Finding products that fit the shape of you

Just like your abdomen can be flat or more rounded during the day, your stoma is a part of you that can change shape and size quite regularly.

In the early days, just after surgery you will find your stoma is swollen or slightly larger – that’s completely normal. During the first 6-8 weeks of having a stoma you will find it may change shape and reduce in size as the swelling eases and your stoma settles into its more regular shape. Stomas can be anything from 15mm right up to 100mm but typically they settle around 30 – 40mm depending on your type of stoma with urostomies being smallest and colostomies or loop stomas sometime larger.

After those first few weeks though, don’t be surprised if some days your stoma feels a bit larger or more pronounced than others – just like your tummy can be bloated occasionally. A stoma changing shape and size is completely normal as output is released or you move around – stand up then sit down and see how your abdomen and stoma changes. Other things such as weight gain or loss, pregnancy, hernias or if you have a prolapsed stoma can result in a stoma obviously changing in shape or protrusion.

With this in mind, it is important that you are finding products that fit to the shape of you! If you don’t adapt your baseplate cutting or add an accessory, you could find you experience leaks. If the baseplate hole is too big then the skin around the stoma will be exposed to output and at risk of skin damage. While if the hole is too small the bag won’t adhere to the skin securely or it could be too tight around your stoma.

First thing we would suggest is to regularly measure your stoma – just to make sure the size you are cutting is as accurately as possible. You may however find it hard to achieve an accurate or consistent template if your stoma is changing often or you are just concerned it isn’t completely secure. In this case you may wish to use a seal that is flexible and moulds securely around your stoma then place the baseplate on top. Any inaccuracies in the cut of the baseplate will be covered by the seal securely placed underneath the pouch.

eakin Cohesive^® seals and eakin freeseal^® are both proven to be the most mouldable of all seals tested – meaning you can be confident you can fit them to the shape of you each time.

To sample or find out more information, click here!

If you have any concerns about your stoma care routine, always speak to your stoma care nurse.