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Sores under wafer

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Posted 7/21/2012 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
I have never had any issues with my wafers until this week. I have one large oozing sore right above my stoma, and them a rash that follows that curve of my wafer around my stoma. The stoma itself is fine, but my skin is so tender and the rash itches like crazy. Obviously my biggest concern is the oozing sore that is near the stoma. Any advice?
Posted 7/21/2012 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
This sounds like it could be due to a few things. What does the rash look like? Is it all over underneath your wafer or just in a small spot. Have you been having any leakage issues at all? Even if the output stays contained around the stoma it can still cause the irritation you describe.
Posted 7/21/2012 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
The rash is not all over, just around the edges of the wafer. It looks like a heat rash. Raised red bumps and it itches like crazy! I haven't had any leaking issues...thankfully! The spot I am most concerned about is the sore right above the stoma that looks like it is oozing. It just showed up after I changed the wafer Tuesday night.
Posted 7/21/2012 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
     My skin around the wafer is red.  It doesn't bother me but looks worse when I eat spicy foods.  I've had my stoma for over two years and use the Coloplast sensura precut 1 in bags with the built in wafers.  I was thinking of ordering the bags that are not precut and cutting the opening a bit smaller than the 1in.

     Do you use stoma powder?

Posted 7/22/2012 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
I do not normally use powder, but did today when I changed the wafer because of the awful itching. I use Hollister pre-cut 7/8" wafers. I have never noticed a change in my output except when I eat nuts or drink LOTS of water. I will start using powder on a regular basis if it helps with this rash. I have been doing research on sores around the stoma site, and the closest I can come to is pyoderma gangenosum...which isn't a fun thing to deal with! Hoping that is not what it is!
Posted 7/22/2012 8:36 AM (GMT 0)
It's possible that maybe you are sweating and the moisture is getting trapped under the wafer. I've gotten weird rashes before like that. What I do sometimes is put some stoma powder on and gently rub it in so it absorbs. Otherwise if you leave too much on the wafer won't stick.
Posted 7/22/2012 9:39 AM (GMT 0)
Is the powder anti-fungal? The itching rash is probably a fungal infection. Have you had a stoma nurse look at the sore? I have very sensitive skin. My oozing sores were from an adhesive allergy reaction. I used a topical steroid cream to get rid of most of them. I had to use a burn cream on the really bad ones. Be sure to use a barrier spray over the powder. Your stoma nurse will tell you if it is fungal, allergy or infection.
Posted 7/22/2012 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
It very well could be from sweating. I moved from a constant 65 degrees to a steady 90 degrees this week...I did use stoma powder this week, but it is the first time since I first had surgery. I am hoping the next time I change the wafer the rash will look better. I don't believe the powder is anti-fungal. It only says it is "used to absorb moisture from broken skin around the stoma". I am really hoping the powder does the trick.

Thanks for all the info. I will check into an anti-fungal powder if the rash continues. I may have to make a doc appt. if the larger sore doesn't heal with the powder as well.
Posted 7/22/2012 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Do you still have your rectum intact? I ask because if you don't, it is almost unheard of for you to have pyoderma after having only UC. I had a proctocolectomy with permanent ileo, and I was the only case my surgeon had ever heard of. There was absolutely no source of inflammation any longer. That said, because there was no longer inflammation, there was no underlying disease to treat and the pyoderma was very easy to get rid of.

In any case, hope everything was simple irritation and cleared right up with the powder!
Posted 7/22/2012 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Stomahesive powder will not help heal an under wafer rash. The stoma powder is designed to be used directly around your stoma to help increase the seal. You need an anti fungal stoma powder. You can buy the powder without a prescription.
Posted 7/22/2012 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Fungal powder will only help a fungal infection. I was the queen of rashes for months. Unfortunately, dermatologists use process of elimination to find the cause of the rashes as they can't even tell. The cause can be allergy related or bacterial (folliculitis). In my case, the fungal powder made my case much worse, as I found out I am allergic to one of the ingredients used in the powders. That is rare, but fungal powder is not the be all end all. don't get discouraged if it doesn't work. You will figure it out eventually.
Posted 7/22/2012 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
That is good to know. It is amazing how many things we can be allergic to.
Posted 7/23/2012 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Are you changing the pouch more often w/the heat? I'm finding that I need to do that, especially when it's humid and/or when I swim a lot. Hope it clears up soon.
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