Things are still frustrating but the present bag has been on for 24 hours!!!! We saw the ostomy nurse yesterday and she put the Hollister convex bag on that she had ordered for us. I kind of wished I had left ours at home and she would ave used one from her stock. So 12 hours after she put it on, my nose smelled it and sure enough, seal was broke. So today the adhesive around the seal isn't totally intact but the seal is. So I am just putting extra tape on the adhesive. We have about 4 of those moldable seals as samples. So I have the bags lined up in order that I will use, the two left that are convex and then the moldable ones. And I will have him stand up when I put the bag on him. Plus it will show him how to put it on himself since he is standing in front of the mirror. Stoma nurse told us not to use the barrier wipes. I have several samples. I am having to put Nystatin powder on his skin and i think I couldn't use both.

Hi doydie,

Hopefully things are improving with the bag and are having less problems. Really much more involved finding the right supplies, etc. Keeping the skin from irritation is also something that appears to be a must. Has Charlie attempted changing the bag himself?

Both of you are in my thoughts and prayers.


Gerry

Thanks for thinking about us Gerry. I think Charlie is still a long time out in changing his bag himself. And yes, I know I am an enabler by doing it all the time. The hole I have been packing for the last 5 weeks is almost shut now. I am able to put about an inch of packing in there now. It is during the time I do this 3 times a day that I really inspect the bag. So pretty soon that job will be his. I am hoping when we can finally get it down to 'this is THE bag' that he will show more interest in changing his bag.But the ostomy nurse and us are still experimenting.

As I mentioned, it will take a bit to get the right products for Charlie and the right routine. I think it took me about a month or so to get the right product for my skin; one I wasn't allergic to. After that, it took me about 2 to 3 months before I came up with a routine where I wouldn't leak. It took a combination of products to get me to that point. You guys will get there as well. And, yeah, once the wound is healed and closed up, hopefully Charlie will step up and start changing the bag and wafer on his own. It is a big adjustment.

How is his rectal area? Is that healing well? I have heard that closure of the rectum/**** is extremely painful. I hope that has not been the case with Charlie.

A while back I was reading questions and answers of those that were dealing with having had this kind of surgery. It appeared that there was many still dealing with the closure of the rectum for quite some time after the surgery. Not sure this is the norm.

Gerry

His rectal area seems to be all healed, no drainage anymore. It's just the anger of more than just the closure of the rectum but sewing up part of the butt cheek. He says it will never feel right. We see the surgeon tomorrow morning. But he walks in, takes a look and then poof he is gone.

Gerry - That's my understanding too. It seems to be very painful to most people.

Doydie - I imagine it wouldn't feel right again. I'm glad it is healed an no drainage or anything like that. I hope the visit with the surgeon goes well today. Let us know how it went.

tkrik, incision is now healed! No more packing. Today is day number 5 with his present bag. But it's not a bag I like. He does like the emptying of this bag. The bag I like has a filter and is the one I was planning on putting on tomorrow. We haven't had a whole lot of luck with that one staying on but I plan on putting it on differently tomorrow. Our family is coming in from out of town Saturday and I don't want any messes. I like bags with filters or two piece that he can let gas out of them. But I am so glad that the packing thing is now over. Now if they would just give me the money I saved by home health not coming.

I'm glad his wound is closed and healed now. That's awesome!

Five days on the same bag is awesome! I only made it that long once or twice. I hope the bag that you like works as well and you get five days out of that one too. What brand are you using?

Our 'go to' bag is a one piece Hollister convex. But right now it looks awful. We are going to have to change it tonight.

Thought we were going to have to deal with a bowel obstruction. He had a lot of gas pain last night. Of course he never tells me this until many hours later. Plus no output through the stoma at all. Of course he didn't try eating anything at all. So after consulting with the surgeon's office, off we go to the eR. Luckily it was half empty and we got fast treatment. Lab work and CT scan. No blockage but did show a hot gall bladder. The doc figured the lack of output was due to him increasing his Imodium to 4/day up from 2/day. The pain was due to the gall bladder. So we already had an appointment with our family doc this week anyway. If the pain had gotten any worse, they were ready to operate. What a night. And tomorrow family comes in for two days so we can celebrate 15 year old birthday.