You shouldn’t have to live in fear of leakages. Often those who have experienced a leakage feel like there’s nothing that could help prevent it, but you may be surprised to learn that very often it is something you have a lot of control over.
- Measure your stoma size regularly
Stomas can regularly alter in size and shape for various reasons, particularly during the post-operative period when swelling caused by surgery starts to decrease. But even an established stoma can change in shape and size over time, and this is most often due to weight loss or weight gain.
This is why it’s important to regularly measure the size of your stoma to make sure you’re getting a snug fit, which can help to reduce output seeping through any gaps. - Find a product that suits you and your body
The contours of your body can also play a big part in ill-fitting stoma bags. You may have a protruding stoma, it may point upwards, downwards or sidewards. Don’t worry if this sounds like you – every stoma is unique, and there are products available to suit a range of stoma shapes and sizes. A wel- fitted pouch with a good secure seal should be all it takes to prevent leaks. - Try Convatec Moldable Technology. It can be helpful for lots of people living with a stoma. A stoma can change size over time, but Convatec Moldable Technology reacts to any changes in your stoma size and shape. This should reduce the potential for leakage and sore skin.
- Try Convexity
Convex baseplates are another option if you’re struggling with leakages. Designed for longer days, Convatec’s Esteem Body with Leak Defense bags offer extra security meaning you can enjoy those longer summer nights and put leakages to the back of your mind. - Try a stoma seal
Not only can a stoma leakage be embarrassing, it’s also the skin's worst enemy. If you’re still struggling with leakages even after trying different products, Eakin Cohesive Seasl could help. These offer a simple and effective way to protect the skin around the stoma. They can be custom moulded or stacked to fit individual patient needs and can also be broken and rejoined and used in combination with paste. - Make sure your skin is dry
Another culprit for stoma bag leakages is moist skin underneath the baseplate, which may be a sign of maceration. Maceration is when the skin around the stoma becomes overhydrated because of prolonged exposure to moisture. Making sure the skin around your stoma is dry before applying your bag helps the adhesive to stick, meaning less chance of an uncomfortable leakage.
If you think you have skin maceration, then please be sure to seek advice from your healthcare professional as soon as possible. - Emptying your bag
Another top tip to try for preventing stoma bag leakage is to empty the bag before it gets too full, which is another common cause of leakage. Letting your bag get too full can cause it to get too heavy which can ultimately lead to leakage as the barrier is pulled away from the skin. - Try Diamonds Gelling Sachets
People who have liquid output may experience leakages more than others, which is where our Diamonds Gelling and Odor Control Sachets could help. These easy-to-use sachets turn your liquid stoma output into an easy to manage gel. Not only does this result in greater comfort, but users often find that Diamonds sachets help prevent leakage and sleep disruptions caused by the need to drain or release gas.
If you often suffer from leakages at night time, Diamonds could be the perfect solution, solidifying the liquid contents of your stoma bag for peace of mind that you won’t wake up to any accidents. - Check your diet
Despite the wrong product being a common cause of bag leakage, remember that not all bag leakages are caused because of your bag. Very often diet can be a key cause of leakages. Leakage can be caused by watery output, and watery output can be caused by dietary changes. If you have changed your diet and also noticed an increase in bag leakages then you should address your diet to see if anything could be causing this watery output.
If you notice a persistent change in the consistency of output it could also be possible that you have got a bug. If you suspect this may be the case then you should visit your GP who may request a sample.