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The Equalizer

Prevent Ostomy Leaks

Press down for 10-20 seconds.

Ostomy Nurse Reviews The Stomaplex Equalizer

I was excited to learn that Stomaplex is a new company with innovative products. In addition to the Stoma-Guards, the Stomaplex Equalizer is another one of their designs. For ostomy care, it will help to secure the application of the flange/barrier to the skin. Utilize it to apply equal pressure around the stoma-skin junction, seating the flange/barrier. This will help to prevent leakage at that critical intersection. It is available in a variety of sizes and they are soft and flexible, allowing for contouring around even oval or irregular stomas, and they are completely washable and reusable.

- Pearl R. Harmany, BSN, RN, CWOCN.

External Review:

Stoma Warrior Reviews The Equalizer

Once I had the system in place, before I added the click on bag, I would use a Stomaplex Equalizer! This is a small piece of rubber tubing that I could use to apply pressure inside the base plate ring, I would hold it in place for about 20 seconds and it would make a great seal between my skin and the base.

The Stomaplex Equalizer was the best thing I ever discovered for Fred and, although expensive in my opinion for what it is, it's worth every penny and more!

The longer you can go between changes, the better for you and your skin, bag seals have ingredients in them to promote skin repair and constant changing is pulling away a layer of skin each time making the site more vulnerable and sorer.

- Stoma Warrior.

Maggie Baldwin: Let's Talk IBD, Ostomy Swimsuit Model. She discusses how to use the Stomaplex Equalizer to help prevent ostomy leaks.

Ostomy Bag Change: 5 Simple Steps
(1) Remove the ostomy bag.
(2) Clean the skin.
(3) Dry the skin.
(4) Apply new skin barrier.
(5) Press down with the Equalizer by Stomaplex.

Watch Maggie Use the Stomaplex Equalizer

Apply pressure with the Equalizer for 10 seconds to improve the bond

How To Use the Equalizer

When changing your ostomy appliance it is important to get a good clean bond between the barrier and you. The Equalizer is a tool to help improve the bond by applying pressure on the barrier. Press and hold for 10-20 seconds. It is flexible and works well with oval shapes. They come in 4 sizes and are reusable.

How To Prevent ostomy Leaks

To ensure complete ostomy leak prevention, you need a good bond between the wafer of your ostomy appliance and your skin. Just like any time you are trying to adhere one thing to another, you will want to follow these steps.

1) Surface Prep. (Skin):

Make sure your skin is clean and dry. I do not recommend using a moisturizer-based soap but instead a pure soap like Ivory. If you have belly hair, I would advise that you shave it off, but be careful not to nick the stoma.

2) Surface prep. (Ostomy Appliance):

To change a colostomy bag I recommend that you warm the surface of the wafer before applying it to your skin. You can do this by having someone in your family place it next to their body (like under their armpit) or you can do what I do: set it on top of a lamp with a metal plate above it so the heat of the lamp travels into the wafer. This will soften the adhesive of the wafer and make it more sticky so it will have maximum adhesion. When you remove the paper backing, be sure not to touch the adhesive with your fingers.

3) Pressure:

After you apply the ostomy wafer, apply pressure to the outer ring around the stoma. Pressure is the key factor whenever you talk about adhesion. When I was in the hospital being trained on this, my Wound Ostomy Nurse recommended that I use my finger and go around the stoma applying pressure to the wafer to make a good bond. However, my fingers are too big, and the blunt, round end of my finger didn't make much positive contact with the wafer. In addition, the contact was only at one point at any given time. This is where the stomaplex Equalizer comes in to play.

With the equalizer you can apply pressure all the way around the stoma equally and at the same moment in time when you change your colostomy bag. By doing this, you will get better adhesion, guaranteed.