Tag: ostomate

Stoma check all done. The nurse is very happy with how the blob is looking and how the convex bags are holding up much better than the flat ones. She’s given me some information on gentle exercises that I can do at home, as well as a prescription for a support belt. I’m hoping to go back to the gym at some point but I don’t want to do anything before the nurses say I’m ready. A support belt will help and I can always get other support items if I need them.

This Saturday will mark four months since my surgery. I am pleased to report that I am feeling much closer to “normal”-me than I have all year, despite thinking that I never would, at first. I’m able to eat a lot more than I could before with few exceptions, sleeping has become much easier, and although I do get the occasional pain about the middle, there are times when I can forget I have baggie. I do find that bending and stretching can be a bit uncomfortable at times, and I can’t run much, but I am back to my usual walking speed (so, no longer at escort-mission speed). I know I have a ways to go as I am still adjusting to living with baggie, but I don’t feel quite as overwhelmed anymore.

Dansac Novalife convex vs SenSuro Mio convex

So, I was having trouble with the flat SenSuro Mio bags where they would start to leak after only a days wear. I saw my Stoma nurse and, after looking at my stoma, she decided I would benefit from using a convex bag as my stoma had shifted and was now leaning to one side, meaning all the output was going onto one part of the bag and eroding it much faster than it was meant to.

The skin around my stoma was a little irritated which my nurse said could be because of the adhesive, so she gave me some samples of who different bags; the Dansac Novalife and the SenSuro Mio convex. I tried the SenSuro Mio first to see if it was the adhesive that was causing my skin to be irritated. We don’t think it was because it’s no longer as itchy or red when wearing the SenSuro bags so it was likely a combination of a heat rash (we’ve had a mini heatwave recently), the adhesive and the leakage causing my skin to become inflamed and itchy.

The bags themselves are much like the flat ones except they are a little heavier and stick out a bit more than the Dansac bags. They did take a little getting used to as well, as they have four little loops which you can attach a belt to if needed. Also, because the convex part is a lot thicker, it does sometimes look like there is a tiny bit of leakage when really it’s just a shadow. Other than that, I found them very comfortable and they seem to muffle any stoma noise quite well.

I’ve also tried the Dansac bags which, at first, I liked. However, after a little while, it became clear that they weren’t as good as the SenSuro bags. Don’t get me wrong, the adhesive is fine, it doesn’t irritate my skin and comes off easily, and the bag itself is very light. However, the opening is really weird; instead of having an extra bit on the underside of the bag, it just has an opening at the end with both sides being the same length. This made it harder for me empty without making a mess. Another thing that I didn’t like was that when the bag gets full (like at night), it doesn’t keep its shape as well as the SenSuro bags do and feels like it’s pulling on the skin a lot more than the SenSuro.

Overall, I prefer the SenSuro Mio Convex bags so I’ve asked for my prescription to be changed to them now.

I saw my stoma nurse this afternoon and it seems I’m having a slight reaction to the adhesive of my ostomy bags. This could be to do with it getting much warmer recently so it may be a heat rash being irritated by the adhesive.

Also, she believes the reason I’ve had several bags in a row leak is because the opening of my stoma has shifted from top-centre to top-right so when it does it’s thing, the output is all going onto the same patch of bag which was causing it to corrode away faster, leading to it leaking. In order to combat this, I’m trying new bags. These ones look the same but they have a bump on the back that pushes into my tummy slightly in order to keep my stoma “upright” so when it’s active, the output should be a bit more even. I’m trialling two different types; the other ones has the same bump but has a different adhesive. It feels a little weird at the moment but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. I hope this solves the issues.

I called my stoma nurse today and got an appointment for Monday because the skin around my stoma has been red and soar for the last few days. I hope it’s nothing serious. I really don’t want to have change my bag type (I really like these ones – drainable, one-piece) so hopefully, I just need to use some barrier cream/wipes for a bit.

What the hell, stoma?

TMI warning!

So, I was planning on sleeping in this morning but was forced to get up early in order to do an emergency bag change because somehow, the contents had pancaked and was seeping out under the flange. This is the first time anything like this has happened to me so now I’m paranoid. I think I know what caused it though; I had both curly fries and melon last night (not together) and I know already that potato that isn’t mashed doesn’t digest properly for me (meaning it comes out as partly digested). I’m going to try and drink more today and just keep a close eye on my bag just in case it starts to do it again.

And I’m home.

I made it home in one piece! The London Comic Con was amazing and, even though I’m so very tired from all that walking, it was worth it. I cosplayed as Misty from Pokemon for the first two day but chose to just wear civvies for the last day. This was mostly because I only had two yellow tops instead of three (and it was very warm all weekend) but also because I found that, although having my ostomy bag tucked into my waistband wasn’t uncomfortable, it was very hot under the bag so it did sometimes make me think it was full and/or leaking at times. So, for the last day, I just wore it untucked and with a cover on which was a bit cooler.

I got quite a few things from the sellers halls; everyone seemed to be doing lucky bags so I got one from Tofu Cute which had a load of Japanese sweets and drinks in it as well as a couple of plushies. I also got a print from one of the artists in the Comic Village, and my sister bought me a pair of handmade Studio Ghibli hair bows. I have every intention of going again next year but we’ll have to see how I am health-wise.