HAPPINESS IS - A COMFORTABLE APPLIANCE

via The Beacon, Coos Bay, OR & Madison Co. Chapter, IN

There is nothing more irritating than having to change your appliance before you normally do, when the faceplate loosens or springs a leak. The first thing to do is look for the reason. Sounds easy doesn’t it? We should be so lucky! About the first thing to look for is the change in texture of the skin. Several things can cause that. Medications, vitamin pills, menopause.

Excessively oily skin can affect adhesion. Wiping the skin around the stoma with alcohol is helpful, but be careful the alcohol does not contain glycerin, as this kind of alcohol will hinder adhesion. Also some soaps contain oil to soften the skin; these must be rinsed off if you hope to attain adhesion.

With hot, humid climate, excessive perspiration will undermine the adhesive. A cotton appliance cover is great for soaking up perspiration. Also loose clothing will help if you know you are going to be doing work that will cause excess perspiration. Be careful about using antiperspirants, they may cause skin irritation.

A skin rash (contact dermatitis) is a common happening for many ostomates at one time or another. The rash may be caused by an allergy to the adhesives, the tape, skin barrier or any other product used. A change to different products helps to determine if the problem is an allergic one. Be sure to dry the area.

A blow dryer, set on cool, is very quick and a light bulb placed about a foot away is also useful in drying the area. If you can’t get rid of the rash or any disturbed area with a reasonable length of time, contact your doctor or E.T.

A change in weight (either gain or loss) can cause a change in the contour of the abdomen which will affect adhesion. Try to stay at the same weight. Ideally, no more than ten pounds either way. Where the faceplate was once flat against the abdomen, it may now have creases or valleys under it. Crixiline or stomahesive works for some to fill in these valleys. There are also some jells on the market. Karaya paste and the stomahesive paste are helpful. The karaya tends to break down when exposed to liquid over a period of time. Redistribution of weight will often necessitate refitting. This may mean an entirely different appliance will be necessary ( Ed’s Note: up-date, Convatec & Hollister also has stomahesive rings that work real well.....)

A person with an ileostomy may notice that diet affects the length of time an appliance stays on. If the stool is of a watery consistency rather than paste like, it may lessen the length of time the appliance stays secure.

Change the appliance regularly before leakage and resulting skin irritation occurs. If the appliance is leaking, you may detect an itching or burning sensation beneath it. Ignoring the symptoms can lead to skin irritation.

Illness, inactivity, and lying in bed can also lessen the seal security because the discharge pools around the stoma and the seal longer than if you were up and around.

A skin barrier may be used to keep the adhesive away from direct contact with the skin, to allow healing. Materials such as Colly-seals, Relia-seals and Stomahesive wafers are examples of effective skin barriers. They are not only good skin protectors but may often lengthen the time an appliance stays on securely.

If you have checked all of the above possibilities and still have a leaky faceplate, you had better see your E.T. at once.