Ileostomy with ongoing skin problems

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Hello everyone, this is my first post, I'm hoping for a little help. I had surgery last August and now have an ileostomy after bowel cancer. After the initial trials of finding the right bags etc, I settled on the correct combination of rings, paste and bags. I've had no issues until just before Christmas. I now have endless skin issues.

It turned into mrsa and needed 2 courses of antibiotics. The skin was wet and smelly and led to leaks as the products wouldn't stick. Thankfully the infection has gone but I'm now prone to blisters. I'm worried the blisters will break allowing the infection to return. Is anyone experiencing the same issue? I'm using hollister bags which have the extended fabric plaster around the baseplate.

Regards, Danny

Dulac over 1 year ago

Morning Danny,

This happened to me just once in the early days. Skin was red raw and weeping and the ileostomy pouch wouldn't stick. I was able to visit the stoma nurses next day and they gave me a barrier spray, plus a Fusion stick and advised me to shave the area where the pouch is intended to stick. It cleared up very quickly. Since then I use a Coloplast pouch after preparing the area with cold water, wiping dry with a dry wipe, treating the area with a Salts adhesive remover wipe (which dries quickly) then applying the Fusion stick to seal and prime the skin. No problem since. I think the problem arose from me not using the adhesive release spray which caused all the hairs to be pulled out by the roots. Most unpleasant and you have my sympathy. As an aside, I found that the A&E team didn't have any idea what to do about a stoma and could only recommend that I returned the following day to see the stoma nurses.

Dulac

Artsie over 1 year ago

Hi Boony

Sorry you are going through this. I had some issues early days but things settled

I had amazing support and tips from

Ileostomy, colostomy and stoma support

if you click on the link above and post there you’ll find a great bunch of knowledgeable people

I did find out that I was allergic to the flat plates I know that it makes no sense however I proved it by trying different types of flat which caused an irritation the moment that I returned to the convex my skin calmed

Best wishes

Ann
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