Sandra, it is normal to have some mucous in your intestines. That’s what helps the stool to move along. If you think you have too much mucous or if there’s something unusual about the quality of the mucous, best to have that checked out with your doctor or ostomy nurse.

Have you tried heating your flange slightly before you stick it to your skin? I have found that if I use a hair dryer (not on the hottest setting!) just to warm it up slightly, it will stick to my skin so much better. I probably get a couple of extra days wear from this. Just be careful that you don’t heat it so much that it causes a burn when you put it on your skin. 

Laurie

Hi, I’ve read a lot about pancaking and what to do about it, but, say if you use baby oil, is the oil harmful if you get it on your stoma? I’ve not read or seen anything relating to that. I want to try the oil but am afraid to because of that. Right now I just blow into the bag and seal the filter. It helps but would like to try something different, like the oil.

Hi Delores,

Because *unscented* baby oil is usually just 100% mineral oil, there should be no danger if it touches your stoma. In fact, mineral oil is sometimes consumed to treat constipation.

That said, it's best not to use too much of any oil, as it may interfere with the wafer's ability to stick to the skin.

As with most pouch lubricants, you'll want to use enough to coat the inside walls of the bag, but not enough that it pools at the bottom.

Oh this pancaking! Yes I have it all the time!! I found if I leave a little air in the pouch and try not to wear too tight if clothing helps a little bit. 

Thank you for creating this space and sharing great info.

I have pancaking with every device I've tried. The consistency of my stool is like pudding. There are medical reasons I won't go into that this is the best consistency I can have for my current circumstances.

The way I am managing the pancaking is to use a 2 piece system and remove the bag from the wafer once a day and clean around the stoma without removing the wafer. I use wet guaze, toilet paper or wet viva paper towels. Sometimes I use q tips as well if I am being more detail oriented. Sometimes I may add a little paste if I see a gap. I like the safe n simple paste with pectin because it is a paste, but dries quickly and not as viscous as the adapt paste.

I like the coloplast 2 piece the best so far because it is best on my skin and stays in place with less odor and noise compared to other products I've tried so far. I had leaks with the coloplast one piece, but so far none with the 2 piece.

That's interesting what you say about the coloplast filter making the pancaking problem worse. Maybe that's true, but I have stool sticking to my stoma with every device I've tried so far. For me, it has more to do with the consistency of my stool. I use the lubricant, but there is always still some stool on my stoma unless I manually clean it. I suspect the water rinsing of the bag could work as an alternative or just help clean out the bag better.

I use the convex flip wafer with the petals. (I also have a hernia and uneven skin where my stoma is placed. My stoma is a loop diversion colostomy and the placement is not ideal, but because I had emergency surgery due to an obstruction it was where they could put it at the time.)

I usually have a lot of output before noon or so and then little to none until the next day, so I am using a drainable bag in the morning and then sometimes switching to closed bags until the next morning.

I'm changing my wafer every 3-4 days. I remove it in the shower. I think showering without the wafer is helping my skin. It's a gentle way to remove some of the adhesive and just relax. There is an ostomy support group in my area that recommended the shower for bag changes. They also recommended using viva paper towels with water saying they are low lint paper towels.

Thank you so much for sharing your tips, Jen!

One of the ostomy nurses I had this time around was big on viva paper towels.  I've never showered with the wafer on and bag off.  Is there a chance of compromising the wafer if you do that?

Posted by: @bigmike322

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One of the odotmy nurses I had this time around was big on viva paper towels.  I've never showered with the wafer on and bag off.  Is there a chance of compromising the wafer if you do that?

Hi Mike,

I shower with wafer on and bag off all the time. 

I use Coloplast SenSura Mio barrier and the Brava protective seal together.  I have not had an issues with the shower compromising the wafer.  I take long hot showers and intentionally spray the hot water on the wafer to get it as clean as possible. The protective ring does break down a little bit ( melts a little ) over time but not enough to have leaks.

I usually change my wafer every 5 days or so.  

cygo