didn't like the hardness of the Mio's plastic base, but it was mostly in my head, as once I started wearing them, they worked just fine. But the most flexible of what I've tried are the Hollister barriers. Where the Mio is a big plastic oval, the Hollister is almost all flexible bandage. My skin isn't crazy about the Hollister adhesive, but that's just me. You also didn't mention how far your stoma protrudes from your skin. That makes a HUGE difference when it comes to liquid output.

;O)

My stoma protrudes about an inch. The fistula is a small V shape in the skin just beside my stoma. The fistula is skin level. So I have cut an oval shape with a V notch. So far, crusting the weepy red skin around the stoma; then applying barrier spray; putting paste around the inside of the wafer and putting it on. I'm now using a hair dryer to try to get a good seal.

 

 

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Patricia, there is only one other member I know that has the same issue. A fistula near the stoma.

Would you like to look her up?

You two can exchange trade secrets 😊

Hi Patricia, have you tried using a barrier ring instead of paste? You can stretch and shape the rings as you need. I use an Eakin seal/ring, but there are other rings by Hollister and Coloplast.

I haven't tried a ring. If I did, I'd have to put it on the back of my plate since they get so sticky and my opening is not round; it has a V notch in the fistula side.

Sure!

LittleTink81

Hi Pat,

An inch is great. Ahh... you didn't mention the weepy red skin part. That changes things. You need to address that first, or you're fighting a losing battle. You need to get some Domeboro powder at your local drug store or big-box retailer with a pharmacy. Their website (Domeboro.com) always has a $4 coupon that you can print out and take with you... or maybe it's scannable with your phone... not sure. It comes in packets, so just mix one with warm water (1/4 cup) and soak some paper towel sheets (I cut each sheet into 4 smaller squares) in it while you remove your barrier and get the area clean. Then apply each square around your stoma, making sure it stays wet the entire 15 minutes. Grab a book or watch cartoons or something for 15 minutes and then remove and wipe off with clear water on another paper towel. You can shorten that 15 minutes as you start to get it under control. Make sure everything is really, really dry... and apply your barrier. My red weepy skin was really bad, so I changed my barrier every day for a time, mainly to let the Domeboro do its thing, but don't go beyond 2 or 3 days starting out, and then once the skin gets normal you can extend that change time.

;O)

I just got some marathon. 🤞🏻🤞🏻 But thanks for the advice on the other product.