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cactus77
Jul 2, 2013, 08:49 AM
My mom was diagnosed with colon cancer and had emergency surgery do to the cancer making a rip in her colon, causing her to be septic . They gave her two unplanned ostomy bags.we have trouble getting them to stick without leaking. Does anyone have Any suggestions

joypulv
Jul 2, 2013, 09:17 AM
Call the nearest Visiting Nurses. If you can't find it, ask the doctor's office, or call the town hall. Does your mom have Medicare or Medicaid? She can get a certain number of hours a week of free visits, and get lots of advice, care, and examination in between doctor visits, which she needs plenty of, aside from what you can get online.

cactus77
Jul 2, 2013, 10:26 AM
She has pending medical,so I can't get help Until it comes threw. We go to the county hospital Where They only have one person as the wound care/ ostomy nurse, who is Very hard to get seen by.

joypulv
Jul 2, 2013, 10:45 AM
Ok.. leaking is common, and there are many products out there, including online, to help them stick better (supposedly).
But read this that I found on healingwell.com:

"Been having leaks even using convex bags, but worked out what the problem was all by myself! I was using convex coloplast bags but in hospital thanks to my new loop and larger stoma I was put on the ones with the bigger base (you can cut the whole up to 43mm). Over the last few weeks my stoma has obviously shrunk right down, but I've still been using the same bags, cutting the hole to around 35mm. The last few days I've been getting leaks and skin has been sore.. very annoying as haven't had leaks for over a year. Couldn't work out what the problem was!
My stoma nurse said to use a belt, or try harder convex!!?! ugh. But... I looked at my old bags and realised the hole goes up to 33mm. So I cut the hole to right on the edge of the maximum of the smaller bags (so it's now just about 34mm) and it's worked like a charm.. no leaks, no sore skin and has solved the problem easily!
Obviously with convex you need to use the smallest base plate you can, as the pressure of the convex ring needs to be as close to the stoma as possible. Obvious.. but even my stoma nurse didn't think of it!"

Answer back if that's no help or not applicable.

cactus77
Jul 2, 2013, 11:26 AM
I know the cutting has a lot to do with it. That helps. Thank u so much for your time and advice! I'll keep trying!my mom will be having surgery late July/ early August to remove her cancer and reposition her bag! If They bring the stoma out above her skin level that should help too. Never losing Hope!