Hi Kirsten, Firstly do you have access to a stoma nurse as it would be a big help. You will need a measuring guide. It has different holes to size your stoma. While you’re stoma May not be round start by getting the width mark that on a piece of stiff card. Then do the depth. The four points top to bottom and side to side join in what you roughly see as the shape. Cut that out and try over the stoma. It’s a case of working and fiddling until you are happy. Allow a few mm around the stoma so it’s not to tight and cos the wafer can swell. It’s worth taking time to get it right and you will feel the benefit. Also at the start your stoma will be changing shape. Sorry if that sounds confusing. Again worth taking the time over 👍

hey Kirsten , as John said a visit to or from a stoma nurse is essential , don't know what part of the world you are in but Coloplast will send out a stoma nurse to you and load you up with samples and are extremely helpful , I know they do this in the UK and Ireland 

Hi Kristen,

Welcome!   First off, I can totally relate to the skin issues-the raw skin and bleeding.  And I am five years in.

I stand in front of the bathroom mirror and also have a little stand mirror on the counter for close up views.  I used the method John described, because my stoma isn’t round.  When I remove the backing to expose the adhesive, I keep that piece and use it as a template to trace onto future wagers.

My skin has scarring and isn’t smooth, so I use pieces of an Eakin ring to even things out.  I also use a convex wafer.  My average is changing every other day. Though this week I had to change 4 days in a row.  It can be very frustrating!

As for me, I use deep convex coloplast sensura mio 2 piece click bags. I’ve tried others, but this one seems to work best for me. Keep trying different systems until you find what works best for you. And I second what John and Tony said—try to find an ostomy nurse. They are so helpful!

I echo the recommendation to see a stoma nurse, at least until things are settled.

Over the next few weeks/months, your stoma might continue to change size/shape, so it may be a little frustrating, but stick with it.

One thing I used to do is keep the plastic liner in the back of the wafer, which can be used to trace the next wafer hole (provided your stoma hasn't changed too much between appliance changes!).

You might also want to consider a moldable wafer, which eliminates the need for measuring and cutting. My own experience wasn't great with them, but they could make life a lot easier.

Both Hollister and Convatec have moldable wafers.

Kirsten, your hospital should have a stoma nurse who runs regular clinics for anyone with an ostomy. Ask your surgeon if you’re not sure. Also, were you sent home with a plan for homecare from Home and Community Care Support Services? (It used to be called the LHIN in Ontario). They also have ostomy nurses, if you’re still getting services through them. One way or another, it would be good to make contact with a stoma nurse. There’s a lot to learn at first.

Laurie

Thanks everyone.

I have a home care nurse who sees me for my PICC line and now for the ostomy as well. I know that stoma nurses exist but I haven't yet figured out how to get to see one. Normally one sees the stoma nurses before discharge from hospital, but I was in over a weekend and didn't meet with one. I'll see if my home care nurse can hook me up, or if she is it? 

I think the biggest issue I have getting the darn thing traced is that it's not at all round, and it always seems to get really active as soon as I get the darn appliance off. I have saved the plastic from cutting other wafers until I think I'm fitting it better than before. Seems a bit trial and error. But I'm getting there. 

The moldable rings - I guess they're like an Eakin ring - seems to be doing the trick. I have a sample of a moldable wafer from convatec, I just haven't tried it yet. The convex Hollister is so much more comfortable than the flat wafer I started with, I'm almost reluctant to try. 

The skin is much better after a few leak-free days. It really does heal quickly!! It's just the one spot under the recessed part at the bottom end of the stoma that's sore still. I don't know if I've been able to seal it properly at each change, again, because the darn thing gets active at every change. I've tried different timings, immodium, but I haven't managed to find a good time yet. 

@kirsten ... Hey Kirsten... its hard when your stoma won't let you have a quiet pouch change let alone a chance to clean the skin.  When my stoma changed weird shapes a few years back & caused burn issues under the wafer, I felt desperate for a good fit. So, I decided to try the pie cut method! Lolol! On a piece of paper, I drew the circles on the wafer backing onto the paper.  Then I drew many pie wedges in the circle & made cuts in each wedge. From there I placed the paper over my stoma from the center of my "pie" & folded back each wedge to edge of my stoma to get the shape my stoma had taken. Then I traced that onto another paper a few times for the pattern & from there rechecked the fit of my stoma, checking with a small mirror,  I carefully traced that onto the back of the wafer making sure the top was in the right place, onto plastic wafer cover & made the real cut. Like others here, I keep the plastic from the back of the wafer & use that for my  next pattern change. Your stoma may change shape so check it often but it will eventually settle down. 

When you put the wafer on your tummy, make sure your stoma is dry & once on immediately concentrate on gently pressing around the edge of the cut wafer by your stoma. Make sure the stoma is dry, any moisture under the wafer can compromise wear time & cause a leak. You can dry your stoma with a gauze or a couple squares of 3 ply toilet tissue as I find it does'nt leave pieces behind very often.  You could use a square of paper towel too instead of TP,  but you'll find what works for you. 

Try not to get frustrated with the teething pains of learning to see what works best for you. You will get there!!  We are here to help & encourage so just keep hanging in there! Your managing fine & the leak/skin issues are normal but they will get better. Listen to the itching when there are'nt any healing  wounds.   Have you tried fasting & watching for the quiet times of your stomas output? I find if I even take that 1st drink of water in the A.M. it singles my guts to action & my stoma puts the output out! Its so frustrating! But mark it down when your stoma is quiet for a week & see if thats a pattern as to when to change your pouch. I've changed mine at 3 a.m. so often just bcuz my stoma is quiet at that time. Thats what we mean by you'll find what works for you, but Im 65 & apparently need less sleep! 😃🙄🤪!!  Lol! Your already doing a great job!!! 

@LK thanks for the "pie" method, I'll definitely give that a try!.

Does this sound crazy...? I got a piece of clear pipe roughly the size of my stoma. I'm going to put some tissue in it and press it over the stoma, see if it will catch the output while I do my next change. I'm hoping that will keep things dry in the peristomal area. :) 

@kirsten ...  Not crazh at all!  I did'nt want to make my response too long above,  but bcuz my stoma it a good 1 to 1 1/2" long, I can wrap it in toilet paper & the wrap makes a tunnel of sorts so output during a change is pushed out away from my body. 

I take 3 ply TP & use 3 squares. I fold the 3 in half to make 1 & 1/2 squares & then fold it kitty corner to form 2 triangle type flags & thats what I wrap around my stoma. I start the wrap under my stoma with one point out & wrap from there & then I can hold it in place by tucking the end of the TP under the wrap of the TP but at the base of my stoma & voila! Theres my little pipe, my fav. part of it is that if I use a whole role of TP,  I can make a stack of the 3 squares all folded & ready to go & if I've had output happen & bcuz I pouch change on the throne, I can just drop it into the water & put on a new one.  

Let us know how the pipe goes & what held it in place best. 

Also, as of late & bcuz I'm still dealing with bad shaking from my potassium depletion, i've been using the cap from a spray can of adhesive remover or the barrier spray to press around a new wafer opening at the stoma area to help adhere it better to my tummy. 

Great tips, thank you!

I hope the potassium gets under control soon! That's very unpleasant. I've been feeling "stupid" for lack of a better word, this week. Scattered, shaky, unable to focus... and tired! I've never been so sleepy!!! I absolutely can extrapolate and guess where my electrolytes are.

I have had very liquid output despite lots of immodium, pretzels, salt in everything, bananas, electrolyte drinks potato chips etc etc etc... My blood pressure is trending very low. This is quite an adjustment!

I do have a good home care nurse and a doctor's appointment in three weeks. *eyeroll*  Doing my best