Hi Vicki. 

I go through lots of itchiness too. I am using coloplast sensura mio as well. I have been using a 1 piece but recently have been experimenting with a two piece and also require convex. 

I don't know exactly what is causing the itchiness for me. Sometimes it is a leak, but sometimes I think it is because my skin is so dry. Since getting my ileostomy my skin has been super dry--probably because I have trouble staying hydrated. Other places I can use lotion, but the skin around the ostomy, obviously lotion would be bad for getting the wafer to stick. But the dry skin doesn't help either. The wafer and/or extender start to pull away along the edges, I think as the dry skin flakes off and sticks to the wafer so then it isn't sticky any more. 

Good luck Vicki. I hope you figure it out!

Posted by: @vickih

I am so itchy.  It’s not leaking.  It’s also become hotter. Is this normal or could I be developing an allergy.

Is it itchy all underneath the wafer or only in certain spots? 

Have you been sweating a lot over the summer?

When you remove your wafer, is the skin really red? If the skin is red all under the wafer, then you may have an allergy that would require further investigation. 

@veganostomy

Not red all around but itchy under the water all over.  It has been super hot where I live over 100 degrees.  I had not experienced the issue until the summer.  It’s not as itchy at night or in the early am that’s why I’m thinking it might be the heat.  I also have dry skin and the wafer peeling away.  So maybe that’s it as well.  I am having to change about every 3 days.  

@squeakyandliza

• Hopefully for us both lol.  I am dry as well and changing often because of the  peeling away of the water.

@vickih

Dry skin and/or the heat could be a source of that itchiness. If it's prolonged and interferes with your daily activities, you may want to seek guidance from a stoma nurse. 

Changing more often during the hot weather is actually a good thing and it tends to be recommended, especially if you're using a standard wear wafer (vs. an extended wear product), which is what the Mio is. 

Posted by: @vickih

 I am dry as well and changing often because of the  peeling away of the water.

Have you tried using any kind of wafer extender. I use crescent shaped ones from coloplast and they help keep the wafer on longer. They start to peel away too, but it does buy me a little more time. 😀

https://www.coloplast.us/images/t/30-22458-ProductImageOverride.image.ashx?epslanguage=en-US

@vickih

Hi Vicki, welcome.  I am wondering if you and Liza use the skin barrier wipes at all?  I have sensitive skin, dealt with a scar of itchiness my first year. I did not know about the barrier wipes. On speaking with a Hollister rep. , she told me to use the barrier wipes and it made a world of difference. I use one or two wipes to do a bit of a soft scrub type wash 1st, then the spray and fan dry.  Spray, because I found I needed a slightly thicker layer then the wipes provided. I also open the 1st fold of a wioe, give it a shot of spray and then dab it around the stoma skin edge, I don't like to get sprays on my stoma at all. Combined with a good wash with a soft cloth, water only, no soaps at all, a gentle pat dry and then fanning the skin for a bit for further "air" time. Then the Barrier wipes/spray. One thing I learned recently was that one can develope a fungus beneath the wafer, it can be treated and you would likely know if you had one, butt, I was surprised to learn of it.  I have always taken great skin care, but I now take extra "air" and fanning time whenever I can for my wafered skin. As Eric said, I live in a hot dry climate, so I also change my pouch more frequently in this heat. Go ahead and moisturize the skin around your tapes if that is dry, it does feel better after.  

@squeakyandliza

No I have some samples let’s see if I can figure them out lol.

Vicki, 

I have a little trouble putting them on but am getting better. I tend to have the most problem with pulling away on the side toward the middle, and sometimes on the bottom. I use two crescents. My hubby and I call them brackets, so that is the term I will use. 🙂

I put the first bracket on the side I have problems with. Then I put the other one in the opposite side, but I make sure I overlap them slightly on the bottom. The reason for that is if I do get a leak, that just gives a little further for the poo to go to be free and gives me time to realize there is a leak before there is a big mess. 😂 I don't worry about overlapping at the top because I've never had a leak there. 

Like I said, I'm getting better at putting them on, but sometimes, especially if it is time for a wound dressing change, I will just lie down and have me husband do it for me. He has a better angle than I do. 

Liza, do you know they make 2 sizes of those tapes? There's the regular one and then one that is  wider. I think you need 3 of them to go around the circumference of the wafer tho. They will send you samples of them to try if you ask. If you can, stand up when you apply them. I used them last summer when I was doing my veggie garden and found them very helpful. A tad hard for the skin to get used to a new size tho. I have a wee dip where my incision is so I cut a slit in to outside edge to easily go in and around the center scar. I hope your wound heals up really well soon. Are you seeing an improvement in the healing every week?