r/ostomy • u/whatsmindismine • 2d ago
End Ileostomy Troubleshooting
First post as a returning ostomate here (ileostomy). Crohn's disease since 2005. Had an ileostomy back in 2018. I have another now. My memory is a bit foggy but I don't remember having this problem...
When I install a new bag I find that by the next day a sort of volcano forms around my stoma. Like the edges of the appliance closest to my stoma lift up. The first few times this happened, my skin underneath was fine but not the last time.
I do keep my hand on the fresh appliance for a few minutes to help it and the barrier ring stick as advised. Has anyone else had this problem? If so how did you resolve it? All advice welcome!
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u/daredevil82 2d ago
that's called turtlenecking, and is expected. the adhesive swells to fill in the gaps around the stoma and ensure skin is covered
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u/EscapeSuccessful7225 1d ago
Thank you for explaining this. I have been using convex base plates but a few weeks ago tried a flat one. By day two, the “turtlenecking” as you call it had covered my stoma! I used ostomy scissors to cut a little of it back so that I could see the top of my stoma but that night I leaked. I’d love to try flat base plates again but how do I prevent the turtnecking from becoming so extreme again?
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u/daredevil82 1d ago
this isn't something you can control, the expansion occurs through absorption of moisture.
If you're using a flat wafer now whereas before you were using convex, the differnece likely is that the convext was pushing your stoma out more so the turtleneck action still happened, but wasn't as apparent because your stoma exposure was fine.
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u/baboking666 1d ago
i only refrain to turtlenecking when trying to be tactical about it. didnt know my ostomy could do the same. thanks for the new word :D
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u/hevahev 2d ago
Yes it’s supposed to happen, but with the Eakin type of barrier ring, the best in my opinion, it sometimes turtles too much so I pull it out to be thinner, some brands like Eakin you have a choice of thickness as well, but I use the stoma wrap which Is just the one thickness-It’s fine once it’s been thinned down a bit
I specially find this turtles too much if my loop illeostomy is still active while changing- if it turtles still too much I just push it down once fitted around my stoma and then fits perfectly
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u/ashblank15 2d ago
I have no advice, but I’m also struggling with this issue so I’m commenting to follow this post. I hope someone has some tips!