How to clean stoma?

Hi, I use a cut to fit and there is a very small gap but not too big. I learned my lesson with cutting it too small (I thought that would help with the irritation....just caused leaks,....) so now I use a felt pen to draw the circle on the flange and cut in the outside edge of the felt pen.

When I put the friars on, I make sure to give a little extra around the stoma where it's irritated. Used my hair dryer to dry it as per Dan's instructions. It did burn a little on the sore parts but nothing as bad as when it was leaking there. I was really surprised how sticky it is and I haven't had any problems at all in the last couple days. Make sure you have the right friars as per what Dan said above (do the test on your arm). I honestly can't believe how much better it feels. I am so thankful I found Dans post.....

Let me know how you make out.

My question is, where do you get the friers and can you use it with sure seals.

pswift

I have only found Friar's at a Canadian pharmacy.....well.ca......

It is a first aid product. There are two Friar's compounds. One is $9.49 and the other is $5.49. You want the more expensive one, $9.49. It comes in a 50ml bottle and lasts a long time. I have heard about sure-seals but have never seen or used them. What I understand is that they are like saran wrap and go on top of the wafer to contain leaks. Is that right?

Dan 

OH NO
Just loked at well.ca website and called them for clarifacation. THEY CAN NO LONGER SHIP ACROSS THE BORDER. I am waiting for a call back from Rougier, the manufacturer. Trying to find who sells it in th US.

Dan

I got my Friar's from Allegro Medical (in the U.S.). It's is the compound tincture. This is what the box (swab sticks) says: Compound Tincture of Benzoin U.S.P., 10% Swabsticks for professional and hospital use. The box of 50 swabsticks was $22.51 including postage and handling (I live in Wisconsin).

I did the test on my arm and it is definitely waterproof.

Larasmom, I know what you mean by cutting the wafer too close to the stoma - that causes problems for me, too. I only used the cut-to-fits after surgery while my stoma was still healing/changing. The 7/8" pre-cuts fit w/a small margin of room all around (like it should).

Dan, my stoma hasn't changed and I use the regular flat wafers (2 piece Hollister). The only thing that has changed is that when I had a leak about a month ago, it really burned the skin immediately surrounding the stoma (small cluster of blisters that are now open and raw). Since then, I can get a few days' wear before leaks occur where the sore areas are. Previous to this, I got anywhere from 7-9 days wear time for years. By the time I realize I have a leak (1-3 days later), it has already irritated the burned areas again and I'm back to square one.

pswift, I see no reason why you couldn't continue to use a sure seal. I have always used them no matter what I use to attach my wafer underneath.

Thanks everyone for your input/advice, it's much appreciated.

ETA: Just FYI - my stoma does have a fairly low profile (I don't need/use convex wafers, though) due to the dr. needing to preserve as much small intestine as possible as I had some of it removed in a previous surgery. My stoma is also on my left side.

Post Edited (nenagirl) : 10/22/2012 12:30:23 PM (GMT-6)

Dan, I found the swabsticks at Allegro Medical. Here is the link you can copy/paste into your browser: http://www.allegromedical.com/ostomy-supplies-c529/tincture-of-benzoin-swabs-p560209.html

I will try the Friar's swabsticks when I change my appliance next (could be later tonight). I'm just not sure if I can/should use paste w/the Friar's, too? I'm leery of not using any paste at all, but I will experiment and let you know how it goes.

Hi Dan - I did end up changing my appliance last night and used the Friar's swabsticks - no paste, no powder - just swabbed the area w/the Friar's and put the wafer on. It did sting quite a bit when I applied the Friar's to the irritated areas, but that only lasted a few seconds. So far, so good! I will keep you posted.

The ingredients of the swabsticks, as listed on the box, are:

One swab stick saturated with compound Benzoin Tincture, U.S.P., 10%. Containing 77% alcohol. For professional and hospital use.


This is the description form Allegro's website:

Compound Benzoin Tincture Swabsticks

Features
PDI Compound Benzoin Tincture U.S.P. Swabsticks

Reduces skin irritation for patients with frequent dressing changes
Excellent for use in post-op wound dressing
Contains Compound Benzoin Tincture USP containing 77% alcohol
1 Swabstick per package

The Tincture of Benzoin is an antiseptic preparation which protects the skin from adhesive or harsh body fluids. Reduces skin irritation for patients with frequent dressing changes and forms a protective film on the skin. Excellent for use in post-op wound dressing. Ideal for hyperalimentation dressing kits.

Each packet contains 1 swabstick. 77% Alcohol.

larasmom
It will be a long time before I need more. I have two 50ml bottles and 25ml open bottle. I will keep your offer in mind. I talked with the manufacturer, Rougier. They do not ship across the border. Could not get an answer why. I will try again.

Dan, I think the benzoin, aloe, storax, etc. are the ingredients in the compound benzoin tincture itself, which is what the swabsticks are soaked in (along w/the alcohol). I did find this additional info from Allegro's site:

Compound Benzoin Tincture Label:
Ingredients: Contains aloe, benzoin, storax and tolu balsam dissolved in ethanol.

So I think it's the same thing. FYI, the swabsticks are pretty big - about the size of 4-5 Q-tips combined. I had no problem w/one stick covering the whole area under my wafer. I agree they w/be great for travel.

So far, everything still feels good. No burning/itching or leaks! I plan on changing my appliance again Thursday evening (will be 3 days) barring any reason to do so beforehand (fingers crossed). Once I get these areas healed, I will continue to use the swabsticks and hopefully get back to getting a little longer wear time between changes.

Larasmom, thanks for the well wishes. I hope it continues to work for you, too. Keep us posted on your progress if you can and I'll do the same.

And yes, a big thanks to Dan for the tip!!

Nenagirl-Leaving the skin to the air as much as possiblefor a while helped me get over 2 onths worth of those kind of sores.

Still use poweder and then stuff over it with sure seal and flange.

hope you get it healed. That is so painful!!

I have used the Friars for my last two changes and I won't use anything else from now on. No leaks, no discomfort, no itching. It is helping my little bit of irritation as well.

Thanks again Dan! I have ordered a couple more bottles!!!!

Hi all, thanks for asking about me!

I changed my wafer late Friday (3 1/2 days' wear time - woot!) and the sores look ever so much better! I had no leaks and no irritation those whole 3 1/2 days - that's the most relief I've had in well over a month. I have just been using the Friar's and a wafer (no other products). I will keep changing w/the same routine every 2-3 days until the skin is completely healed before I try getting back to a longer wear time.

Koverkatie - I have not heard of the moldable sticks, thanks for the suggestion. I will ask the WOC nurse about it. I do think my leak that started all this occurred because of the area that is a little lower than the rest (and yes, it sometimes seems to pull back into my abdomen with the peristalsis so I know what you mean when you say 'inny' :-D).

Trigirl, I have, in the past, always used the powder and paste w/wafer and sure seal but when I had a rare big leak over a month ago, I was left with such ulcerated (burned, really) areas right next to the stoma that I had a hard time getting a good seal to last long enough for the area to even begin to heal at all. It got to be a vicious cycle - I developed leaks after 12-24 hours because of the sores, yet couldn't keep the sores clean/dry long enough to keep a seal. Back and forth I went - so frustrating not to mention painful. I do find, when changing, the longer I can just keep a cool, clean, wet paper towel on the irritated area before I apply the new wafer, the better.

Larasmom, so glad to hear of your conditioning success!

Dan, you are a lifesaver for posting about the Friar's product. Thanks again.

By the way, try Amazon for the Friar's. I've purchased it there in the past with no issues at all.

Dan is starting a Friar's revolution!