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I mean SERIOUSLY, when is enough enough??? :(

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Posted 1/5/2011 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I've been having a stubborn yeast infection under my wafer for about 3 months now. I have tried just about everything.

I've suddenly gone from an annoying yeast infection to a full blown gooey mess in just a few days. A week ago it seemed to spread to my belly button but was manageable under the wafer. I've been trying coloplast (instead of Hollister) lately, and after just a day of wearing it, a huge red spot appeared over my stoma, and it's weepy. :(
 
I've been spending about an hour every other day with my pouch off, but that's really all I've had time for. I'm putting nystatin powder on between every change with barrier wipes over the top. My dr has prescribed diflucan for 5 days twice, but refuses to give me any more. I've used Kenalog spray with not much reaction once, but I"m going to try it again tonight. I'm cutting my wafer as much as I can to give the really red areas some air. I sleep with no shorts on so the area can breathe as much as possible.
 
I'm getting really scared that soon I'm going to be house-bound because of not being able to wear a pouch. I'm going to be devastated if I have to lose the wonderful job I've waited so long for. I feel like I'm doing everything possible and I'm so frustrated. I have heard of people needing as much as 14 days of high does diflucan but I don't think my dr will give it to me. If I miss any more days of work I'm going to be penalized.

I don't know what to do. I just spent the last 2 hours sitting on my couch with towels and TP all around me. This is misery.

Please, ANY ideas would be great. I just can't seem to catch a break.

Thanks guys, and happy new year. :)

Stephanie
 

Posted 1/5/2011 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
What about a steroid?
(TMI alert!)-I'm sharing this in the interest of helping you.
Ahem.
I once had a very bad yeast infection.....elsewhere....that wouldn't clear up without a steroid. Needless to say, it helped.

And I know in animals that we often prescribe pred when treating bad yeast infections.

I don't know what kenalog spray is, it sounds like a topical steroid, but maybe an oral one would help even more.
Posted 1/5/2011 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, Chas, Kenalog is a steroid. I sprayed a bunch on there tonight before putting on my wafer and hopefully it'll help. As for the pred, I have some left over from my Crohn's days...I could try it. Do you think a 30-25-20....6 day taper would work? How much did you take?

I LOATHE pred but I'm willing to try ANYTHING.
Posted 1/5/2011 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Well, ummmmm, my steroid was topical too........... It took about a week to clear up.

So, I know you are desperate, and want relief now, but I think you should ask your Dr. about the dosing of pred. I wouldn't want to cause anything worse, if he doesn't think it's a good idea.

I think we all have some pred. in our medicine cabinet left.
Posted 1/5/2011 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
i dont think i have ever taken pred for a yeast infection (and i tossed ALL mine, first thing i did) but i did notice that when i would get thrush, i could eat fresh pineapple and it would go away. i guess the huge amount of acid in it. thats kind of an out there suggestion, oh and there is something that women put ontheir breasts for thrush, my mom bought it for my sister at the store, i cant remember the name, but i will find out tomorrow, or you could try just searching for it, good luck!
Posted 1/5/2011 11:31 AM (GMT 0)
But aren't we supposed to not eat pineapple?
Posted 1/5/2011 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Is the doctor that will only do 5 days of Diflucan your Surgeon or GI?

Would your family doc give you a two week prescription? Do you need to find another doc?

There was a point in my early ostomy days that I was actually on about a 45 day course of Diflucan. My C/R Surgeon wrote the script. I had to be on a crazy amount of antibiotics and he gave me that one at the same time...it was for the other kind of yeast infection but STILL your doc isn't helping the problem by not writing a bigger script mad

My last suggestion: Do you have one of those 'old fashioned' pharmacies? I have one that caters to the older population and has medical equipment AND ostomy supplies on the shelf (a gem I just discovered getting crutches for my daughter)...if you do, maybe the pharmacist could shed some light on something since they've actually got a better handle on drugs than even our docs!

I am so sad that you are dealing with all of this...we go through our surgeries to GET PASSED all this junk...I know once you get a handle on this everything will improve. Hang in there (((HUGS)))
Posted 1/5/2011 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Get to a wound care center asap. They have a doctor there that is familiar with skin issues and will prescribe diflucan if it is indeed a yeast rash. I will post more when I get home. hi
Posted 1/5/2011 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
i eat pineapple i just spit the stringy stuff out
i thought of something else too, there is this stuff called nu-skin its like a liquid bandaid it might help, or this stuff called cur-a-sor its mainly for fever blisters but i have used it on sores and stuff on my hands, but fair warning it will hurt, badly! but it does clear a sore up quickly.
but i think a wound care dr is a good idea
Posted 1/5/2011 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, here is some advice I have gotten from others and I think they may help you.

One lady told me to use Gentian Violet for yeast. She said she had horrible problems with yeast infections until she tried this. She said she uses it every pouch change. Yes, it does paint the skin purple, but she said she absolutely has no more issues with yeast....she said we can buy it in any drug store.

On a post from another forum, many said that they use calamine lotion all around the stoma. They stated they coat a cotton ball with calamine and rub it all around the skin and around the stoma and then let it dry, they then proceed to put the wafer on.

I have not yet tried either of these, but will if my skin gets out of whack again.

I truly think your 1st step is to go to a wound care center so that you can see a stoma nurse and a doctor that deals with stoma skin issues every single day. You need some direction and maybe some meds to get your skin healed up ASAP. Remember, having a stoma is essentially an open wound and weepy, irritated skin is not a good thing. It was the doctor at the wound care center that gave me 14 days of diflucan.

I am so sorry you are having such issues and I know how you feel. When it was real hot out and I went back to work, my skin was a wreck with yeast. It seems to have calmed down with cooler weather though.

Also have you tried coloplast's skin barrier sheets under your wafer? I read many have had good luck with these.Have you tried placing an eakin seal all the way around the wafer to see if this will help your skin heal?

There is a solution for you...keep searching!

Tracy
Posted 1/5/2011 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried OTC jock itch/ athlete's foot cream (or spray)?
Posted 1/6/2011 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all!
Thank you so much for your ideas. I went in to see a friend's friend's nurse/practicioner who used to be an ostomy nurse and she prescribed 3 weeks of diflucan, and will continue to see me if it doesn't improve. I have hope again, and all of your ideas sound great too. THANK YOU ALL.
Posted 1/6/2011 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad that you found a medical professional who could help you out so quickly and pray that it clears it up for good! (((HUGS)))
Posted 1/6/2011 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Me too! This was one of the best medical experiences I've had! It was so quick and painless!
Posted 1/6/2011 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
I think you should get to a wound care clinic. You need to deal with a doc whose expertise is in wound healing.

If this is truly a yeast infection it could be that it is now resistant to the antifungal that you are using. Nystatin ( miconazole) and Diflucan (fluconazole) are pretty much the same thing. There are other antifungals that can be used instead. The docs always, however, start out with miconazole or fluconazole and only move on to the other drugs when necessary.

Also, normally, steroids are not used to clear up a fungal infection. They can actually make it much worse.
Posted 1/9/2011 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Just wondering how you are doing?
Posted 1/9/2011 8:36 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you asked this question I'm going thru the same thing and it sucks. I have to wear a tie and tuck in my shirt at work so I'm not having a good time. Thank you to all for the ideas I see my doc on monday and I'll talk to him about them.

thanks again

Posted 1/9/2011 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
I'm doing ok. I got scared when you said I need to go to a wound care center because I was finally feeling hopeful. I contacted my wocn and she said a wound care center would probably just refer me to a wocn because they have experience with ostomies.

I've been on my diflucan for 4 days now and I've noticed a marked improvement. It's not 100% better yet, but of course I was pretty bad off 4 days ago. It's dealable now. Thank God. I hope this will continue.

I also have an ostomy support group meeting today so I will talk to my wocn there as well.

Thanks for checking on me!
Posted 1/9/2011 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
80'2chick, that is wonderful news that you are seeing marked improvement. How is the itching and the weeping?

As far as a wound care center....they have stoma nurses at the wound care centers too because they go and see new ostomates that are in the hospital! Call your nearest hospital and get the number to the wound care center and call and ask. Sometimes it is necessary to see a doctor that deals with parastomal skin everyday to get the medication that we need.

I am going to walmart now because we are expecting snow and ice in the deep south. :( I am going to buy some gentian violet and some calamine to have on hand. Many have sworn the calamine helps with itching which I have struggled with off and on.

Which system are you wearing now? Do you think you are allergic to the products? Or do you think it has been one long yeast infection?

Did you have the surgery to have your intestine tacked down so it couldn't twist and cause an obstruction? If so, how was that? Are you back to work yet?

I am so glad to hear you are doing better. Tracy
Posted 1/10/2011 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Answers,
I am wearing a two piece convex HOllister with no tape. I found I was allergic to tape about 2 months after I got my ostomy, and now I wear a wafer made of pectin. I have tried MULTIPLE products and this is the only one that doesn't leak or severely irritate my skin. Not many companies have options for people with sensitive skin like mine. I am fairly sure it's yeast as I've seen 3 WOCNs now and they think that, and also every time I'm on diflucan it gets better, and if it were an allergic reaction that would not be the case.

I have not had the last surgery yet. It's the 20th, which is a Thursday. It'll be outpatient and if all is well I think I should be back to work by that Monday. I can't stand to be away from my students so I really hope this can be the end of this. I'm thoroughly sick of all of these complications and ready for a regular life.

Thank you for checking on me :)
Posted 1/10/2011 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Stephanie
  OMG girl I have a call into my friend to see if I can get some answers for you.  She has had a appliance for over 30 odd years and maybe she knows some tricks..I will get back to ya... So sorry your having such problems..praying for you sweetie...

Leslie

 

Posted 1/10/2011 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Since we are so new at this - sorry for your situation - but thankful to read the different suggestions in case we need to deal with this down the road
Posted 1/21/2011 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not an ostomate yet but I do deal with such infections, and my gynae recommends regularly bathing the area in white vinegar, diluted in water. She says that fungii hate acidity, and the acid can drive it away.

I thought I would mention it, just in case it helps.

I hope the Diflucan does the trick.

Ivy (just passing through)
Posted 1/21/2011 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
Athletes foot powder cleared my infection up in about 3 days! try it out...

I'm so sorry for what you're going through, we have enough to deal with without having stupid skin problems.. I went through the same thing for about 2 weeks and it was absolutely horrible... within about an hour of a bag change it'd be peeling up.

Good luck keep us updated!
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