Itchy!

Hi Char Cad Charlotte

It could be a couple of things, especially with a new stoma. You might be allergic to the adhesive used in the bag itself, in which case you could try using another type of bag, for example there are hypoallergenic ones which might help, or ones which have manuka honey which is soothing. Or it could be the fact that the leaking is irritating your skin.

I think of it like nappy rash-if we have poo on our skin, like a baby might have wearing a nappy, it can irritate the skin and make it sore. We use nappy rash cream on a baby, so it makes sense we need to give our skin a little help!  

Sometimes using some extra products can be useful, since you’re sure that you’ve cut the bag correctly. Your stoma nurse can help with this-for example you can get these little rings which are adhesive and you put them around the stoma before you put on the bag.

While you are healing, the stoma can change shape and size and I used these aloe Vera rings when mine was new. I also had a couple of creases in my skin on either side of my stoma and I used a gel product to “fill in the cracks” after I had cleaned and dried the area, I don’t use these things now, but they helped in the early days when I had lost a lot of weight. 

You can also get stoma powder to apply before you put the bag on which I know some people swear by. Your stoma nurse should be able to get things for you to try-mine was a mine of information!

I occasionally get very itchy skin even now around my urostomy, and I use calomine lotion when this happens to soothe it. Wipe some of the lotion around the stoma on a cotton pad and leave it after cleaning. Dry the skin gently with a hairdryer on a very low setting and when it’s completely dry, pop the bag on. 

It takes time for things to settle after surgery, so in my experience these kinds of things are very normal, but there will usually be a solution which will help!

Sarah xx

Hi Char Cad

Sarah’s given great advice 

I had that too. 
That’s why I joined here it was driving me mad. 
Whoops was flat and the irritation it caused was annoying 

I booked with the Stoma nurses they changed my pouch added Eakin slims and a belt That was a game changer for me. 
I hope this helps 

I used a little Calomine dried well with a fan before changing  and it healed quickly 

I later discovered I was allergic to the adhesive in the flat pouches I didn’t have the same reaction to the convex ones 

Its trial and error to start. 

best wishes 

Thank you sooo much for your reply Sarah. My stoma nurse has been today and it appears leakage has been irritating my skin so she has as you said put a ring around Sid before applying a new convex bag- it already feels so much less itchy. 
It was great to speak to her and get advice on different aspects of stoma care but was also lovely to have your input too as it was so helpful. I’m eternally grateful to you and others in the group. 
Charlotte x 

Hi Ann, 

Thank you so much for reaching out and offering your help/advice and general chat. 
Love the name by the way

Definitely gonna be a lot of trial and error as you say but feeling a lot more comfortable and supported by people like you - so many thanks 

Charlotte x 

That’s great news Charlotte! My stoma nurse who visited me in the weeks after surgery was brilliant and gave me such a lot of advice and tips, so I’m glad you’ve had some good advice from yours. 

I moved from flat to convex bags with my urostomy and never looked back! Hopefully the itch will be gone and your skin can recover now.

Sarah xx

You’re welcome Char Cad

I had exactly the same.  An Eakin slim bit like a putty donut and a convex bag. 
Pure game changer 

Hope it settles and you can enjoy Christmas