Skin problems under wafer....as always. Please help!

Yes, it itches but I think it also oozes.

Have you tried the wafer without a seal or paste? I've actually done it a few times but my stoma area is funky and needs a little 'lift' so I've stayed with the Eakin. I don't know how often you change, but the worst you might have to do is change a little more often.

Do you know which seal is bothering you? They are different and it's possible that one will work for you...were you alternating them? Does paste bother you?

I don't know what it is but I've tried new products and they're fine for a week or so but then start acting up

Hang in there...I don't have the allergy problem but my peaks and valleys were challenging in the beginning and I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere but it does all come together!

Cecelia, which Dr would you call for that? General practioner? Gastro? Surgeon?

I can't tell if it's the seal or the actual wafer itself. When I change tomorrow I will look closely and try to figure it out. Then I will try paste just for this time. That was causing leaks before. I change about every 2 days.

Cece, could you please let me know if you still have problems maintaining your weight? I need to decide very soon if I am goiing to have an ilestomy. Currently I have a SubTotal Colectomy (hooked up small intestine to rectum). I have had this "arrangement for 1.5 yrs but it is not working for me . . . .. diarrhea 15-20 times/day . . . very painful, lots of bleeding. My doctors are thinking maybe an Ileostomy would be a better alternative. I have lost over 30 pounds since the subtotal colectomy. i am wondering if i would be likely to be able to gain some weight if I had an Ileostomy?

Please post soon!

Thanks,
Gilda

Gilda~I can understand what you are going through, too

I just wanted to say that I am similar to Cecilia in that I have to exercise and eat healthy to keep my weight where it should be. I thought keeping weight off with an ileo would be a breeze, but once our bodies start feeling better and absorbing nutrients, the weight comes back!

There are exceptions to the rule but the majority is that we gain weight since we can actually eat!

Are you having small leaks before this occurred that you noticed when you changed?  Which version of the Hollister wafer are you using?  As I recall they had 2 variations without tape and one was better than the other if you have skin allergies (at least that's what my stoma nurse told me).  I had this happen to me and so I would use the Stomahesive powder on the affected areas and brush off the excess with my fingers.  No pastes, wipes or sprays for me as they made it worse.  Mine was not a fungal infection (but it did itch) so the Stomahesive powder would clear it up after a couple of changes where I didn't push and try to get lots of extra days out of my appliance.

I also noticed that this would happen if I used Hy-Tape to get a few extra days.  I'm allergic to something in the Hy-Tape adhesive.  I always used the Adapt rings - never tried the Eakins, but I didn't use a whole one.  What does the rash look and smell like?  I think that may help determine if it's a fungal infection or just a skin issue.

OOOH!!  I just remembered the other thing(s) that caused this for me.  If I didn't use adhesive remover to take off my wafer I would have skin issues - I might have been removing some of my skin as I pulled off the wafer.  Also - if I didn't shave the area where my wafer went I would have problems (not as bad once I started using adhesive remover - but it still happened if I didn't shave).  I also always washed the area with Hibiclens soap on change day after I was done washing and shaving so that any residual films from the rest of my shower products were removed and I had clean skin.  Once I figured all of these things out things went smoothly with my end ileo.  I did try a Convatec wafer which was great for my skin, but was so stiff it was a pain to deal with so I stuck with the Hollister.

Is it possible that you are changing so often that you are irritating your skin or are you changing because you start to leak?

• I recently had skin irritation, I went to have checked and ostomy nurse used stoma powder and applied a skin barrier before applying the wafer. It stayed in place for 4 days so thought it was time to change, I discovered the skin barrier did work because my red irritation was healed just one spot still visible so I applied the stoma powder again. I am new at this, still a little nervous but doing my best to get aquainted with my temporary lifestyle change. This website has really ben a blessing for me. Good Luck!!

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your input.

I am currently usuing a Hollister 2 piece non adhesive convex wafer. I didn't realize they had two different kinds of non-adhesives. Maybe I will call my Hollister rep, because I have never noticed that in the supply books. The Hytape is really awful for me too...I'm allergic to EVERYTHING!! :(

BEcause of all of your advice, I called my surgeon and ostomy nurse and got a prescrip for Nystatin (Nystop).  They said it sounded like a fungal infection (is that the same as a yeast infection?). I've been putting the powder on with a Smith and Nephew no-sting wipe afterwards, and wearing the wafer about two days. I still had itching, so I called them back. They put me on Diflucan (oral anti-fungal, I guess) as well as the powder, for two days.  I will change tomorrow and see how it is.

I am sooooo hopeful for something to help. I just want to know that this isn't going to be a permanent problem, since I kind of don't have any other options.

ConvaTec DuoDerm.

adam made a post about duoderm called "I highly recommend it * if needed"

but basically its a barrier that you put under your wafer to help skin heal and kept it away from the adhesives. it comes in different thicknesses and is used to help heal all kinds of wounds.

here's the reference page on ConvaTec DuoDerm

So do you think i could just ask the Dr for a prescrip for Kennalog spray?

I've been using powders and it is doing NOTHING except making my wafer annoying. I went to see an ostomy nurse yesterday and she gave me a few options but seriously, I'm MISERABLE!

80sChick,

I just asked the doctor for Kenalog Spray and he said what for and I pointed at my stoma and he said ok.

I told my urologist about it and he said that it kills yeast infections faster than anything.

I have not had a problem since.

crank

     Did your doctors tell you all to try to leave the wafer on for five days?  I was changing every other day but my surgeon said the skin becomes more irritant the more often you change.  I couldn't wait the five days..ugh...I use the one piece Coloplast.  Maybe it is my imagination, but I get the feeling it starts to smell...lol.  I ate fish yesterday and when I emptied my bag    PU!  I went to my cabinet where I keep my wintergreen mints and they were gone .   Here, my daughter ate them...darn it all!  They make my output smell minty .