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itchy stoma

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Posted 3/26/2009 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
The skin around the stoma has been itchy sometimes. The bag isn't leaking and I'm not due to change it til Friday with the visiting nurse. It itched on Sunday, we changed the bag on Monday and found no irritated skin. Should I be worried? Is it the sutres? Is there a leak I'm not seeing? While I've done it twice in front of the visiting nurse, I'm not ready to change it on my own as we're cutting the hole to accomodate my incision and an oval shape. I'm paranoid as I emember folks writing about "the itch." ???
Posted 3/26/2009 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
You should try the powder that u put around the stoma to absorb whatever is coming out and touching the skin.  That might help u.  Keep trying different things until u are comfortable with the appliance.  Maybe you are allergic to the paste you're using or the wafer?? My advise is whenever there's a bad itch you can't handle...CHANGE THE BAG...GOOD LUCK
Posted 3/26/2009 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
sometimes you do just get an itchy spot and its like a mystery as to where it came from! i have that happen sometimes and i change the bag andcant find a single thign that made it itch!
now, if it's itching after you took a shower, it's cause you didnt get it dry good. That can give you some serious itchies!
Posted 3/26/2009 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
The itchies for me are an indication that I have skin exposed somewhere around the hole in the wafer and that it is time to change. However, sometimes I can postpone the change by rinsing my pouch and the area around the stoma with cold water. By rinsing your pouch you may be able to rinse away the stuff that is causing the itch. And it certainly doesn't cause any wear time issues, it's just water. Maybe that's worth a try.
Posted 3/28/2009 12:04 AM (GMT 0)

Sometimes I will get an itch that has to be addresses. My favorite thing is to remove the wafer and I will often scratch the area almost until it bleads just because it feels so good to have it off. It's a different itch than when I need to change because of leakage...that is more of an irritated itch. Is there a possability you are having a reaction to the wafer material? Maybe you may try a different prep wipe or spray.

Good Luck :-)

Posted 4/5/2009 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Mine would itch too without any irritation. It may be just from everything healing underneath. I wouldn't worry if the skin around it looks fine.
Posted 5/2/2009 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
I bumped this thread back up, I hope no one minds. I am haing problems with itching now too. It itches so bad that I want to pull the whole thing off and rip my hair out at the same time. Like Sammies I'm not completely comfortable with changing everything on my own yet. I don't know what to do. I was doing so well and now I'm starting to have problems... I am so irritated. Should I look into eakin seals? I've heard a lot about them. I am desperate!
Posted 5/2/2009 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
are you using paste now? peggy swears by those eakin seals, i havent' tried them though.
If it is itching that badly then you really need to change it, you probably have a small leak. Or you are having an allergic reaction to your wafer or the tape.
hope it gets better!
Posted 5/3/2009 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
your stoma is probably shrinking...which could expose more skin to your output. I swear by Eakin Seals and find that even if I put my wafer on a little off center, the seal protects the area.

If you decide to change your appliance on your own, check the size again...
Posted 5/4/2009 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
I wanted to try the Eakin seals but I don't have any. This whole supply thing has been a nightmare. I still don't have everything I need and my surgery was two weeks ago. So it was really itchy and I did other stuff to get my mind off it and then I got a leak. I had to change everything by myself for the first time. I was pretty proud of myself until about an hour ago when I got a leak in the SAME PLACE! I'm beyond beside myself, the nurse is coming tomorrow at 9am so I have 10 more hours to wait and watch my wafer. I doubt I'm going to sleep at all. I have been having skin issues and that is where the leak is... aaagg!

Sorry this was a bit more of a rant but I'm not sure what else to do right now...

Holly

Posted 5/5/2009 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Sometimes I get an itch that feels like a bite. i remove my bag and discover that I have a few hives.
If I leave the bag off and put some cortizone cream on the hives they go away. I thought I was
reacting to paste or adhesive or something. Now I realize that if I am working out and I sweat that
is when I start itching. I never had that problem before. Hope you get it figured out so you get relief.
Fruitcake
Posted 5/5/2009 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
fruitcake-something i learned the hard way, was that hydrocortisone can cause the wafer and stuff to pull up. is it not shortening your wear time, or are you getting it all off before you put the new one back on?

What had happened to me was my son and i got into an ant hill, and i had bites ALL over, but also all the way up the edge of my wafer and i put hydrocortisone there and in no time the whole thing was peeling off!
Posted 5/7/2009 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
hi Summer,
I let the hydrocortisone sit for a bit and than dry it with the hair dryer untill it is dry and if I
do that the wafer and stuff stays on and doesn't pull up. If you use gel instead of cream it works
better.
Posted 5/7/2009 6:32 PM (GMT 0)

Holly-

I was also having the same issues and I am also a newbie. I was having a leak every other day. I went to see my ostomy nurse and my stoma had shrunk to 7/8'' and also the bottom is more flat that the top so they recommended a Hollister convex wafer that pushes my stoma out. It was leaking at about 8 o'clock...they said it was pointing that way. Since mmy new wafer and pre-cutt mini bags I have had no issues. Also I have always used the circular eakin seal and I swear by them. I form it around my stoma and its extra security. Even when I was leaking it was the only thing saving me from constant leaks.

I was also having skin issues where the leak was and stool on my skin when removing appliance. They said this was first sign something was wrong. I can send you some of my eakin seals.....I have plenty from hospital and first month supply. I only use half of my circle and stretch it out....if you do not have any skin barrier poweder or wipes I have extra of these too....I can send them out ASAP.....let me know.

Lizzie

Posted 5/9/2009 12:14 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Holly - It seems as tho everyone on here has been giving you lots of recommendations... I use the Eakin Seal and a convex wafer.   7 days wear time, pretty consistently

Hey Lizzie -  I just wanted to thank you ....  You see, your surgery was April 13th, right?  And here you are posting suggestions for a newbie too.  That's what this forum is all about - paying it forward!!!!   So, seriously, thanks again.

I haven't been able to check the forum out as much as I would like and it so good to see all of the conversation going on here!!  This forum is just awesome.

Posted 6/8/2014 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
A nurse last week had be pour powder on it but now I have oozing rash along the bottom of the flange. Any thoughts about how to manage it? I don't cover that part to let it dry and I put cortisone cream on it. The rash is now all one big red area with oozing. I heard one person had a cortisone injection that worked. May try to get one tomorrow (Sunday today)
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