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It goes to show you that one product can be vastly different from another

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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Joined: 10 years ago
Posts: 4295
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So, the last several months, my skin has been a bit up and down. I think I've developed some kind of sensitivity to the tape border on my Hollister bags, so I've been using other products to give my skin some time off.

If you recall, my wear time with the 1pc (with tape borders) was almost always 7+ days without any leaks or issues. I really only changed them because the edges would peel too much by day 10. My skin was immaculate for several years!

Late last summer, I developed some skin issues. I attributed it to the heat and sweat from all the cycling I was doing, and things calmed down over the fall and winter. No change in appliance.

But then my skin got angry. Sections looked as if they were chemically burned, layers of skin gone, but only under the tape.

I couldn't use the tape border without fluid building up under it, so my solution was to cut the tape border out and just use the centre part! And it worked, but it's a little impractical since the small "wafer" that was left often needed extra support from a StealthBelt or other band.

I decided to order both the Hollister 1pc without the tape, and the 1pc Sensura Mio from Coloplast. I knew that the Mio is gentle on my skin, but I never had outstanding wear time with them.

To make a long story short, neither of these two appliances have given me more than 3 days of wear, and I've had so many leaks and blowouts. I changed my appliance last night, and this morning (less than 6 hours later) I get a blow out. 

Needless to say, my skin has been improving, so it wasn't a total bust, but burning through expensive supplies every other day does not sit well with me!

Not sure which direction I'll take now, since I really, really don't want to move away from my original Hollister 1pc, but maybe when my skin is completely happy, I'll have good luck with it again.

Anyway, I wanted to share that sometimes, a different appliance, even from the same brand, could give you a dramatically different experience.

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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Chelly
(@chelly)
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 553
 

Have you called hollister about that tape collar to ask what type of adhesive they are using with it? Or have they changed something? They change things without telling us. Also where did you purchase them from? You may be able to get a refund telling them you got a rash.

My tape collar in my convatecactive life used to rip my skin and give me problems with rashes. My stoma nurse had me apply cavilon barrier wipe to the area that the tape collar would be in. That worked and then somehow I ( don't use any barrier wipes or anything any longer) somehow the tape collar no longer bothers me. I have no clue if it was the safe and simple skin barrier wipes I was using or the actual tspe collar. 

When I first got my ostomy I was using eakin rings with no issues and suddenly I became allergic out of no where and had to swith to hollister rings. 

Anyhow I feel for you. Changing bags  is always no fun. This I'd say is one of thd biggest struggles we go thru.  Finding something that works for us. 

Those mios. I could not stand lol

 


   
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(@carol-macmillan)
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 6
 

@chelly


   
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(@carol-macmillan)
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 6
 

Eric, Carly from ostomateandthecity has a post about the use of Flonase for her skin irritation around her stoma. She has given me permission to pass this info onto you. Could be worth a try. 
Carol 


   
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(@john68)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 2054
 

Hi Eric, Am really sorry to hear all you’re going through. If it’s the tape border but not the centre causing issues, would you consider a wafer that’s all hydrcoloyd. Even until the skin gets a chance to heal.

ileostomy 31st August 1994 for Crohns


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Posted by: @chelly

Have you called hollister about that tape collar to ask what type of adhesive they are using with it? Or have they changed something?

I spoke with someone who said they did not change the adhesive formula, but some people do seemingly develop sensitivities.

Posted by: @carol-macmillan

Eric, Carly from ostomateandthecity has a post about the use of Flonase for her skin irritation around her stoma. She has given me permission to pass this info onto you. Could be worth a try. 

Thank you. I am aware of using Flonase, but my skin is healed and I'm hoping to find a solution that "just works", as it had for many years already.

Posted by: @john68

If it’s the tape border but not the centre causing issues, would you consider a wafer that’s all hydrcoloyd.

My relationship with fully hydrocolloid wafers is not very good. LOL Yes, I have been using another 1pc product from Hollister that is fully hydrocolloid. The problem is that the edges peel very quickly, and I get leaks/blowouts within about two days.

The larger the hydrocolloid is, the worse the problem. The interim solution I've gone with, where I'm cutting off the tape border, leaves a much smaller hydrocolloid disc that makes contact with my skin, but funny enough doesn't have the same issues as a full wafer.

I've got enough experience where this hasn't rattled me too bad. But it is disappointing to go from trouble-free, long-lasting wear to barely good enough and quite unreliable.

I should probably add that I've lost about 18 lbs (on purpose) since March, so I'm also working with a changing abdomen and shrinking stoma. Lots of experimenting with all these changes!🤣 

 

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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 LK
(@dlkfiretruck)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1519
 

Eric ... This is interesting & a bit crazy too eh!  I've never heard of flonase & skin issues.  I guess I'll look into it for future knowledge.  It is very concerning to go from a long wear time to 3 days or less!  Look at what @lizaandsqueaky went thru with so many leaks & horrible skin issues going on, that would be tremendously testy for anyone & I felt so bad for her!! 

 I have a tape allergy, when in hospital & they place that plastic tape strip to hold an IV needle in place,  but not to the Tagaderm they place on top of that as well.  I ALWAYS have to catch the type of tape they are using & make sure its always the paper tape.  I get a *skin only* reaction  to the plastic strip of tape, (not to the Tagaderm sheet),  very quickly & I have never had an issue with the paper tape or supporting pouch edge tapes. You may want to give it a try, its a cheap enough remedy. 

In medical type tapes there is one that looks like it's a strip of ribbon in a roll.  Before they used paper tape on me, it was the ribbon type tape they applied. 

I'm so thrilled with the longer wear time I'm getting with the Hollister 8931 I think I'd cry if I became allergic to tapes!  I hope you figure this out soon, skin issues suck big time!!   I always did wonder what I'd do if these pouch tapes started to cause an issue, please keep us in the loop on what you try & what works. Also,  When was the last time you had your thyroid checked? Weight gain can be a symptom of Hypothyroidism.  Good for you trying to lose a few!! 

Linda


   
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(@dogtalkerer)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 323
 

VO, i 've had very good results with the coloplast senura Xpro.   often over 7days.   very light weight.  no edge pull up.


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

It is very concerning to go from a long wear time to 3 days or less!  Look at what @lizaandsqueaky went thru with so many leaks & horrible skin issues going on, that would be tremendously testy for anyone & I felt so bad for her!! 

It's frustrating, and I wish I knew the exact cause (like is it an allergy or not?), but my skin today looked like 100%, so I'll continue doing what I'm doing.

My skin is sometimes funny with certain materials. For instance, silicone ostomy products don't like to stick well at all, so I know to avoid those. And a crazy number of deodorant or antiperspirants cause irritation, so it's just my body doing what it does. 😏 

Posted by: @dlkfiretruck

Also,  When was the last time you had your thyroid checked? Weight gain can be a symptom of Hypothyroidism.  Good for you trying to lose a few!! 

I had my last physical in the last year, and all is good. I gained weight pretty much over the winter, and it was directly as a result of over eating and because I wasn't able to ride my bike as often. But I've reversed the trend and have gone back to a more normal way of eating, and I'm almost at my goal. 😀

It's a LOT easier for me to keep weight off during the summer, when I tend to burn in excess of thousands of calories more than I can eat. In fact, I try to find ways to get MORE calories in during my heavy riding months, simply to keep up to the calorie deficit.

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Posted by: @dogtalkerer

i 've had very good results with the coloplast senura Xpro.

Yup! It's one of the first appliance I was wearing, and it's pretty reliable. I did have issues with the bottom edge cutting my skin, which required that I used medical tape to protect it.

Unfortunately, Xpro is quite a bit more expensive vs other appliances, or I'd probably give the 1pc a try.

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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(@dogtalkerer)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 323
 

VO, taping bottom edge of what?  are you talking 1 piece or 2 piece?  it was my understanding this was a new product or so called new and improved?  the flange is very thin, and of course longer wear time equals less cost per day.


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Posted by: @dogtalkerer

VO, taping bottom edge of what? 

I had to add a layer of tape under the wafer to act as a barrier. See here.

are you talking 1 piece or 2 piece?  it was my understanding this was a new product or so called new and improved?  the flange is very thin, and of course longer wear time equals less cost per day.

I only recall using the 2pc Sensura Click (including Xpro), but it's been too long to remember if I also used a 1pc variant.

I may request samples to see if anything looks different. I do still have some old ones that I've collected as part of an ostomy museum of appliances I have. LOL

It wasn't that the wafer was thick, but it's harder than some other ones along the edges. Certainly harder when compared to the Mio or any of the Hollister products.

And much to my disappointment, the wear time wasn't great.

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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 Rick
(@rick)
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 124
 

@veganostomy 

2 piece hollister with ceramide. 
also use adapt skin barrier wipe all around helps


   
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(@dogtalkerer)
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 323
 

VO, isn't that the mio click you are showing ?   the 1 piece senura xpro (15991) is what i'm  using.   comparing the 2 piece mio   and the 1 piece xpro isn't even apples to oranges, more like apples to biter onions.   i had no luck with the mio's either.    as i've said before,  orginally the mio was only in closed end bags, which suggest wear time expectations of less than a day.  


   
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VeganOstomy
(@veganostomy)
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Posted by: @dogtalkerer

VO, isn't that the mio click you are showing ?   the 1 piece senura xpro (15991) is what i'm  using. 

It's the Click Xpro wafer (10025). I looked up the 15991, and it doesn't appear to be available in Canada, which is a shame because I would have given it a try.

Just your friendly neighborhood ostomate.
~ Crohn's Disease ¦ Ileostomy ~


   
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Navey
(@navey)
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 75
 

Hi Eric.

couldn't find a forum for Ostoform and Flowassist so hope this post gets read by the members.

i have been in contact by email with Ostoform initially requesting a sample Flowassist seal, and this is the latest response from them to me:

Thank you for your interest in FLOWASSIST. We are working with a distributor and anticipate it will be available in Canada in about 2 months. Stay tuned for more updates. I am totally thrilled to hear this and look forward to being able to purchase the product in Canada.


   
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BigMike322
(@bigmike322)
Joined: 12 months ago
Posts: 95
 

Have you tried heavy stomach powder without brushing it off?  I used to crust in layers now

I just use one heavy layer with heavy barrier spray.  It's helped me out a lot with quick turnaround time.  


   
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