Question

I am 84 yrs. old. I have an ileostomy which I have had for about 29 years, on my right side. A skin sag has developed about one inch below the stoma and is causing adhesion problems for my appliance. I use ConvaTec SUR-FIT Natura Stomahesive Flexible wafer REF 125264. I use Coloplast Brava strip paste just at the start of sag, to build up the sagging area a bit, just below the wafer adhesive border, and then I apply 3M Medipore H Surgical tape to hold everything in place. This results in a fairly wide surgical encumbered area. Any suggestions to reduce this rather extensive area use. Thanks.  

Response

Our Medical advisor recommends that you try a “convex flange”. Following is a good resource to help you assess your ostomy issue: https://psag-consumer.wocn.org/#home

• Also, call the customer service at Convatec, and ask for a convex flange/system sample.
• Different companies make different styles of convexity, if the Convatec flange does not work for you, then call other Ostomy manufacturers. The manufacturers and links are listed on the website provided above.

Convexity Convexity in ostomy supplies exists to provide optimum stoma seal. Convex ostomy systems are beneficial for people who have stoma with uneven shape, unusual size, or other irregularities around the stoma skin area. The convex ostomy bag system is designed to curve inward toward the stoma. This enables the ostomy bag to attach securely and firmly with the surrounding skin. Convex ostomy bag system thereby directs urine or stool into the pouch and not under the wafer or skin barrier. Convex Ostomy Systems The main purpose of the convex system is to avoid ostomy leakage. The ideal ostomy convex pouch system should adapt intuitively to the peristomal skin contour while sustaining the movements and stress caused during normal wear. It should potentially increase ostomy bag wear and feel comfortable. The tightly secured convex bag system should provide a healthy and hygienic peristomal skin area. It will possibly take a few phone calls and experimentation. The various Ostomy manufacturers produce high quality and varied products, that upon request will send the free products for you to try, and then will follow up with you. There is a solution to your current peristomal skin issue. Jo-Ann L. Tremblay
THE OSTOMY FACTOR Blog – joannltremblay.wordpress.com
FACEBOOK – Author Jo-Ann L. Tremblay
TWITTER @joanntremblay
Author of “The Self-Coaching Toolbox” , “Better With A Bag Than In A Bag” , “Another BAG Another DAY”, “BAGs Around the World”, Why Buttercup Wears a BAG!”, “The Sibs Gang Cave of the Golden Heart”
amazon.com, amazon.ca, amazon.co.uk
Member OstomyCanada /Medical Lifestyle Advisory Committee Member- Ostomy Lifestyle Expert
https://ostomycanada.ca
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Website: jo-annltremblay.com     Our friends over at Nurses Specialized In Wound, Ostomy And Continence Canada (formerly called The Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy (CAET)) have renamed their handy look-up page on their website. It was formerly called “Find An ET Nurse” and is now called “Find a NSWOC“. Click on the image to the left or link here to go to their site.