Butt burn/Rash...OUCH!

Hi all, it has been some time since I have posted but I check in occasionally when I can.

I'll sum it up quick: had a colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis in November for colonic inertia. Have been doing pretty well, taking Milk of Magnesia most nights to keep things running smoothly. If I don't, I can start to get uncomfortable because my system is still "slow"...but overall much better than before the surgery.

I started a new job about 2 months ago, I work 45-50 hours a week and my schedule varies...some days I'll work 8am-6pm, some days I'll work 1-11pm (I work in retail). So it has been hard to get into a routine, but I am doing the best I can.

One thing that has really gotten irritating is this butt burn/rash thing that seems to happen randomly. I generally eat the same foods and stick to one cup of coffee per day. I have been trying to figure out if it's from something I eat or if it's just a random occurrence that I'll just have to accept. Sometimes it feels like it could be from spicy food, other times it feels like the stool is just more acidic. Also, it comes and goes so one week there's no issue and another week my butt is so irritated. Let's see if I can describe it...I get what is like a red, painful, raised rash, covering the areas where my buttcheeks touch. So it's not really even the "exit" that is irritated, rather, it is the whole area around it. Almost like the stool is burning my skin...even though I always thought I was a good "wiper"! Does that make sense?

I just wanted to know if anyone else has had this experience, and what you did to help it. Barrier creams tend to make it feel worse, so I am wondering if it is a moisture issue. I just put some gold bond powder on it to see if that would help. I just don't want to make it worse or get some kind of infection or something!

Ali

Has anyone tried Vaseline?

I ask because my family always uses Vaseline when we get tummy issues that lead to diarrhea that causes butt burn. I was wondering if that could be used when I'm out of the other creams and wipes after my JPouch surgeries. You can even get Vaseline in a small tube (it's packaged for chapped lips but it is regular vaseline and can use it and if you don't have anything else on you in a public restroom).
Just asking... Hopefully by the end of the year, I will have a successful JPouch.

Thanks!

One thing I found that helps as a barrier, is a cream made by Palmer's Cocoa Butter company, called Bottom Butter. I bought it at Walgreens. It's a thick cream, and has zinc oxide in it as well as cocoa butter. I like to put it on top of the A&D ointment, because it cuts back on the slimey feeling and seems to help seal the ointment to the skin.

Hi, Ali! I'm glad to hear you are mostly doing well. Sorry about your burning butt. :-(. If you can at all swing it, get yourself a bidet seat at home. It makes a huge difference and I still say mine is the best money I ever spent. Also, carry flushable wipes in your purse for when you are away from home. This will get all of the stool off so there isn't any left behind on your skin. Here is some TMI, but it might be helpful so here goes....sometimes when I empty my pouch, it might come out in a certain direction or something where it gets on the skin around my anus, or even more like between the cheeks like you're talking about. I don't know why, it just does. It's not all the time, but sometimes I'm amazed at where I might find a little when I'm using my wet wipes away from home. This could be happening to you so when you are wiping just around the anus you might miss it. If it's just a little bit you might not feel it but it's enough to irritate your skin. So, use a bidet or handheld squeeze bottle of water at home and wet wipes when out. I do this and don't need any creams at all. Hopefully that will be the same for you!

Hi Ali, I read this post, and wanted to share with you my experience with a rash that lasted more than 6 months, it was a nightmare. It has been gone for about a month now. I tried everything on the market, nothing helped, tried staying away from certain foods etc. I found out what the cause of my rash was. I had prayed to know the answer, and I got my answer! I had been using Huggie baby wipes, the first thing that happened was that I developed a hemorrhoid (outside) never had one before, then a couple days later the rash started, between buttocks, this went on for over 6 months. I ran out of Baby wipes and purchased another box, continued to use them more than ever because of hemorrhoid. Finally after using up this second big box, I went to buy another one and they were out of that brand so I purchased another brand (Walmart)
I was out of the wipes for about 3 days before I went to purchase more. I noticed that the rash had gone away, I did not know why. I was thinking it would flare up again any day but it didn't. In about week I was watching TV and a doctor was on the news describing this horrible butt rash in babies that was like and epidemic, because of a chemical in the wipes called Methylisothiazolinone (MCI), he told a couple of brands that had the chemical and Huggies was one of them, then I realized that it was the baby wipes causing the problem. The doctor said the good news is stop using them and the rash goes away! The hemorrhoid also went away the same time the rash left, I believe it also caused the hemorrhoid! Another brand name was Cottonelle moist wipes made by Kimberly-Clark. The rash has never come back, I do not use those wipes,
I also discovered that the chemical was also in the Body Wipes that the hospital gave to my Mom, to use in the hospital, she was there for a few days, and we brought them home with us, as soon as I knew I checked
and the same chemical is in them. We threw them all in the trash! I wish hospitals knew about this. I don't know if this could be your problem, however maybe posting may help someone.

Hi all ive only just joined your forum so here goes(hope i dont bore you all) i get burning bum quite a lot,like all of you,i had my temporary ileostomy reversed in october/november after having it for just under a year,ive got a urostomy thats permanent,as you say no particular food seems to make any difference.I have stopped my beloved curries in case it was them,no wine or even my favourite mackessons(stout).I have it now not as bad as sometimes,but still making me jump when i go to the loo,feels like im passing red hot poo.I do get a bit constpated or at least feel that way when i cant "go" everyday so i did try movacol but the version my doctor gave me says "can cause sore bottom and wind" got that already! so im trying to stay off that.Ive just been on another site and someone said peppermint capsules? helped so i will try to get some,but as i cant swallow tablets to save my life i will have to chew them !!!YUK

I am just 3 weeks postop ileoanal anastomosis (J-pouch and takedown surgery). I have good control therefore no incontinence and I do not have watery/liquid stools - another good thing. My incision has healed and I feel great except for one thing - THE MAJOR BUTT ITCH AND BURN!!!!! I was using wipes rather than tissue until I read the post about the reaction to the baby wipes. I have both Huggies baby wipes and the Cottonelle wipes although the Cottonelle that I have does not list the ingredient mentioned but the Huggies does. As of 60 seconds ago, I have stopped using both if them to see if it makes any difference. BYW - I don't have any rash, just the itch and burn, primarily on the inside. It had gotten better for a couple of days but today it is awful!! My sleep sure is suffering.

I have some Sage Barrier Wipes that I brought home from the hospital. I was trying to use them sparingly because they are expensive but I will use them now to see if I get improvement.

Thanks for the hint.

Hi Kathy,

You might want to start your own thread since this one is quite old and people might not see your post at the bottom.

There was no wipe that was gentle enough for me in the first month or so after my takedown. I recommend looking into getting a bidet seat for your toilet, or even just a squirt bottle so you can wash with water instead of rubbing with a wipe. It made a BIG difference for me. My routine is to very gently pat with a little TP to get the "excess" off, then rinse with the bidet, then pat very gently dry with another piece of soft TP. Once the skin is dry, use a barrier cream (I like A&D, many others like Calmoseptine) on the area. Make sure your skin is dry before using a barrier cream because it will seal in moisture and can cause a heat rash or fungal infection.

I used wet wipes in the hospital and once I switched to cleaning with just water when I got home, my skin improved a lot. I was able to stop using barrier cream about two months later and now although I still use my bidet at home I am fine with regular toilet paper while I'm out and about all day. It will get better!!