Broken painful skin

[frustrated and anxious]

broken painful skin

hey guys,
once again, i am here for advise. over the past few weeks my skin around my stoma has become broken, red and very painful. i am doing the "crusting method" that i was taught by my home health nurse. it isnt helping. i have been using Hollister products since my surgery was done (mostly because that is what the hospital used).
taking advise from you guys, i have been trying other products. i have used coloplast and had three leaks and in 2 days, and i am trying convatec today.
i know the skin cant heal with leakage on it all the time. but i dont know what to do? no product seems to work. paste? no paste? moldable rings? no moldable rings? what do you use?

 

[glum chump]

Hey F and O

Gee, I can see how you must be frustrated and anxious! It's hard dealing with skin issues. I believe you've tried the stomapowder and the Cavillon Spray barrier?

Have you considered using benzolin tincture? It protects skin from the appliance adhesion and also helps the appliance adhere better.

The only other thing I can think to suggest would be something like Duoderm. It's a dressing that looks like saran wrap and you would place it over the skin where your 'wound' is and then put your appliance on over top. Products like duoderm can help the skin to heal.

I would not recommend the paste---my ET nurse says that they are not useful for protecting from leaks. She suggests moldable rings. I had been using the Adapt barrier rings, and I'm just in the process of trying the Eakin skin seals. I just got a sample of those and hoping they'll do the trick.

I hope this helps, and I really wish you all the best---you must be climbing the walls trying to figure this out.

Kismet

 

[Gav]

Kismet has given you some great advice.

For me the paste does work, and the rings didn't though. But, that again, is an example of us all having different skin and different things work for different people.

One thing I could add, is that I was having a few leaks to start with until I was switched to convex bags (i.e. the flange contacting the skin is of convex shape). At this point all leaks stopped, no matter which brand of bag I tried. They really helped the seal work effectively and my skin improved and was back to normal within a few days.

Hopefully that's another option that may help improve your skin.

Gav

 

[Terriernut]

I use the mouldable rings, they are a godsend for me! However, you really need to get that skin looked at. Have you rung the stoma nurse?

Leaking and bad skin are a bad combo. And yes, I do understand how very painful it can be.

I dont use the crusting method per se. I spray cavilon lightly, and then pour the powder on the damaged skin. I dont overdo it. Also, when it's bad, I change every day or every other day so I can keep that powder fresh on there. And keep it clean of course., (and OMG can that hurt) but it heals it faster for me.

I have it on good authority that sitting in the bathtub in just clean warm water is a HUGE help to healing it as well!

:ghug:

 

[hopeful]

My stoma's opening is distal, and during peristalsis it goes right in, so I am having similar issues all the time. I am at the point of wanting to have corrective surgery if only I would know a surgeon who is GOOD at this. It needs someone with attention to detail...

Using convex and all of that, part of the trick is to press hard when applying the appliance to make sure it sticks well before moisture creeps in... But I still don't get more than 2 days out of an appliance.

 

[ameslouise]

My stoma dips down and to the right - and that's right where my leaks were before I switched to a convex wafer. Knock wood - haven't had a leak since!!

Good luck - hope you can find something that works and get that skin healed up!!

- amy

 

[hopeful]

Amy,

Which convex wafer do you use?

Thanks


hopeful

 

[ameslouise]

Hollister 8512. It's a one piece. Been treating me right for about five months now!

 

[Tay]

Hi Folks
Whats the 'crusting method' - I use dansac products and find them ok, but I do get very sore skin, even though the pre cut bag is a good fit around the stoma. Dansac do skin protecting wipes and also adhesive removing wipes for when the bag leaves adesive on skin after removal. Which happens to me in hot weather. I tend to change bag once a day.

 

[Terriernut]

Tay, first off I'd get some adhesive Spray remover. That will help you more than you know! Without the proper adhesive remover, you are doing yourself some pain and damage, and there is no need!

The crusting method is...hope I'm not wrong...powder, spray, powder, spray, powder. I just spray and powder.

 

[Tay]

Thanks Terriernut - thats helpful. I am more of a bordercollie nut myself, but have always fancied a Patterdale Terrier. Which is exactly where I will be in 1 week. Whoop!

 

[Terriernut]

Enjoy Patterdale!!

 

[Tay]

Will do - we have the waterproofs ready!