I have had my ostomy since December 16, 2008, so I am still trying to figure some things out.

I have itching around the astomy sight. Is there anything to help the itching?

Does it help with output to use fiber products like metamucil?

Are sugar substitutes better than regular sugar in drinks?

Hi RPK,

Nystain powder can help with itching if you have a yeast infection (small red bumps on your skin). Itching can also be a sign you need you change your wafer, if you are leaking.

I was told to take Imodium to thicken up the ostomy output rather than use Metamucil.

I also heard that some sugar substitutes are better than others. I heard you should avoid the ones with "-itol" in their names, like sorbitol.

I'm sure Shell and Jill and some of the other experts will be along soon to advise you.

Good luck!

Anjuli has come up with some great suggestions. If the Nystatin powder doesn't help then try just regular stomahesive powder. Apply it on the red and irritated skin, blowing or gently brushing off any excess powder. Then either spray with a no-sting barrier such as Cavilon or pat over gently with a no sting barrier wipe. Allow the powder to dry and crust over then apply your wafer.

You might also like to try showering without your wafer on the days you change your appliance. Try aiming the shower hose at the skin around (not on) your stoma. This not only feels really good it also helps with the blood circulation thus aiding the healing process.

If none of these things work then you may have an allergy to your current appliance and need to try a different brand. You can order some free samples from any of the bigger ostomy companies. Just go to their website and they will ship them to you free of charge.

However, to get a proper diagnosis I recommend you get your stoma nurse to take a look as she is the expert on what remedies are available for each problem.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Take care.

Shell

RPK,

You've got great suggestions from Anjuli and Shell. My only addition is that the first thing to check would be for leaks. It is a good idea to closely examine the skin around your ostomy each time you change your wafer. Use a mirror to see the underside. Stomahesive powder is great for helping the red skin to get better.

If you are having constant problems with leaks, here are two things that might be happening. First, you may need a slightly different system. This is especially true for a new ostomate, as the ostomy is swollen after surgery and takes a few weeks to shrink to its long-term size, and for temp ileostomies, which can be more difficult to manage. Good idea to check it out with an ET nurse, as Shell suggests. Second, you might be waiting too long between changing your appliance. The max is 7 days, but it is different for us all. I used to try to be an ostomy hero - 6 or 7 days between changes - but now I am changing every four days.

I haven't had yeast problems, but I did have a small allergic reaction like Shell describes. Again, an ET nurse should be consulted for diagnosis and to discuss alternatives. In my case, the nurse helped determine that the reaction was to Stomahesive paste and I switched to Keraya paste.

As for your question about bulking up your output, I get thicker output from things like bananas and potatoes. I haven't tried fiber supplements. I prefer my output runny - it makes emptying the bag easier.

Good luck!
Kevin

I used to have irritations and redness arount my stoma when I was using the paste. Since I had changed to barrier rings that are so much better and easy to use, the redness and irritation went away. And of course you need to change the appiance every 2-3 days to make sure the skin is healing around the stoma. Stoma wipes and powder are Great....

Good Luck

Cheryl