I have had my iliostomy for about 1 1/2 years now.  I ended up with it because the chemotherapy for my breast cancer caused a major blockage and they had to remove my entire colon instead of just a small portion of it.  My stoma is also small and close to skin level.  I had a terrible time like you in the beginning, leaking and pancaking.  I found that Coloplast had the best set up for me that works.  I use the deep convex one piece with a barrier ring .  I also use two barrier strips.  They are curved so two of them form a circle and hold the bag on more securely.  I also used the belt in the beginning but don’t need that right now.  My stoma is also not round but is oval so I can shape the barrier ring around it.  I tried a smaller ring at one point that they recommended but it leaked so I went back to the larger ring. It is also less messy than the paste.

They are very helpful, especially since you don’t have an ostomy nurse available.  I rarely have a problem now and change my bag twice a week.  They also have a deodorant that I like to help with any odor.

Welcome @gardengypsy and @mystery1229.

@gardengypsy I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling right now. I had issues in the beginning, too, so don't feel as if you're the only one who's gone through this. 

I had to sample a lot of products before I found one that really works well, so even without access to a stoma nurse, sample as many products as you can get your hands on.  

There are a lot of companies offering samples:  https://www.veganostomy.ca/ostomy-suppliers-free-samples/ and more importantly, you may even be able to speak with a stoma nurse if you call the company to request samples. At the very least, someone who's trained should be able to offer the most appropriate samples to try.

Even the barrier rings will vary significantly from brand to brand so even if you had luck with other ones you might still find a better one. 

Pancaking can be a challenge to solve, but hopefully you've seen THIS article.

Vegan: I think I solved the pancaking by increasing my water intake to four quarts a day. So far, so good. Thank you for the work you do.

Mystery: I finally got a referral to a certified Ostomy nurse. It was such a positive experience. She really recommends Coloplast and has enrolled me with them. I am so sorry to hear about the chemo causing the blockage. It was Breast Cancer itself that caused my blockage.  Wishing you the best of luck in your healing. 

Garden gypsy, do you use a hair dryer on your flange before you stick it to your body? That tip made a huge difference for me. It stays put for several days - until I take it off.

Laurie

Totally agree with the hair dryer tip. I was given this tip by a fellow ostomate in my early days and it made a big difference. Just keep the temperature cool and if you’re like me 👨‍🦲 bald !!! Ye soon get over the funny looks when buying one 😂

@tigerlily, 

We’ve been warming it up on our hands. Will try hair dryer. Thanks!

@john68: Why keep it on cool temp?

@gardengypsy the hair dryer works much better than hands. I don’t think that John meant to use it on a cool setting, but rather, not the really hot setting. Most of us who have used a hair dryer will have made the mistake of putting a scorching hot flange on our bodies. Only once😂.

Laurie

@tigerlily Got it. Thanks!

I really did put that badly didn’t i🤪 I use cool air to dry the skin and warm to heat the wafer. I was just warning as laurie said about burning your self. When I have the appliance on I keep warm air on and rub it all around 👍

Hi I am pretty new at this and had a lot of problems because my stoma short is oval and off to one side I constantly had pancaking and leaks. I use Hollister 11403 flange and this helps somewhat with the pancaking because it brings out the output more. I tried the paste and the barriers and still had leaks so stopped using them and this seemed to help. It also serves as a guard because it comes past the stoma. I also notice the stoma does shrink and expand so I cut it just a bit bigger than my stoma to allow it to expand and this also helps. I still have pancaking issues sometimes to my own fault with tighter clothing and not enough fluid intake. Just want to help if any of this information is useful to you.

In January I returned home from Saskatchewan back to Ontario to visit my mother for the final time and be there for her passing which occurred in January 14 of this year. It was a sad event but nothing could prepare me for what would follow afterwards. 10 days later I found myself at the emergency with an acute diverticulitis and after medication was released. 3 days later not improving any better I returned to the emergency. Borderline in toxic shock. After a few days in ICU nothing was  working and I was rushed into surgery. After waking up I was introduced to my new ostomy. It’s suppose to be temporary meaning I’m suppose to return for another surgery to close my large intestine up and remove my stoma. So far however after 3 months recuperating in Ontario Im back in Saskatchewan and waiting for my next surgery 

@yvan-charbonneau Hi Yvan, thank you for sharing. I'm so sorry for your loss, and the ensuing health crisis. 

Has your recovery over the last three months been fairly smooth, or have you run into any issues along the way? 

Good luck with your reversal. 

@yvan-charbonneau  ...Hi there! Welcome to VO! If you are struggling with any pouching issues or just need some encoragememt we are here to help, just ask! No question is a stupid question. 

It can take a day or 3 to get replies but eventually we check in here & will give tips we've used to figure out any issues we have had that may help you out. 

I hope you enjoy watching Erics very informative videos. If you like, you can even read his history & see the amazing battle he has won. Best of all to you.

Linda

. 

@veganostomy 

Actually I was surprised to have found your blog on YouTube and really started to follow it closely as I had many issues with my Ostomie initially sometimes using up to 5 bags/flanges a day as I got many defective and also ruined a few by myself. Ever since I visited the Ostomy clinic (this was 3.5 months later) at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina they have really helped me find a better suited appliance for me and got me enrolled in SAIL (Saskatchewan Aids to Independant Living) which helps subsidize any ostomy products and some accessories up to 50%. 

ive had a few bumps on the road of recovery but mostly cause I had very little help while dealing with my mother’s estate  and living alone at her house (also my childhood home) I don’t know how many bags I ran through by trying to clean and tidy moms but I certainly didn’t do myself any favours.

Im not thrilled to be stuck with my stoma but I’ll be honest if I had to spend the rest of my life with it (and this is still a possibility!) at least I’m slowly adapting and getting used to the day by day logistics of living with one. And since I found your YouTube channel I feel as if I’m part of a community and to be honest I don’t feel so isolated from the rest of society. So big thank you to you Eric for all your help you have given me through your YouTube clips. They have been a great resource for me and I have passed this information on to a fellow contractor I knew through my company that had also recently joined our ostomy club.

So now that my brake is over (I’m translating all my medical records from French to English as I got my surgery In Ville-Marie, Québec) let me bid you all un gros bonsoir! And wish me luck at translating 15 pages of medical papers for my GP Monday lol. My surgeons handwriting is terrible to read at times lol.

@yvan-charbonneau you have had a difficult four months. I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. That is difficult enough to deal with, but you have had so much more on top of that. I’m glad you’ve found this site. It is full of compassionate people who are willing to share their experiences. And Eric is determined to bring us the latest information on any ostomy related products or topics. One word of caution - while you are clearing out your mother’s belongings, be careful about lifting anything heavy without an ostomy support belt. You can get a hernia forming under your stoma from heavy lifting. I got a hernia, probably from heavy lifting in the garden without taking precautions. Even bags of clothes can be heavy, so make sure you protect yourself. 

Laurie

@tigerlily no worries my dad was moving back in the house (they were separated for almost 20 years) and I didn’t bother to move anything!!! On thé plus side no worries about the hernia cause I’m there already !!! The ostomy nurse pointed that to me a month ago lol

@yvan-charbonneau well, I’m having my hernia repair tomorrow so I’ll let you know how it goes. 

Laurie

@tigerlily Good Luck TL!!! I’m heading to Saskatoon to see my Doctor about finding out what the deal is about my follow up surgery (no word from the surgeon!!)

@yvan-charbonneau  ... Hello again! I am so sorry for your loss.  I was typing a response to your forum & was unable to complete it the night of my 1st reply to you.  I  had rec'd  a phone call I was not expecting so soon & my appologies for not finishing what I started but I also wanted to say something to welcome you here so I posted anyways.  Now home from a very difficult family time I wanted to re-read what you had written as It had been on my mind a lot regarding your recent loss. 

You Are An Amazingly Strong Person!!!!  Please know I recognize that. Its been an incredibly emotionally draining time loosing a family member and I didn't even have to do a fraction of what you have done let alone deal with a surprise major surgery on top of it all ! You deserve a medal or 16 !! 

Strength like yours & many others here comes from so deep within us. A will to survive that we didn't fully know was there until we needed it & then pulled it front and center!    Its so good you found someone to help with all the important issues you needed help with.  I'm not sure we have a "SAIL" kind of help here in B.C.  I just remember struggles galore and then finding VO by accident & all the messes suddenly made sense. Again, Thank you ERIC!! 

Anyways, know we are here if you need anything and we are willing to help.  All the best as you go forward in life and don't be a stranger here. What you've gone thru has already helped me.