Hi Everyone,

So - I don't really know how to word this - so I'll just shoot from the hip. I didn't know if this should go in the general discussion or advice thread - so I just put it the general.

I've been a member of this site for 10 years - have had my pouch for over 11. Things are going pretty well with it. I've definitely learned to live and with it.

I do, however, have a recurring problem:
Pretty much where my buttcheeks meet at the top (the start of the crack, the very bottom of my back), keeps splitting. This has been happening on and off for the last year or so. It was never really a problem before.

It just feels like a giant papercut and is very uncomfortable. I've put antibiotic ointment, neosporin, etc on it - and nothing really helps.

Of course, the problem usually exasperates itself because I sit down in the toilet between 5-10 x's a day, depending on the day.

Any advice?

Thanks!

Ted in STL

PS - Hello St. Louis people!

Ted, if your still in contact with or can contact an Ostomy nurse- they could probably direct you in treating it.

LOL -- this happens to me every month right before my period starts. Female hormones and all that stuff. Not your problem, I think!

So you might want to check with a doc about why it happens to you, but I can help you with the treatment! Keep the area as clean as you can (obviously!). Use antibiotic ointment as needed, but I find that plain old thick diaper cream and/or Bag Balm work great. Bag Balm is a great preventative as well, once it heals up. (Also works great for BB.)

Hang in there; I know it can be pretty painful!

Cheers,
Gin

I get the same problem as GinLyn with cracking, chaffing, itching and redness of the skin around "that time of the month" but this would not apply to you. However, some of the treatments might be similar. For me, Calmoseptine really helps sooth the area, and I find that a cortisone ointment can help with the itching and pain.

However, I also agree with GinLyn that you need to find out why this is happening to you. One thing you should consider is whether or not you could have a yeast infection. Yeast overgrowth can cause fissuring or cracking of the skin, and can be quite painful and/or itchy. J-pouchers are more prone to yeast infection since we have more frequent BMs and thus the area is more frequently moist or irritated, upsetting the natural PH balance of the skin, which can result in yeast overgrowth. You should also keep in mind that some OTC antibiotic, zinc or cortisone-based ointments can make an existing yeast infection worse so if you are regularly using these creams, you may be inadvertently contributing to the problem. What I would therefore suggest is a trial of a topical antifungal cream for a period of one week. During that time, do not use any other creams or ointments. Eliminating all other treatments would be the only way you can tell if there is any significant effect from the antifungal. You can get antifungal creams in the family planning section of your pharmacy; the most common brand name is Canestan but others such as Monistat and store brands work just as well. Apply the cream after every BM and after showering. If there is significant improvement after using the antifungal for a few days, then you know that yeast is likely the culprit.

If there is no improvement, you really should consult a doctor as you might need something stronger to help the area heal.

It could be a yeast or fungus infection. There's a powder called Zeasorb they gave me to use when I had my bag. See if using that helps.

-Roni*

Yeah, I'd vote for the yeast/fungal infection. That is why the antibiotic ointment does not work. Try using antifungal cream, then dusting with antifungal powder. No scrubbing dry with a towel either, just blot gently.

Jan

Ted, I will echo what most of the ladies are suggesting with an added male personal experience....

I have had this several times too in last year or so and I have connected it to periods when I am doing alot of soaking/sitz bath type stuff for my sore bottom. (as though related to moisture...not totally drying area after bathing)...I get it sometimes at the same time (but not always) as when I am having a little bout of ..errr.... uh.... jock itch.

I have treated it successfully on my own when it happens by using jock itch sprays or creams that you get over the counter from drug store. I know there were a couple times I was going to mention it to my doc and I forget if I always just had other pressing issues and so didn't or I think I might have mentioned it to him once (??) and he just kind of dismissed as something not to bother with??..At any rate because I have been able to successfully treat it pretty quickly with OTC cream/spray on my own I do that when it happens and haven't taken it much further than that.

Yes this happens to me about every other month. A topical yeast cream might be helpful if antibiotic cream is not working. One of the other things I found besides keeping the area very clean is to use a hair dryer on the skin to get it as dry as possible after getting out of the shower or bath. I stay away from the Calmoseptine when this happens as it is difficult to remove and when the skin is split in this area, cleaning is rather painful.

Thats why its called a butt crack..