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Major skin irritation

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Posted 12/20/2011 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
I have a loop ileostomy which I've only had just over a month.  It's partially recessed, which the surgeon says is ok since I'll be having my takedown next month, but this causes the waste to come out so close to my skin that it is severely irritated, maybe even burned.  It's only bad right on the bottom of my ostomy.  I've successfully used stoma powder and skin prep to heal the skin around the rest of my ostomy, but this skin just keeps getting irritated. 

My ostomy nurse's only advice was to keep up the skin prep and powder and maybe change it more often.  I've had to change my 2-piece system every 2 days because the burning gets near unbearable at the end of the 2nd day.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Any advice?  Thanks everyone!

Posted 12/20/2011 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Are you using paste, or a moulding ring of any kind (Eakin seal)?

I doubled up on my skin prep and it seems to help with the itching irritating I was having. I use 1 swipe of a Coloplast wipe, let it dry and then 2 coats of the Cavilon barrier. It helped with my itching, but I am not sure about the burning.

Lastly, what kind of flange are you using? They have special ones for recessed stomas. I think they are called convex?

I'm new too so I am not sure this will help.

Good luck.
Posted 12/20/2011 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks mom2panda!  I use a ring made my Hollister, very similar to an Eakin seal.  My ostomy nurse said to use powder, then skin prep and repeat for a total of 3 coats.  It helps on my normal skin, but the skin right under my stoma where the waste meets the skin just keeps burning.  The skin there is broken and bleeds sometimes.  I tried a convex ring but it wasn't sticky enough so I went back to normal.  Didn't know they made convex flanges - I must look into that.  Thanks for the advice and understanding!  Good luck to you too!

Erin

Posted 12/21/2011 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Erin,

I'm sorry you're having skin irritation issues. You might want to try some Calmoseptine Ointment on the skin around your stoma to protect it from getting waste on it. You can read more about it at calmoseptineointment.com. It's very affordable, and all you have to do is ask your pharmacy to order it for you.

A convex wafer would help, too, since it would push your stoma out and away from your skin.

Keep us posted on what works, and I hope you get relief soon!

Cecilia
Posted 12/21/2011 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
I can't believe your nurse never suggested a convex wafer!! I think that will make a world of difference for you. Call Hollister for a few samples if you don't want to wait for an order.
Posted 12/21/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Erin! My loop is just like that! It sticks out from the skin, but it has rotated forward so the opening is right at skin level. I had a heck of time, even some painful ulceration right below the opening. This is what is working for me now incase you want to ask your stoma nurse or request some samples from these companies:

1) Stoma powder all around the base of the stoma, dust away excess
2) A custom washer cut from Hollihesive (from Hollister). This is a square of stuff that is similar to the wafer material, but more flexible. I cut out a circle to fit around the base of my stoma and trim the corners off to make it roughly a round washer shape. This works better for me than the paste type rings because it doesn't swell and turtleneck which would block my low stoma opening.
3) I apply a Hollister convexity ring to the Marlen deep convexity pouch. The pouch is a one piece and pretty deep convexity and the ring adds just a little more.
4) I apply a thin ring of paste around the opening of the ring/flange to help give me a good seal. I keep it back just a smidge from the opening so it won't go inside and cause turtle necking while I'm wearing it.
5) after applying the pouch, I use an ostomy belt to keep things snug to the body and help the convexity do it's thing.

This has done miracles for my skin! I'm able to go 4-5 days between changes now and have little to no redness below the stoma when I take the old pouch off. Definitely ask your nurse about convexity.....a stoma like yours is exactly what it is intended to help.

Good luck and let us know what you try and how it works for you.
Posted 12/21/2011 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, run4pancakes that's amazing that you're getting 4-5 days now! Erin, you probably didn't see her old posts, but run4 was miserable w/her new stoma and having to change a lot.... hope her (and the other's) advise helps you.
Posted 12/21/2011 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
I completely understand what you are going through. I had the same problem with my loop ileo. Some days I let it get some air...by that I mean I laid on the couch with the bag and ring off and put towels around and watched me a funny show for 30 minutes to an hour. I also changed to using the molding ring and a convex ring. It helped alot.
Posted 12/21/2011 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like convex is the way to go!  Thank all y'all for your advice, especially run4pancakes.  I'm going to try and call my ostomy nurse and Hollister tomorrow for some advice and samples.  I hope it won't be too hard right before Christmas but it sounds like this is the solution!

Erin 

Posted 12/22/2011 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Convex really helped me (I wear Marlens) and when my skin is bad, I use the Hollihesive skin things and/or the Eakin seals. They don't irritate like paste and while they may not last awhile, they allow my skin to heal a beat. Also, try using a domeboro solution. That helps ALOT.
Posted 12/22/2011 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks beanie6421 for the domeboro advice. I'll have to check that out. I requested some convex rings from Hollister yesterday, hopefully those will come in soon.
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