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

I just got through reading on pancaking. I guess we’ll have to live with it, it’s been going on since the 1800’s and no one has come up with a solution. So we’ll just have keep trying with various tricks and hope for the best!

Hey Barb. It's often trial and error, and keeping a food diary will be effective at finding certain culprits.

But "stuffing" the bag with a ball of toilet paper can be a trick that helps many, along with covering the filter on the bag with tape.

@veganostomy hi , I have a question  about this. if I dont have a filter on my bag would stuffing toilet paper in the bag still work and if so how much toilet paper do you need to be in there. I get pancaking quite frequently lately.

@chelly ... pancaking after surgery is common.  We are not drinking enough fluids after surgery, often due to fatigue and sleeping more. I.V. puts fluids into our veins, not on our food in our stomach.  As you know, my guts are extremely runny & yet, I'll still get pancaking on occasion.  But I'm finding that has more to do with what I ate & how much I drank, to keep the fluidity of the output department. It is a pain , especially when you wake up because it feels like someone's trying to stuff a square peg into a round hole, reversed!   

There's a few things I've learned to do. I leave more air in the pouch to have at least an inch above my stoma when the pouch is pressed on and closed.  I up my fluids on meals that absorb fluids and drink plenty afterwards too. Like a noodle absorbs fluids to get soft enough to eat, foods that still absorb after eating, like fibrous foods, they need extra fluids too. 

I love having an extra jug of V8 Juice in my cupboard for meals that may cause the issue, or for when I have trouble drinking enough fluids V8 original juice works great. Plus you can add more salt to it as well if need be. I have no issues with the small bits of softened veggie fibres in the juice causing any issues.  

I've never found tissue in my pouch to be a helpful thing at all, but what works for one does not always work for another.  My first plan of attack is to document on meals or snacks that caused the issue before, drink more fluids with that food & swish your abdomen & tummy around, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle until you hear the swish happening inside of you. I know it sounds silly, but give it a swirl, it works....lol. 

I also elevate my sleeping position so I'm on more of a slant with my whole torso, not just my upper chest & head, and the output needs to slide down or it's easier for you to slide it down half asleep.  Keeping the output from getting beneath the wafer is huge for me.  This is one topic I hate loising sleep over! Its a royal pain in the pouch! 

My other go too when things slow down in the pouch is my stash of... 

Adapt Lubricating Deoderant, on the box is ... Lot 7E160 , then the expirey date & then its number..  #3862-02  .  I move it around up to the top of my pouch and I can get away with using 1/2 a tube at a time.  It comes in individual portions. 

Good luck figuring out what works for you. 

Posted by: @chelly

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@veganostomy hi , I have a question  about this. if I dont have a filter on my bag would stuffing toilet paper in the bag still work and if so how much toilet paper do you need to be in there. I get pancaking quite frequently lately.

Yes, it will help! Let's break it down:

The idea of covering the filter is to prevent the "vacuum" effect inside the bag, which causes the walls of the bag to essentially close up (like vacuum sealed products). Since you don't have a filter, this would not be as big of a problem.

However, when you empty your bag, I would assume you push out the air, too. If so, then you are creating that same vacuum effect.

Stuffing toilet paper in the bag (not a lot, just enough to create a small ball) will help to keep the walls of the bag apart.

But... you can also achieve similar results by keeping some air in the bag after you've emptied it! This is what I do, especially when I'm on the bike and can't micromanage my appliance the way I would in normal circumstances.

If you have gas, then this will happen automatically. For me, It's extremely rare to have gas AND pancaking.

I hope that makes sense 😆 

Thanks, I'm going to try this.

Hello-Had surprise surgery 5 months ago for
Diverticuloses. Have seen several of your videos and appreciate them. I have pancaking and do not like it. Know I need to drink more water and working on two large 24 oz a day plus a third glass. Also drink some milk after peeing middle of night several times!
After dealing with hospital and home health I found out about lubricants on my own and use Adapt deodorant and lubricant and it helps but really does not do a good job of moving things along or lessening the odor. I eat onions and some garlic and not giving those up. Kept thinking something has to be better! Maybe through you or someone online learned about Revels It’s in the Bag and requested a sample. Went to site and asked questions and of course no reply and no product yet but only been 3-4 days. Does their product actually improve the issues? I hope so. Know you know about this so would love your reply. I use Hollister one piece and Eakin Cohesive seal O-ring, think and thin seal, may have used ring by Hollister too. The seal breaks down and makes a bit of a mess to clean up too. Then I sometimes get no waste in bag for 12-20 hours and feel and know backup. All I eat breaks down except carrots. Will you share with me brands you use? If you cannot for advertising or contact issues I understand. Does ring brand make any difference. We attach it to bag and then place on belly.

Have you been dealing with colon issues for some time? Do find online discussions and videos most useful. Not too skillful on the internet. Everyone says to talk to your stoma nurse but find they are not really too helpful. Were great while in hospital and will answer questions on phone in delayed fashion but … I can make an appointment but that might not be when I have an issue. Have called several nurse hotlines and they are helpful. Fortunately doing OK so not too much to complain about. Hope It’s in the bag helps!
Thank you for your time reading my note and getting back to me. Barbara Dean in Athens, GA Go Dawgs!

Hi Barbara,

Thank you for post. 

I have not heard of the brand Revel, nor their lubricant, but now I'm interested! 

I'd keep waiting for the samples, since that can sometimes take some time, even with other companies.

If you could post back here after trying it, I'd love to know your experience!

I had bowel issues from the mid 2000's, and I didn't really connect with others online until I had my ostomy surgery. The internet can be helpful when finding information, but with the rise of AI generated content and social media manipulation, It's lost much of its lustre for me. 

I hope that your health continues to improve, and look forward to an update 😀

Barbara, so many of us here suffer pancaking problems. It goes with the territory, I guess. I haven’t found a solution, but the way I deal with it is a bit different. I have a colostomy, so my output is fairly solid. I wear a 2 piece system; when I have output, I open at the top of the appliance and remove the stool before it has a chance to pile up and get under the flange. This works well as long as I have access to a bathroom, so if I’m at home, for example. If I need a long stretch without bathroom access, I need to do something else. So either I irrigate (it’s a form of enema for colostomy) or I use Imodium to prevent output for awhile. If you find something else that works well, please let us know. Welcome to the VO site.

 Laurie