Pancaking is a common issue that people with ostomies face. Sometimes, it may seem you are out of options after trying so many solutions with no luck. The good thing is that you can rectify this issue in some easy steps.

What is pancaking?

Pancaking is a term describing the sticking of the stomal output around the stoma site instead of falling to the bottom of the ostomy pouch. As a result, the formation of the stomal output in that area takes the shape of a pancake.

This issue is more common among people with colostomies. That’s because a colostomy generally produces firm stools. Such a stomal output doesn’t slide down to the bottom of the ostomy bag. Here are a few techniques to guide the stomal output down to the bottom of a colostomy bag.

Pay attention to your clothing

• Wearing loose-fitting clothing can help prevent a lot of ostomy-related problems, including pancaking. If you have to wear a waistband, make sure that it sits above the stoma. Proper legroom will allow the stool to fall to the bottom of the ostomy bag.
• Folding the top of the ostomy bag and tucking it into the waistband reduces room for pancaking. That way, you can also avoid stool from accumulating around the filter.

If the clothing doesn’t help, you can go to the restroom and slide the stool down to the bottom. The best technique is to use a flat karate-chop hand and slide it down the front side of the ostomy bag. Make sure to hold the top of the bag to prevent the seal of the skin barrier from compromising. To deal with the stool stuck inside the flange circle, use your finger to guide it down the ostomy bag.

Convex wafers

Some people think that convex wafers cause more pancaking. Since these wafers are curved inward to reach the base of a recessed stoma, the stool accumulation in the flange ring seems a more logical consequence. However, the fact of the matter is that these barriers prevent the leakage of air and stomal output. As a result, the air inside the bag doesn’t escape, preventing the formation of a vacuum inside the ostomy pouch.

Other tips and tricks

Pancaking and leaking issues are more common among people who are yet to adapt to life with an ostomy. It usually takes a few weeks for a person with an ostomy to become fully aware of how to avoid irritating ostomy issues, including pancaking. Until you get there, you have to make sure to remain in contact with an ostomy care nurse or healthcare provider.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid pancaking.

• You can blow air into your ostomy bag to keep its walls apart. That way, the bag is puffed, and the stool falls to its bottom.
• Lubricating your ostomy pouch can also help prevent pancaking. You can use baby oil or olive oil, but make sure that they do not end up compromising the seal of your ostomy pouch. You can also use a commercial lubricating deodorant made specifically for ostomies. However, it is best to speak to your ostomy care nurse or healthcare provider first.

Having a colostomy as a nature photographer isn’t as bad as some people may think. I have always loved being in nature since I was a child. When I was young, I loved to be outdoors, exploring woods behind our house. I always had the desire to capture nature as it was with photos. For years I asked my parents for a camera so I could do just that. Eventually, they caved in on my sixteenth birthday. They got me a very nice camera along with some extra batteries and memory cards. I still feel that same passion for photography that I had when I was young fifty years later. I had a life-altering procedure, but I knew it would not stop me from taking photos in nature. 

When I was seventeen years old, I developed Crohn’s disease. This is a kind of disease that attacks the colon. I had to get a permanent colostomy, also called an end ostomy, a few months after my diagnosis. I had terrible bowel movements, and my doctor advised this was the best option. I still remember the day I woke up from my surgery. I said to my doctor, when can I get back out taking nature photos? He told me after just a few days in their care. I could go back; they just needed to monitor me for a while. 

When I got out of the hospital a few days later, I went straight to the woods to see if I could capture any deer. I also grabbed my homemade ghillie suit as it allows me to be right next to the animals without them knowing. This is how I’ve gotten some of my best shots. When I got out there, I realized the first thing the ostomy procedure was going to prevent me from doing. I could not lay on my stomach anymore as it put too much pressure on the stoma and bag. I quickly came up with a solution to dig out a small hole in the ground to let my bag hang in a way. Once I figured out that this would be a viable solution, I got more excited to get all the photos I could. 

Eventually, I got the honor to travel the world and take nature photos for National Geographic, the magazine subscription. I can not put into words how thrilled I was when I got the call to be offered this opportunity. Due to this job, I have had the chance to get photos of wolves in the wild. I love wolves; they are my favorite animal on this whole earth. It was a fantastic experience getting to see how they thrive in the wild. It was breathtaking. A few years ago, I was in Alaska to capture photos of a pack of wolves I have photographed before. That trip was unforgettable. I found a wolf pup; I assumed he was the runt of the litter. He could not have been more than a few months old. I carried him with me as I tracked his pack. When I found them, I sent him in their direction, and I could tell the pack was extremely happy to have him back. I shed a few tears. 

As a nature photographer with an ostomy, life has been very rewarding, as odd as that may seem. I have had unforgettable memories from this job I was able to get as well. I would not trade these experiences for anything. I’m glad to have had this passion for photography even when I was young and all these years later. I enjoy looking back on the photos I had taken when I was a boy who did not know his life would change the worse and then the better. 

My son was born with a defect. He was born with an imperforate anus. This means his anal opening was there when he popped out but it is improperly formed. This happened even before he was born. As he was growing in the womb for some reason his anal cavity was improperly formed. He could not pass stools properly. When the doctors saw this they needed to keep him for a bit longer in the hospital in order to look him over properly. After going back and forth with the doctor he finally told us what we can do to help make his life more comfortable. The doctor said my son will need to get a colostomy but it will be permanent. I later learned this is called an end ostomy as it can not be reverted after it is completed. 

No parent wants to hear their child has a birth defect, it is devastating but you still love them regardless. Once the doctor gave us the news I began to do some research to learn more about colostomies. The procedure is rather easy as it would seem. An end colostomy, the kind my son has, is a procedure where doctors go in and take the end of a patient’s colon and bring it to the front of the body. The end is passed through the abdomen wall to the exterior of the body through what is called a stoma. The stoma is a puffy pick red part on the skin. A bag is then placed over this area to catch any waste. 

My son has had a good life growing up. He has made a lot of friends in his class. He is now in the fifth grade. I am so relieved he has not experienced much bullying. The little bullying he has received he had a friend there to stick up for him every time, poor bully usually gets put in his place. My son is getting into watching sports, unfortunately he can not play many sports as any kind of hard hit would have drastic affects on his pouch. He and i do play catch in the back yard with either a football or a baseball and mits. It is an enjoyabel time and good bonding for us.

As he has grown up my son has become more aware of his situation and wants to be a public figure in the colostomy world. He has already come to me with ideas on how he can improve the pouches like making a bag with infused lotion to help with the skin irritation he and others like him experience. He also wants to do some public speaking on the topic and bring awareness to it so more people can understand what it is and how people are affected by it every day. He is only eighteen.  

I love my son and there is not anything I would change about him, he is perfect the way he is. He has had a relatively easy life with all things considered. He is surrounded by loving friends and family. He knows what he wants to do with his life and there is nothing that can get in his way to stop him. My son is my rock, he is more brave than i will ever be and more headstrong than his mother. We love our son for how and who he is. 

I had to get a colostomy at the age of fifteen. Ten years later and I am a die-hard snowboard shredder. Being a snowboarder with an ostomy bag is an exciting life for sure. I have to take great care to not have bad falls, or I can risk rupturing my pouch, which would not be a good time. The weather plays a significant factor in my life as my sport requires snow to be done. However, there are some upsides to having an ostomy bag as a snowboarder. 

At the age of fifteen, your body is going through a lot of changes still, and I had a big one. I consistently had pains in my abdomen shortly after I would eat. This digestive problem seemed to be getting serious, so my mom took me to the doctor to find out I had an infection in my abdomen, and the only treatment was to get a colostomy. I was devastated, I had just gotten into snowboarding and was loving it I thought this was going to ruin any future of snowboarding, but my doctor told me so long as I am careful I will be alright. Little did he know I was a psycho on the board, wich probably wasnt the best for my new situation. In highschool I got bullied form time to time about it but I had good people around me who had my back.  

The weather has a significant impact on my life. If it is too cold, I can not go snowboarding as the cold still hurts my stoma, and I am not too keen on falling on ice. I do need to take precautions when I’m snowboarding. If I take a terrible tumble, I run the risk of my ostomy bag bursting open and, I along with everyone else do not want to see or smell that. An upside to snowboarding is how free i feel. I forget all about my situation. I also do not have to worry about taking a bathroom break wich can be nice as i can get the most of my time on the slopes. 

Im currently talking with a few jacket comapens to see if i can get a custom jacket made. Ive heard of people with reinforced jacked that protect the ostomy pouch. If i had something like this I would feel a lot for confident in my snowboarding tricks. My family is very supportive of me and my sport. They all enjoy coming with me when i go snowboarding and watching me along with shredding with me. I also enjoy their company. Snowboarding has also made me a lot of close friends who dont care about my ostomy bag. I am happy to have people around me who see me for who i am and see past my circumstances.

As a snowboarder who had gotten a colostomy at the age of fifteen ive had hurdles to overcome but with the support of my family i have been able ot overcome any obstacles i have had faced. I am happy to have found something I am passionate about that I am still able to do with my situation. I try to inspire others like me who dont think they can keep doing what they love. I am hoping to prove everyone wrong.