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Allergies/reactions to wafers

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Posted 7/29/2012 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I'm currently using a coloplast pouch that I LOVE but I may have developed an allergy to the wafer/adhesive :(  I know there has been a thread about this but wanted to see some more recent answers if possible.  Anyone have similar issues and what did you switch to?  Did you find out what part of the wafer/product you had the reaction to?
Posted 7/29/2012 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
I am extremely allergic to Convatec adhesives, mildly reactive to Hollister and not at all to Coloplast. Coloplast was the only one that used a natural adhesive, pectin. What does your reaction look like? Mine looked like a solid red burn under the whole wafer.I am allergic to most chemical adhesives.
Posted 7/29/2012 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hubby ended up having allergic reactions to Hollister and Convatech's adhesive. He has been using Coloplast Sensura one piece system with great success for well over a year now.

He uses the one with slight convexity and the only thing he applies after showering and drying real well, is the Smith and Nephew skin barrier spray in a pump bottle. He does a full change on Wed and Sun. Prefers that so he can take his showers on those days with the appliance totally off.

He recently went for 8 days just to see how long he could go if need be and the change and skin underneath was the same as his 4 day 3 day schedule.

Not really needed but just for a little extra reassurance he uses the 3M flesh colored 1" MEDIPORE tape along the top and the side opposite his belly button which stays intact.  This tape is VERY skin friendly.

He has always used the 1" belt and does not mind that and feels it gives the pouch that little extra support too especially since he switched from the wafers with outer adhesive and these are not that same type.
Posted 7/30/2012 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
I was a mess about two months ago, and was scared that I was allergic to all products. The dermatologists and ostomy nurses said fungal, then bacterial, but it took my surgery and breaking out in all kinds of rashes post op. It was then that we figured allergy, but still couldn't figure out to what. Then, when I got home, I cut out every product except the pouch and added things back slowly. I figured out that I was very allergic to isopropyl alcohol (found in skin preps, paste, and adhesive removers), and patch testing (highly recommend getting this if you are having a lot of issues that won't clear up easily) confirmed.

Interestingly, I developed the allergies that I never had right after my pyoderma cleared up. I used to use paste right over the aquacel that I put over the pyo, and I am wondering if somehow, with using the protopic (and lowering my skin's immunity in that site), if I somehow made myself allergic to isopropyl. It doesn't really matter, but I am always a trouble shooter, LOL. I just hope I never ever have to deal with PG again!!
Posted 7/31/2012 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hmm, I don't have any reaction around the pyoderma AT ALL - it is all the outermost ring of the wafer and actually I am having a reaction on my right ear and right forearm?! WTHeck is that? I'm wondering if it is the adhesive remover b/c the reaction seems to be in the places I touch with that - except of course for my ear and forearm LOL! It seems to be getting "better" with the use of the anti-fungal powder...I go back on Wednesday and am going to bring up all that you said. Thanks so much!
Posted 7/31/2012 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
That is very similar to what happened to me. Eventually I had a rash in every spot except for where the pyoderma/protopic cream had been. Allergies are autoimmune reactions, so I figured the cream helped where it was, but was was absorbed in the skin and possibly lowered my skin's resistance elsewhere. There was no other explanation for me. Again, it really doesn't matter, but I always like to know the "whys" of things.

If you are getting better with the powder, maybe it is fungal though. I never had positive results with that, even for a day. If anything, I got worse. I did have a spot right under my right ear, in the crevice underneath. I had no clue why. That made me think fungal. I also had a really bad spot at the site on the inside of my forearm where I had blood taken, but when I put the pieces together I realized that isopropyl alcohol had been used there.

If for some reason you don't get better with time, try patch testing with the adhesive remover or prep on the inside of your arm. If you react then you could have your answer.
Posted 7/31/2012 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
if you do confirm it was from the coloplast afer you were using..make sure to note exactly which wafer it was. With coloplast sensura there are regular and extended wear wafers. They have different adhesive mechanisms. There are also coloplast assura regular and extended wear wafers. Just because you may be allergic to one of these four, it doesns'nt mean you would be allergic to all of them. So get some samples and try them out.
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