Is Output Under the Inside Edge of a Ring Considered a Leak?

Is a bit of output getting under the inside edge of a ring considered a leak? Or is the ring absorbing stuff sitting against your skin considered a leak?
I get a bit around the inside edge under the ring, by the time I remove my bags. It only once made it all the way to the outside of the ring.
Looking for clarification. Thanks!

If output is on your skin, it is definitely a leak. Is your skin itching or burning to warn you? How does your skin look?

To me, a leak is when the barrier ring and the wax ring have been compromised all the way to the outside tape… seepage between the barrier or wax is okay if the barrier wipe is doing its job and the skin does not get affected. However, I do change my bag every other day with a naked shower as well… everyone sports different bags/pouches, so the terminology is not necessarily interchangeable. Skin rash is skin rash and dreaded by all, but it seems leaks have different meanings 🤔.

As an FYI, I wear a ConvaTec clear and crinkly bag - I hate the crinkle but am obsessive about knowing the condition on the inside of my pouch, so I prefer a high-definition view over a peek-a-boo bag… jb

I always have a little bit under my barrier ring but no breach past that. Probably technically a leak, but I have no skin irritation. 🤷‍♂️

I consider a leak anything that has breached the adhesive. When I start to see darkness outside the barrier ring, I know it is time to fix things. :-)

Daniel

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Exactly... beyond the barrier ring (gasket), it's time for a change - thinking this is more prevalent with those having an ileostomy as opposed to those who have a colostomy. Liquid tends to seep - as an ileostomate, I tend to have turd envy, so a giant difference between the ostoshiz crowd and therein lies another word/term for Beachboy's upcoming book - Stoma for Dummies. I think the title is still up for discussion. My contribution was BUMMIES for DUMMIES. Iggie also contributed... respectively submitting seepage versus leakage and input on output. JB

Yeah, liquid soaked in bile will get you every time! :-)

Daniel

Very good reply and totally on point. What constitutes a leak depends on ostomy type. Colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy... double baggers. Each type has unique challenges. Parastomal hernia adds complication to all.

Love the term "turd envy"

Bummies for Dummies

Chapter 2

Turd Envy and the Single Ostomate

Shit Load of Information for Dummies

Chapter 3

Bag Burps Gone Wrong

 

1. Always make sure to fully open the tail when passing gas.


2. Never force the gas bubble sitting above a load of shit. Always gently push it around.


3. Never burp your bag when you are laying in bed.


4. If you do burp your bag in bed, make sure your head is not under the covers!

As soon as I see a leak, I know it is time to change. Sometimes I can tape myself down and wait a few hours, but it is not comfortable and I feel like I have to stay in the house. And most times when I see one leak, another is going to happen soon. Just observations I have noted for myself.

I am only about 1 month into this, but each time I have spotted a leak, things go south really quickly! Twice now, one leak sprouted into three!

I now, after day 2, start checking the adhesion around my bag. I am very thin and have crinkly skin around one side of the bag. That is where I tend to leak most. But I have had twice now the bag start leaking from the underside of the bag. So... I am just always conscious of checking things out.

I do love the barrier strips! They have made a world of difference for me.

Kim

I love this conversation. What defines a leak? To me, a major leak or blowout is when stool or urine seeps underneath the barrier and out the sides. This requires a pouch change immediately or ASAP - taping and caulking are ineffective, and the longer stool sits on your skin, the greater your risk of skin damage. A large leak is when you change the barrier and notice - uh oh - it was almost to the edge for a major catastrophe. A little leak is a little poo around the barrier ring edges, which to me with an ileostomy is nearly normal erosion, but if your skin is getting irritated, then that's not good either. I think it is always important to look at the back of your barrier when you change it to see how it "eroded" to determine your "wear time." Always change before it leaks! Every person has a different wear time, anywhere from 1 day to 7 days. I think I will start photographing barrier backs and giving them star ratings, LOL!