Saw surgeon today - apparently I'm a freak!

My skin problems have become bad enough that we thought it worth the six hour drive back to the CC to see my surgeon and the team of stoma nurses.
The stoma nurses I saw were shocked by the state of my skin - I hate to think how bad things must be to shock stoma nurses! Since I am apparently so allergic to adhesives, they've got me doing something really odd now. I have a coloplast flange on, but we left the plastic backing on so that the adhesive isn't touching me. I am still using paste on it, because I don't seem to have problems with that. Then I have a belt on really tight... and that's it. A belt and a paste ring is all that's holding the pouch on me! Has anyone even heard of that? Ugh, I hate being so abnormal! After explaining my problems to the surgeon, he even said - his exact words - "you're a little weird"! I'll be going to a dermatologist next week, hopefully I'll get some help then... so sick of this! Take down couldn't come soon enough.

whoa, that's nuts! I wonder, did any of them mention trying karaya wafers? it's hollister that sells them, but they are not a true adhesive more like a natural raw gum type deal. Someone once mentioned they were the original wafers before the adhesives were manufactured. and they continue to be used for people with severe skin reactions to wafers. They don't last as long since they are natural, (from what I hear 4 days is the max) but maybe you could look into those? I can't image how difficult it must be to have just the belt and some non sticky paste keeping everything on. Good luck to you!

here's a link www.hollister.com/anz/ostomy/products/karaya5.html

elddi
Have you tried Friars Balsam Compound? When I changed to a convatec convex wafer the adhesive caused an itch. Friars Balsam on the entire wafer area stopped the itch.

Dan

I don't know if this helps, but yes, I have heard of having to do what you are doing (essentially an adhesiveless wafer).  I started with the non-tape wafers because I am allergic to many adhesives and we anticipated I would be allergic to the tape in all wafers.  I ended up using the hollister new image 2 piece - the shorter wearing version.  I did have to use a convatec (a specific wafer) briefly because my skin got really bad.  the convatec was evidently the least irritating/most hypo-allergenic.  However, I hated the wafer because it was very stiff in comparison.  I ended up figuring out the best way for me to keep my skin healthier while still using the hollister no-tape shorter wearing wafer.  My WOCN's told me that if my skin didn't clear up I would have to do what you are doing.  However, I was told that I would have to put a piece of gauze between the plastic backing of the wafer and my skin so that my skin could breathe a little and heal.  Nu-Hope makes an adhesiveless system.  Check it out online and if you're interested and have to stick with the adhesiveless system you can probably call them and get a sample.

Did you use an adhesive remover when removing your wafers?  Did you do the allergy test (cut a piece and put it on the other side of your abdomen) to confirm that it was an allergy and not just your skin being really sensitive to the abuse that it is now taking from the wafer removal?  This was my problem so I had to learn to be really nice to it and do all the things that kept it (mostly) happy?

Found this post I did back when I still had my ileo:  Maybe some of the info will help you.  https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=33&m=1749764

It's good that you found out what you're allergic to and it's something that can be eliminated without too much trouble. Is your skin weeping and that's what led to the wafers falling off? I had trouble getting mine to stay on when my skin was really bad. I used stomahesive powder to help my skin heal/protect my skin but have the wafer still stick (at least for a little longer than it had been). That was the only thing I put on my skin. My WOCNs said the trick was to make sure that you brush off any excess. Otherwise it makes it so your wafer doesn't stay on as long. I also washed my skin with Hibiclens in the shower each time I changed my wafer and I think that helped it to heal and kept my skin free of any residues that might keep the wafer from sticking well. Maybe once you get to the the point where you can use the adhesive on your wafer again, you can see if some of these things help you too.