New member - question on wound under appliance

[Rock_Robster]

Hi all,

I’ve just joined this forum, so thanks for having me. I had a temporarily ileostomy made 3 weeks ago, after rectal cancer surgery.

I have a question, if I may. My surgery was done robotically, and most of the small wounds have healed well. However there is one wound quite close to my stoma, so it is underneath the adhesive. Whenever I change the bag, removing it reopens the wound so it refuses to heal. If I put anything bigger than a steri-strip on it, I’m worried it will compromise the seal and I’ll have a leak.

So - does anyone have any advice for healing wounds underneath the bag adhesive? Ideally I’d love something that can protect it until it heals, without compromising the seal.

Thanks,
Rob (Rock_Robster)

[Mysticobra]

I'm gonna answer but I can't help. Sorry.
Just want you to know some are here to help.
I've never had to use a stoma nurse but you may want to check.
The one they did assign to me was kinda useless so I never seeked advice.
Me. I would make an appointment with the surgeon who did it and let them look at it.
All my needs after my surgery were taken csre of by my surgeon.
She told me to do so. Not to go to a gastrointestinal Dr. But to her.
Glad I did too. She knew exactly what she had done to me and took csre of me well.
Richard.

[ot dave]

Hey Rock,

You might try a piece of tegaderm or duoderm. They are a dressing that will cover the wound and allow it to heal without affecting the seal on your flange. You can get them on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/pi ... ame=sp_atf

https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/pi ... ame=sp_atf

Give one of those a try and see if that helps.

David

[Rock_Robster]

Thanks guys! Will give it a go

[Rock_Robster]

Hey Rock,

You might try a piece of tegaderm or duoderm. They are a dressing that will cover the wound and allow it to heal without affecting the seal on your flange. You can get them on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/pi ... ame=sp_atf

https://www.amazon.com/gp/slredirect/pi ... ame=sp_atf

Give one of those a try and see if that helps.

David

You’re on the money David - by chance I ran into an ostomy nurse at my chemo infusion today, and she gave me some Duoderm. Good tip!

Thanks
Rob

[ot dave]

Good deal!
It may help if you can kind of make an artificial scab over the area by using ostomy powder, covered with some cavilon skin prep spray. The powder kind of dries things up and the cavilon gives it an invisible barrier so that the dressing can adhere. Repeat that procedure (powder/spray, powder/spray) 2-3 times before applying the dressing. And EASY on the powder. Adhesives and your flange don't adhere well...or at all to the powder. Hope that makes sense.

David

[smashms]

for really weepy skin i use a mepilix border dressing these work very well i have also used the waterproof tegaderm type bandaid's as well they too work well and are a bit cheaper but mepilex works the best.

[Diane C]

Glad the problem was solved. Unlike Richard, I find my surgeon pretty useless when it comes to wound care. If you need help in the future, see if your hospital has an ostomy and wound care clinic. I have been VERY impressed with the wound care nurses and even my surgeon tells me to go to them. Am hoping a very small wound will heal as he said -- the wound nurse was less optimistic so my fingers are crossed -- but wound care is a whole science unto itself.

Glad to hear the good news.

Diane C.