Dealing with Stoma Issues: Burning, Itching, Swelling, and More

Hey everyone, been reading all the blogs and very interesting everyone's tips and suggestions.  I have tried several of them, some work for me some don't.  Still have the burning sensation often around the stoma, I am careful not to get the liquid on my stoma, but it will still burn.  And itch.  Also the past 2 days my stoma has been very warm to the touch, that has been a concern.  If it has not gone back to normal then I will have to call dr. very soon, also I have a swelling all around the stoma.  Has anyone experienced this problem.  I am having to make a decision also by Fri as to which bag I need to use for the insurance company to agree upon.  Right now I am using the Convate 2 piece.  It has been working pretty good.  Not tried the one piece yet.  With the two piece I find I don't have to change the outer wafer as often and its easier on the skin (pulling, redness, etc.)

Also what I would like to ask my fellow "mates' is there such a thing as a "sling" where you can sit your pouch in.  Sometimes I am not able to get right to the toilet to empty and when it starts getting full (liquid) I find that it pulls and that is when it hurts.  Also bumpy roads seem to bother me.  I know I seem to throwing a lot out there, but everyone has been so helpful on here, I want to get as much output (pun on words) as I can.  But would love to find something that will give it support so it does not pull on the wafer.  Any suggestions.

Hello... I am sorry to hear you are also so uncomfortable

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...common problems, for sure, especially for those of us who have the more liquid output from an ileo rather than a colo which is generally, though not always, firmer.



This is one of the many ways I try to deal with my own itching and burning around the stoma due to the high acidic output that breaks down our skin and causes such horrible irritation... Buy an aloe vera plant and between bag changes when your stoma is least active (which is sometimes difficult to know when that will be) after carefully cleaning the skin and dabbing it dry, slice open a small snip of the aloe vera plant, squeeze the sticky liquid onto your skin as a thin gentle wipe on that irritated skin and with your hand or whatever 'wave' it dry, it dries fast... it is one of Nature's best healers, AND, in my experience, it has never prevented tapes or barriers from sticking but it must be dry.



Those of us with ileos do have more of a prob with the immediate ring of skin directly around our stomas becoming irritated, red, even bleeding at times due to that liquid eating away at our skin

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...there of course are other reasons for itching and burning and if you become swollen in a way that does not look 'natural' to your own body there, then do not hesitate to visit your GI Doc and hopefully he will not only peek at the site, but also take a look INSIDE to make certain nothing else is going on... they can run a tiny camera on the end of a thin tube into your stoma, and go as far as they need to that way, to check on things.



In the meantime look into foods and beverages that will cut down on the gastric acid types, and also nibble on foods that seem to 'thicken' your stool and also provide anti-inflammatory values to your diet.



As for the uncomfortable tugging of a full bag while hitting bumpy roads and such, there are also many ideas to help with that situation as well... if you don't wear underwear or if your choice is boxers, you may want to try underwear with more support and perhaps even sew a 'pocket' on the inside of your undergarments for the bag to rest in... loose clothing is comfortable until the bag gets full, then one usually wishes for a little support... without it being TOO tight... yikes... we all know what happens then lol :/ ...also, while riding long trips in a car you may wish to choose a longer or larger bag for the journey or while you are sitting in the vehicle, roll a washcloth, and tuck it under your bag, it helps relieve some of the uncomfortable pulling sensation... also, depending on the style of pouch, some people claim (though not myself) that an ostomy belt helps secure the pouch a bit more from tugging. ...and with liquid output, any pouch you choose hopefully has a good barrier, a wider one... though as an Ileostomate with very little gut left inside me, the liquid can still be a problem and often requires us to, unfortunately, change our pouches more frequently.



Sorry I don't have time to spell check or continue with a few more ideas I have at this time but I will try to check in again later, I do hope you can find a way to become more comfortable... I have had my ostomy for 36 years, and they can be frustrating, for sure.



Good luck!



~Doe

thanks will try the Allo for sure, I have been using polysporin for the burning and it has been helping.  I do wear boxes, my wife is trying to get me to get the underwear with the pockets inside, guess I am old fashioned

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and still want the boxes.  But thanks for all the info, sound like you may have it under control after 36 yrs.  As for the swelling my wife is also after me to call the dr. I do go back to see him a few weeks from now, the swelling does not seem so bad this week.  Just getting use to the darn thing

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  but will adjust since it appears there is no chance for reversal.  Appreciate your info.

Hi,

Just another point of view but I've tried boxers, boxers with pockets and belts and for me the belts are so much easier. I wear whatever normal underwear I want and a very flexible (elastic all in one) hernia belt over the pouch. The pouch is well supported and also I found that with pouch underwear sometime the underwear pulled a bit on the pouch which I found uncomfortable. Another bonus with the belts is that you can use them to sold up your shirt/top when changing appliances.

Each to their own but that's what I think...

Jon

One other thing that I do that makes a huge difference....  I wear my pouch horizontally across my stomach.

With the hernia belt belt supporting it there is no pull at, it doesn't go near my belt line, I can wear standard boxers, I can use a larger pouch which lasts longer between emptying which also helps as the extra length makes emptying easier given that it's sideways. It's also much more symetrical on the body so even when it needs emptying it just looks like I'm carrying a few extra pounds not ... that I have a pouch on my right side.



I also sufferred with sore skin and my 2 piece flange used to break down quite quickly due to the acids that are produced. I use barrier wipes and a adhesive ring (medium to thick). This ring goes between the skin (after applying the barrier wipes) and the 2 piece flange. With this set up, my 2 piece flange lasts a week. I change the flange several times during that time. I suggested this set up to another illeostomist and he was converted stright away.

Staying Hydrated with an Ostomy with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister