Practical Powder Tips

I've had a problem with a small irritated area right under my stoma. I started using 3 layers of powder/skin prep, and the extra layers have helped a lot (they allowed it to heal completely, but then I left the pouch on too long, and it came back).

I find that I am a bit clumsy with the powder ... sometimes I accidentally touch the tip to my skin or stoma (which often has a little blood on it) and the top of he bottle gets wet and clogged. Sometimes I get powder all over the floor and me, even though I'm trying to only use a little bit (I'm getting better at holding a paper towel under it to catch extra).

Just wondering if anyone has any tips.... maybe some little practical things you do that you don't think about that I haven't thought of yet....

(I am also going to try the Friar's swabs, as that seems much easier, but I haven't ordered them yet).

Thanks.

When I apply my powder, I do it over the sink and put a few tissues or paper towel in the sink underneath to catch the powder. That way you don't have to get so close. I've never touched my stoma with the powder. Hint - You don't want it to get on the sink as it is very sticky and messy to remove (hence the paper towel).

I also change my whole appliance over the sink. If I happen to leak, then it goes in the sink. I then rinse the sink with hot water and wipe it out with a lysol wipe.

Great ideas! I've been applying the powder with the tips of my fingers from pouring it into my palm but once it get wet it gets tacky. Got to try the tissue or Q tip trick!

Thanks for posting this. These little hints are the best!

HUGS to everyone!!!

Ha ha ha. Well didn't we have a thread once, about further uses of all our stoma provisions? I never tried stoma powder on my face, but who knows, it may do the trick for pimples...
(Should I seriously consider that?)
Now I understand why you're having a hard time with it, because it's under the stoma, a difficult place to get at. So I would really recommend doing it lying down and even using a mirror. The trick really is to get a thick amount of powder on a very small point of skin only, without it getting on the rest of your skin where the flange needs to stick. If you do this on your back, then you will also be able to see powder crumbs falling lower down and wipe them off, without more falling down, before putting on a new bag.
Now I'm remembering something - I got my first powder from the nurse at the rehab place where I suffered out three weeks after the colectomy. She gave it to me inside a big fat plastic syringe, so that I could push the plunger thingie in very small movements and just get a little blip of powder exactly where I needed it. Later on I had a small plastic bottle of powder and used a q-tip. Once more, I think the trick is to get a thick amount of powder onto one isolated spot, and nowhere else.

Blueglass- I often have a little sliver of irritation under my stoma as well. I always change twice a week on the same days of the week, so I end up with one 3-day wafer duration and one 4-day. The sore always seems to heal on the 3-day rotation and then returns when I go 4 days. I too use three layers of powder/skin prep on that little area. I find that laying down is key. I will take my stoma powder bottle and put the tiniest pile of powder on the sore and then spread it a bit with my finger. Because I am laying down, it stays in place. If I do happen to sprinkle some outside that small area, I have a wet washcloth nearby so I can wipe it away so my wafer sticks.