Severe Itching and Redness Post-Ileostomy Surgery

Since approximately 6 weeks after ileostomy surgery, I have experienced severe itching over my entire body. Also, there is redness around and under the wafer and barrier strips. I use Hollister wafer and Brava Elastic Barrier strips.
Has anyone out there had allergic reactions like this? If so, what products do you recommend that might be more hypoallergenic? I am miserable! Help!!!

I frequently have itching around my wafer. Irritating, but not as severe as yours seems to be. I user Hollister wafers, but it seems more related to humidity than anything else. When it is dry here, I seem to have fewer issues and it is something I don't have as much in winter. When it is bad, I will give the tape edge a gentle squirt of liquid calamine lotion. That helps a bit. I haven't had it affect the seal. But, I don't often have it bad enough to take that step. At one point, my ostomy nurse showed me how to use the calamine spray before applying the wafer. Being sure to cover your stoma before doing anything like that. The ileum does have pain receptors and getting overspray on it will sting. Firsthand experience speaking here. :-) I've only ever done this once and I used too much spray. Had to start over.

Anyway, you will surely hear from others. This topic comes up frequently. I would suggest some searches, but the search engine here is crap. You could try OstoAI, but I think you need to be a member for that.

Daniel

I had some trouble once and started using a skin prep and everything was OK. It sounds like you are having more trouble than me.

Thanks for the info. Humidity does make the situation worse. I'm not convinced my problem is from ostomy products. But maybe?? I'm open to any suggestions.

I very rarely, maybe 3 times in 3 1/2 years, use barrier strips or extenders as the Adapt/Hollister brand makes my skin itch badly and they’ll leave my skin red from irritation. No issues with other Adapt/Hollister products. I’d say you’re either having a reaction from the products or there’s output getting under your setup. 🤷‍♂️

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

I live in a hot humid environment and sometimes the itching under my wafer drives me crazy. Read a tip in

another group that works for me.  After cleaning and drying your skin, spray some Flonase on the itchy area

avoiding your stoma.  I use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process and then apply my bag.  Works well

for me.  Hope you find some relief, I know how frustrating it can be. 

In the short term, I would take antihistamine tablets... if possible, speak to an ostomy nurse or try and get some free samples of other brands to try.

You haven't started taking any new meds since surgery, have you? I was itching like crazy all over, and having showers was really painful once water hit my skin from an allergic reaction I was having from meds.

You very well may be allergic to the brand you are using. Try calling the other manufacturers and get free samples. Make sure your skin is clean and completely dry before placement. Less is more, in my opinion, when using different products. I use the Flonase spray on occasion.

Sounds like you're having an allergic reaction. Yes, I also have had an allergic reaction from certain brands. I would call the different companies and ask for samples, but before you use it around your stoma, test the skin on your abdomen opposite of where your stoma is. If you have an allergic reaction, then you know not to put it around your stoma. I did it with everything: strips, paste, barrier rings, extenders, powder, everything. As far as which brand to use, that is going to be up to what your body likes and doesn't like. If it helps, some different brands are Coloplast, ConvaTec, Safe n Simple, Marleen, Hollister.

The exact same thing happened to me after my ileostomy.  I went to an extended wear wafer from Hollister, no barrier strips and it helped. I also started taking Zyrtec everyday, it helped take the itching away. 

This is the hardest part of getting an ostomy, in my opinion: finding the right supplies that don't cause allergies.

You may have to get samples from each supplier to see. For now, you may want to eliminate one thing at a time. It could be adhesive remover wipes, barrier wipes, stoma powder, barrier rings, barrier strips. So, if you use any of these, you may have to do a process of elimination of what you use one by one to see what is causing the issue. It could even be the pouch.

Hi, I had this issue with colostomy bags. I changed a few times until I found a bag that suited me and my skin. Good luck xxx

Personally I have found using a tablet of "Aerius" which is a Bayer Product (or similar types of allergy tablets) give me relief. The great thing about these (or the medical term - Desloratadine Tablets UPS, 5 mg tablets), is you will get rid of that itching feeling around the stoma in about 5 to 15 minutes (depending on how your body reacts to the medicine), and it will last up to 24 hours. Bonus if you have seasonal allergic reactions as well. If you find this helps, you may want to buy the larger quantity and keep them in your medicine cabinet (and pack some in your stoma travel kit too!)