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Using powder under the stoma

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Posted 6/26/2013 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys!

I have a quick question about using stoma powder. I've got some irritated looking/feeling skin on the underside of my stoma (currently name "Gurganus") - my question is: how do you get the powder on the areas underneath your stoma?

I've tried squeezing the bottle really hard while it's pointed up, I've tried turning the bottle upside down to get some powder in the tip of the bottle and then squeezing while holding it sideways, I've tried holding a tissue around the irritated area and squeezing the bottle... I've tried a lot of things and feel that I've wasted a lot of powder trying to figure this out... it's getting a little frustrating and is adding a good amount of time to my bag changes. Does anyone have any tips for me?

Thanks!

-R
Posted 6/26/2013 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Two things:

1) you can lie down/recline a bit while you do your change. Personally I do mine standing but I understand from this forum that doing changes in a recliner or on a sofa is pretty common!

2) My personal method is to squirt a little mound of powder onto a paper towel, then use my (clean, dry) fingers to pick some up and pat it onto the underside of the stoma. You end up wasting some powder since you can't pick it all up from the paper towel, but I find this the most effective/least frustrating
Posted 6/26/2013 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
The name for your stoma is awesome! What's the story behind it?
Posted 6/26/2013 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the tips Liz, I will try leaning back in the seat to put the powder on... I will also need to attempt bag changes while laying down, that sounds perfect because it's just like standing up only way more comfortable!

tiesto81- Hahaha, when I first got home he started gurgling and dancing around a lot more than when I was recovering in the hospital. My wife came up with the name and I like it a lot. I believe it was a cross between "gurgling anus" (since she referred to the stoma as my 'new butthole' for a few days).

-R
Posted 6/27/2013 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
-R
Why do you need the powder? Do you have open skin under your stoma? Have you tried Friar's Balsam Compound Benzoin Tincture? It comes on a swabstick. After cleaning with water and paper towel only apply the Friar's all around your stoma and the entire area that the wafer sticks to. It is a first aid product and aids healing. It dries sticky. When you remove the wafer the Friars will come off with the wafer leaving no residue. Clean with water and paper towel.....no soap, no powders....only Friars.
Available from Allegro Medical http://www.allegromedical.com/
Search product number 560209

Try it

Dan
Posted 6/27/2013 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for mentioning this Friar's product.,, sounds very appealing to not have to use two products (powder followed by barrier/wipe). Does it reduce the adhesive integrity and barrier ring integrity at all?
Posted 6/27/2013 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Dan,

I have irritated / sore skin under the stoma that I was advised to put powder on followed by dabbing cavillion ("protective skin barrier" wipe) until the powder becomes a paste. I will be checking out the Friar's shortly, sounds pretty straightforward and hassle free to use!

-R
Posted 6/27/2013 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
-R
Think about it...how can anything stick to powder? Friars dries sticky. My routine....remove old wafer, shave with an electric beard trimmer, clean stoma area with paper towel and water. Dry with hair dryer. Apply Friars. Dry again. Apply wafer. Once you touch the wafer to your skin/Friars it will not move. If you have any open skin it will sting when you apply Friars.

Pro
What barrier ring do you use and why? Friars will not reduce the adhesive quality of a ring. My stoma is sometimes retracted. I wear a convex wafer and no added ring.

Nurses and medical people know nothing about Friar's.

Dan
Posted 6/28/2013 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
I'm a Compound Benzoine Tincture convert :-)

I clean with warm water, dry with a paper towel, apply the CBT and apply my Light Convex Wafer (with Eakin already applied). I went from 3 days wear time to 6-8 depending on my activities!!!

Our bodies react differently to the manufacturer's products so I'd also recommend getting samples from all the different companies out there and see what you prefer/get the best wear time from.
Posted 6/28/2013 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Dan- currently using Hollister wafer with Hollister or Eakin barrier ring made by rolling half of a donut ring into a rope around the bottom of the cut hole of the wafer. I don't normally use powder but frm time to time I do the powder/skin prep- barrier wipe routine when I see any fresh irritation... Sounds like Friars is well worth trying next time though.
Posted 6/28/2013 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
Pro
Why do you need the Hollister or Eakin ring? Try Friars with nothing else.

E-mom
Do you have Friars in swabs or bottle?

Dan
Posted 6/28/2013 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Dan, edgepark sells some tincture of benzoin now that I never saw before. It is in a bottle and has a brush to apply. Is it the same thing?

Item # ms409??
Posted 6/28/2013 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Dan- you're saying you do fine without either a barrier putty ring or stoma paste as a barrier?! That is amazing. I know sme do fine without any barrier but I have had a couple tiny leaks - both due to errors on my part in putting on wafers (eg I once out in powder but no skin barrier wipe/prep after) - and find that a barrier ring is so easy to throw on that It gives me a great feeling of security. The biggest reason I believe in barrier rings though is that I have seen my stoma expand and contract with peristalsis, during wafer changes, so I am a strong believer in using barrier rings as a "turtleneck" to expand and contract too and always keep any gap between wafer and stoma plugged. But I definitely want to try out the Friar's, regardless.
Posted 6/28/2013 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
answers4
It has a gold label "plain tincture of benzoin". No it is not the same. This you can remove with soap an water. The real Friars is waterproof. Nothing will remove it except alcohol. I know, I spilled it on the vanity. However, when you remove your wafer it comes off with the wafer leaving your skin clean. I shave around my stoma with an electric beard trimmer after I remove the wafer and before I clean.

pro
My stoma changes diameter and comes out and retracts whenever it pleases. I don't like barrier rings, especially eakin. They leave such a gooey mess. At first I had many blowouts during the night. Since I started using Friars I have never had a leak (3 or 4 years).

Dan
Posted 6/28/2013 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
I am going to buy some. I have a weird stoma too. It goes from small to big and retracts at will. I have a rash around it and don't know what to do about it. I have done everything I can think of. I will order from your supplier and see what happens.
Posted 7/1/2013 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Dan

I travel a lot so I use the swabs.

Thanks for the link, that's a good price!
Posted 7/5/2013 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Dan,

Is the Herb Pharm's Friar's Balsam Compound the same thing?

www.herb-pharm.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=226

The one on Allegro Medicial Product # 560209 looks to be the same as PDI Compound Benzoin Tincture Swabstick (product # PYS42450) from Edgepark. But nether of them say "Friar's Balsam"
Posted 7/7/2013 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
P&H
I have not used the Herb Farm liquid so I don't know. However it recommends internal use. Not so with Friars.

I did not know that edgepark has the PDI swabs available. I wonder if medicare covers it.

Dan
Posted 7/8/2013 12:40 AM (GMT 0)

I have been getting the 50 count PDI swabs on Ebay for $14.40 total, including shipping.

The box is a little crushed, but it is very light cardboard to begin with.

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