Hi everyone! I finally got my loop ileo under control about a week ago through new appliances. Now I'm having problems again & the skin on the bottom of stoma which normally is against stoma all the way around, has formed a sink hole about 3/8 wide & 1/4 deep, almost i/2 a circle underneath. The skin has like a dark red infected look. Now I have to try to fill hole with putty before I apply wafer or it immediately leaks under wafer. The Convatec Durahesive convex moldable wafer with skin barrier were working good & did not use putty but with this whole I have to! I am concerned if I should call the doctor & perhaps see him because surgery is set for Nov 5th to re-hook up & if my stoma area is really infected and looks detached it will be postponed again! Anyone have this happen to them? What does it sound like has happened? Things just can't seem to go smooth for too long with me! Help!
Danny

Hi Dan,

First of all try not to panic (hard I know). When I had my takedown 11 years ago the skin around my loop ileo was very excoriated and I thought there is no way my surgeon will do a takedown with it like that. But in fact it didn't make any difference to him. In fact he just cut away the bad skin and stitched the stoma wound. The likelyhood is that even if it is ulcerated he will still do your takedown because it will heal much better once it's open to the air and not covered by an appliance or getting stool into it.

Is the skin actually broken down where it has sunken? I mean is it like a wound or just red and angry looking? It could be the start of a peristomal ulcer if the skin is broken.

If the skin has actually broken down then I would try putting some stomahesive powder into the hole, followed by a piece of eakin seal (or similar) and then your wafer on top. It's ok to use seals with the moldable wafers in situations like this. Hopefully by the next wafer change you should see an improvement.

Ring your surgeon and let him know what's happening and try to get your stoma nurse to have a look because she will be able to advise on any other treatment that may be necessary.

Hang in there and let us know how you get on.

Take care.

Shell

Thanks Shell! I knew you'd come to my aid. I was wondering about using an ekin seal instead of putty. Putty is really hard to get to lay down and smooth out & stay in the hole while trying to drag it around with a tube. The skin looks like it has pulled away & dropped down, almost like a mountain slope that has been suddenly chopped off & a deep valley or slope. Next change I will try to see if skin is open. It seems similar to a wound I had which the doctor had my wife clean with water & put guause on it. Just a open whole that finally started to close. The stoma whole & area is really highlighted red & it has some blood when I wipe it but the stoma often does too! I will also do the powder & ekin seal thing on next change! I'm hoping this last one will last a few nights. Mine blew in bed at 2:30 a.m. all underneath, at the hole area. Thanks Danny

If I'm understanding you right (to early no coffee ) I had the same problem. No I layer powder and barrier spray then apply a eakin's seal. So far (knock on wood) So good.

I have been pressing down on the inside of the eakins seal to make sure it is on my skin.


GO DIAMONDBACKS!!!

Hi Dan,

Just a thought, but could it just be the downward opening to your loop ileo? I seem to remember that my loop sunk really badly underneath and exposed the other half to my loop.

Remember that a loop ileo is like a hosepipe that has been bent in half with a slit cut into it. The top part of the slit leads into your bag and the bottom part leads down into your j-pouch. If it has become exposed then it could possibly look like a red open sore if you didn't know?

Jessica, I'm glad that you have found a system that works well for you. It's the little tips like this that helps to give others new things to try when all else has failed.

Keep us posted.

Shell

Thanks Jessica & Shell! As soon as I have to replace this new appliance I'll try the powder and Ekin seal. I think it would be easier to level out the skin than the putty! I also think you are right Shell about the hole just showing the exit to the j-pouch! Hopefully with the powder & seal the redness will go away & also the leak problem get back under control! I tried taking one Pergaset every 6 hours while at work & it sure helped alot so I could edure the 8 hour days! That changed the days from pure agony to tolerable! Thanks to you folks I will get over this new hurdle & be fine for Nov.5th! Thanks Danny

Hey Dan,
Ran into Dr. Robb at Costco today. Told him he is quite popular on this site. Seems like 3 or 4 of us have him as a surgeon. If you go in on the 5th there is a good chance I will be there. I go in on the 8th. Maybe we will have that race around the halls at IU after all
Sorry to hear about your problem...I have no expertise in fixing nasty stomas. Hope things calm down for you soon.
David
Go Colts 4-0

Hey David, I'm really looking forward to meeting you! So you are prepared, I have a stuttering problem I've battled all my life. It gets much better after I get to know you, but in our case, I'll be a little nervous! I just want both of us to fly through this with no complications or regrets! We've had our tough days & I am full of faith for new and better days! Thanks again for you & so many others reaching out to encourage people in the same boat! It is what makes this world a better place! Danny