Lesson Learned - Importance of Barrier Wipes in Ostomy Care

Today is bag change day. Well, I woke up late and was rushing this morning. I use a Hollister 2-piece system and have never had any issues, until today. The entire area of the fabric base was really bothering me all day. It felt sore with a burning itch. I have never had that feeling before. Well, I got home today and in my bathroom on the sink was the barrier wipe I always use, but today with rushing I forgot that step. It clicked in my head, and I took everything off and my skin area from the stoma to where the fabric ended was bright red. Ouch! I let it breathe for a bit and then used a barrier powder and made sure to crust with a wipe. I'll never make that mistake again! I can't believe how quickly my skin was irritated. Hopefully, the powder and the crusting do the trick. A reminder to slow the heck down and pay attention to what I am doing.

Lesson learned!

Greetings!

You're spot on about that barrier wipe step!

I have often been tempted to skip steps when in a rush. I have to remind myself that the steps are there for a reason. Your post reinforces the fact that you should not skip steps, whether intentional or unintentional. By experimenting, we found the steps to prevent leaks and protect the stoma and skin surrounding it; therefore, it makes no sense to disregard any of the steps. Thanks, Nini, for the reminder.

With a reaction that fast, you may have an allergic reaction to the sticky stuff, and the barrier wipe has been hiding that fact.

😂😂😂😂😂..... Was waiting for Joseph Goebbels to show up with his anti-barrier wipe propaganda again....

Barrier Wipe Film protects against many issues.... Do not leave home without it!!!

That is ALL....

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Not anti-barrier wipe, just pointing out the fact that getting a reaction that fast with no output getting on it, it may be something more and the barrier film is protecting the skin from it right now. And if you wanna call me a WW2 Nazi, that's your choice. Have a lovely day.

Good point

J

...........

PS

Nini4,

It may be worthwhile sticking on a new appliance on the opposite side of the abdomen to check - and if necessary revising what brand/model of appliance is used?

BW

Jayne

Yep, whenever we miss a step or eliminate a step that's working... we sure do learn a lesson, huh?

A good thought. Replacing the bag with the wipe has not caused issues, but I didn't think to try it without the wipe on my other side. At least I will have more information!

I use 3M Cavilon spray. Takes 20 seconds to spray around my stoma, pal. Wave the wafer bag to dry it. Literally 2 minutes of work.

I get irritation at the bottom of my wafer fabric tape. It's from my pants scrunching my belly fat up against the wafer when I sit or drive my car. The bottom of my stoma peristomal skin is always irritated because of this too. I'm trying to lose some weight, but so far my love of eating outweighs my desire for irritation-free skin. Final score: Food 1, Stoma 0.

I have the half-ring irritation thing too from my ab muscles 👀 rubbing against my belt. Itches a little sometimes but nothing bad.

...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣..... Not calling you a WWII Nazi..... Goebbels was a propagandist spreading false information to the point of fact....

Now you switched rhetoric about Barrier Wipes from a previous posting....

Barrier Wipe film is necessary for the prevention of many issues with Ostomy Systems---including "long-term systems" whatever that is.... Alex for $100....

All my days are lovely, sir!

Propagandist for the Nazi Third Reich political party, making him a Nazi. Him and his wife also killed themselves along with their 6 kids with poison if my memory serves me correctly. I’ve never harmed a soul, so I guess I failed to be a true Goebbels…sorry. 

At first, I couldn't figure out why I always had irritation at the bottom of my stoma.

Once I figured it out... now I just live with it.

...Yeah... you stick to that propaganda and maybe it will become true... 1945 vs 2024... what you do in 2024 giving false information about Barrier Wipe Film then recant the claims from another posting... that's a propagandist...

Barrier Wipe Film is very effective 100% of the time for all systems... claiming barrier film is not really necessary may not have "harmed a soul" but has put a rash, sore, or itch on some's skin... 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

🔒 Login to see image

You look up barrier wipes on any publicly available site you want and post what it says on when/how to use it, if it has adhesive ingredients like you stated, etc.

... Oh cheese and crackers, all muddy Alex for $100... Hollister, Coloplast, and Convatec websites say nothing negative about the use of Barrier Wipe Film but encourage it 100%... Barrier film is NOT an adhesive but gives a nice protective surface for the adhesive to stick to on the barrier...

It seems the only concern is whether the film is water/alcohol-based and layered on top of stoma powder, which I recommend you do several times with stoma powder in between over a wound to help heal as this process is called "crusting"...

In my opinion, the consummate authority on this matter are the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses and NOT Alex for $100...

Nice try, propagandist...

Hey all, I appreciate everyone's opinions and replies. We are all different and have different experiences. What I don't appreciate is the mudslinging and name-calling. We as a community are better than that. Thanks, everyone.

All my days are wonderful and so should yours. A spade is a spade and always will be so. 👃👃👃👃