Struggling with Repeated Leaks and Insurance Delays

So here I go again. 4 am and woke up to another leak at top of flange. Same place as last night. I cant afford allof these supplies I am going through till my Iinsurance kicks in. Feeling really down, tired and discusted with everything.

i cant help but wonder if your still using "dove" soap.  That's like asking for a leak because the soap has moisturizer in it.


tell me in detail how you are preparing the area and what products you use. i will give you my opinion on what your doing wrong.

Yes I am using dove for sensitive skin because I have very sensitive skin and I get a rash if I use anything else. But I wssh the area thourhly with clean water, dry completely. Only when dry do I apply the powder to my sores. Than apply barrier wipe. Wait minute to dry. Than apply half a ring around stoma from 2 to 8 oclock as this is where I have a dimple. Then I put a full ring around the underside of flange than apply flange. Than tape all around flange than bag. Its what my nurses came up with and it did seem to work for a while.

if you use dove, the flange will leak....it may adhere briefly...but it will leak.



if the flange leaks, stool and intestinal excrete will travel BETWEEN the skin and flange, when this happens it will inflame the skin, no matter its sensitivity level.



these are just simple facts, i am not trying to be mean.



so, when we use logic:  dove{oil} + flange{adhesive} = leak {inflamed skin}



we can further simplify the equate: dove =  inflamed skin....



1:try another soap, i would recomend "yellow dail", shower good and wash the area several times, because all that oil you have been adding{dove} isnt going to come off in 1 session.



2:now, pat it dry with a clean paper towel or simular, apply mylanta{yes the antiacid} and let it dry.



3: use a skin prep wipe over the skin/mylanta {be advised all are not suitable to each skin type, you have to experiment to find "yours"}



4: try a single eakin, stretch it so it just barely clears the stoma.



5: cut a CONVEX flange{be advised not all are suited to each skin type}to the exact size that your stoma measures...close fit = less leak



6:add a ostomy BELT, fit it snugly around you, but not so tight that it hurts{experiment}



now, WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN, add the DATE



this will be our base data, we will modify each component till we have something that  WORKS.



do NOT wear the flange till it leaks, this will inflame the skin all over again. change it after 3 days max...when you change, examine the old flange carefully for where it MIGHT leak.





i have every confidence that you can go 3-5 days on a change ONCE you get your skin healed and find out the exact combo of products that work for you.



for the record, i can get 14 days from a flange...

Mild Mannered super hero has it about right.  I have a urostomy and for the 3 years I nursed my wife, who had an ileaostomy, I had to be extremely carefull about cross contamination and found the only solution was to use surgical hand scrub.  This became the cleanser of choice for the stoma area as it left no deposit.  A barrier lotion such as Cavillon is excellent on unbroken skin and for uneven or broken skin there are tubes of gunk which will set on the skin.  They tend to sting like hell but they do work.

Don't be impatient.  It takes a long time to learn how to deal with your new friend, who is keeping you alive, especially as it evolves and changes for ages after the operation.

Do keep your head up, this site is full of people who have gone through what you have.  If your partner couldn't cope, or used this as an excuse, then you are much better off than before, despite what you think now.

My Ostomy Journey: LeeAnne | Hollister