Struggling With Ostomy Bag Leaks: Need Advice (2025)

You might need a convex appliance. I prefer one piece over two pieces, but it's a personal preference.

Many reasons for leakage.

Not cleaning the peristomal area correctly, as in removing all leftover adhesive with adhesive remover and then cleaning the area well with soap that has no oils in it, like Ivory or Dial, and rinsing well with water. Make sure to get all adhesive remover cleaned off. I usually use paper towels to wet and soap up and rinse with. Pat dry with paper towels and wait until the area is totally dry before putting on the new pouch. Getting the hole on the pouch cut to the correct sizing. When putting it on, use a mirror to make sure it's on evenly around the stoma.

Then there is the issue of being careful not to use a moisturizing or oily shampoo, soap, or conditioner in the shower. These things will cause adhesion issues. Also, having hand lotions on your hands will keep the pouch from sticking or sealing.

You may also need to try a barrier ring such as Adapt or Brava ring to put onto the flange around the hole of the flange you cut.

Changing two to three times a day is saying there is some kind of issue with your application or supplies you're using, and you may need a stoma nurse to look as well. I see you're in Ohio. Cleveland Clinic has a great team of ostomy stoma nurses who can help.

Agreed...however, trying to understand her situation here leads me to think...she may need a revision. It sounds like the "stoma" is recessed, so far inside her stomach that obviously something is wrong there. Not sealing.

Now we don't know how long she's had an ostomy, or if this just developed recently. But if she is changing 2 to 3 times a day, her current appliance is wrong or she needs to have the stoma pulled out. - revised.

Reply to warrior

Agree to all that you've said.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hi Anni,

As Warrior said, you need a revision. I had a stoma that shot sideways and ostomy products just aren't designed to last in that situation. I was getting one to two days out of my barrier/ring combo, but not reliably. It took me a while to realize my stoma was the problem, but once I figured that out and got a revision, it made having an ostomy not such a big deal. Find yourself a good surgeon with a lot of experience making stomas and get it revised. The revision itself can be a very simple thing if all goes well, and you'll be out of the hospital the next day. If your surgeon tries to pull your bowel out a few inches and can't, then they'll have to open you up a bit to see why, and that can mean a longer hospital stay. But if you have the revision done, you'll be amazed at how much easier it is to have and manage a stoma. Barrier changes will go from a couple of times a day to once every 4 or 5 days, possibly longer, but I don't go more than 5 because I like to keep an eye on things, but it's possible. All I can tell you is that having a proper stoma makes all the difference! The longer you wait, the more you'll be mad at yourself for doing so; it's that big a deal.

;O)

Yep. Revision is the best fix. Convex wafers will help, but not better than revision.

Let us know what happens.

Reply to Hisbiscus

I assumed that as well, lol.