I used the spray for about 3 months and didn't find it helped after initial surgery. Went to an ET nurse for a checkup awhile ago and she doesn't recommend it. What I found interesting is she suggested if skin is flaring up or excoriated to use calamine lotion. You have to not shake it and empty all the clear fluid off the top into the sink and just dab pink liquid on a gauze and pat the area.  Let dry and continue with seal and flange. It has been amazing! 

Yes, I think I'll stop using it. I seem to recall hearing about that about calamine lotion and how to use it from the bottle. Good to know.

I use it for one reason.  Summer sweat.  Once winter comes I will stop using it.  Barrier spray.  I get a heat rash under the wafer from sweating and drying for days.  I can wear it longer than the four days but I do but I feel it's better to clean it up and reapply the spray.  I guess on my next change I could pass on the spray and see what happens?  I didn't use it in the beginning and had no problems just putting the wafer on after a good cleaning.  But I started after I had a bad heat rash after sweating profusely and having it dry under there.  It cleared up fast. 

I'm just trying to keep it all healthy and clean under there.  Been working fine so far.  I am so fortunate.  Even though I had to do this.  Very fortunate. 

I'm gonna skip it next time and see what happens.  Probably nothin.  Lol. I'll try the comparison challenge. 

Lambie.  Do you miss your pouch?  I sure don't miss it. 

I feel so much better.  I hope if you are having issues still they clear up.  

Richard. 

Richard, to answer your question: NO! I got back exactly what I had hoped to get with its removal. Now, do I wish I had my old, healthy pre-UC colon back? Yeah, I do, but that's not possible so, out of all my choices, this has given me my health and life back. It gave ME back. I was starting to lose who I really am with my jpouch. I'm grateful to be back. I know from your posts that you are, too.

Lambiepie posted:

Richard, to answer your question: NO! I got back exactly what I had hoped to get with its removal. Now, do I wish I had my old, healthy pre-UC colon back? Yeah, I do, but that's not possible so, out of all my choices, this has given me my health and life back. It gave ME back. I was starting to lose who I really am with my jpouch. I'm grateful to be back. I know from your posts that you are, too.

I agree with your last sentence. 

It's not a perfect world.  But I have gotten back so much I didn't realize I lost or was losing.  Especially my mind! 

Yes.  I too wish or think would rather have my colon back but I remember many nights coming home from work only to lay on the bed exhausted and sore.  

I did a change today and I won't change until Thursday now.  But I am going to just clean the area well and apply the wafer.  No barrier spray.  I think it will be ok.  I am surprised how tough my skin is there.  At first I thought it would not last.  Only because of my thinking.  How can your skin survive having this stuck to it 24-7?  I just hope it holds out.  I asked my surgeon the question on how as you have it over a long period how people do?  Didn't really get an answer.  She just said if your hands still work you will do fine.  She was being sarcastic.  I said to her that was my job!  Lol.  I see her Tuesday.  My darn incision at one spot will not heal.  It's been nine months!  It's only the size of a pencil erasure but boy does that thing stink at the end of the workday.  It's never been infected.  I just wish that darn thing would close up! 

Richard, that incision spot, does your doc give any indication as to why it's not closing? Is it in a spot on your belly where there's a lot of movement from twisting, turning or bending? It's just a thought, but could it help to have some time where you limit all that movement and give it time to rest, almost like bedrest? Maybe spray it with saltwater? I'm trying to think of what a wound would like in order to heal and what might be consistently happening to prevent it.

Yes it is a spot that has continual movement at work!  I cannot take enough time off work to let it heal.  It starts over the weekend but it opens back up when I start again Monday.  I  has gotten smaller but it is taking sooo loooong.  Lol.  It happens to be right at the underwear line and I drive a fork lift.  I am up and down and twisting all day.  So I just have to be patient.  

It surprises me because usually with small things like this I am a quick healer.  

It's just in a bad spot. 

Richard, I had 2 drain tube holes in my abdomen that were very slow to heal following my BCIR surgery (the midline incision healed quickly).  My surgeon’s nurse suggested that I wipe them twice a day with a mixture of 50% white vinegar and 50% water and keep them covered with a dressing.  It took about a month to heal from the inside.  In your case, you might consider using a stiff surgical tape (I used Cover Roll Stretch) with a piece of gauze to cover the wound.  Stiff tape should hold things together when you bend and twist at work.  Ask your surgeon about it.

Bill

Thank you Bill. 

I was putting Silvasorb and a gauze over it but my position that I work in made it worse.  It made it dig into it and made it bugger and more irritated.  So right now I just wipe down the buildup and keep it clean. 

Even if I put a bandaid over it it folds into it and irritates it terribly. Best to just put the silvasorb on it and no covering.  It has gotten smaller.  It's just in a spot that sees alot of activity. 

I know about the drain tubes and wound pumps.  Memories I will never forget.  She left me wide open the first time.  This time she stapled me shut skin and all and it healed fast.  A month and it was done.  Except for that spot.  I hear it's a common occurrence.  

I have post surgery memories I wish would fade.  But they haven't yet.  But all in all I am in a good place.  And happy.  I think we eventually can all find that.  It just takes time.  You know that.  You found it. 

Richard. 

P. S. 

I do see her tomorrow.  I do have questions about it. It is really the only problem. I have.  Which really astounds me.  I thought I would be miserable.  But she fixed it like she said she could and I only see her every six to eight weeks.  

Bill, I just wanted to say that you always have good advice and a wonderful, easy way of offering it. When I posted awhile back before my permanent ileo surgery, when I was searching for answers and alternatives to my then jpouch, you posted info on the BCIR. I don't know if I ever thanked you - I had a lot going on in my head at the time - but I did look into it. They mailed me info and I did speak at length with one of the surgeons, in the same practice as my surgeon, who had done the BCIR surgery. I ultimately chose an ileo but thank you for always presenting that option to those of us who can't do the jpouch anymore. I'm very glad that you are doing well with your choice.

Well. 

In a week and half.  September 15 I go in for a day surgery.  See what is causing the spot to not heal.  We.  The surgeon and I suspect a stitch.  Probably something that simple but I have to be cut a little to see.  I just want it to heal up and be done. 

She did pull a stitch out about two months after surgery and thought that would be the culprit. 

Now that I have not worked for a couple days it's getting covered with a crust but what scares me about that is infection.  I'll fix that tomorrow at work.  With the twisting and turning and such it will break it open. 

Oh.  On the skin barrier.  I have not used it for two weeks.  Four changes.  I see no difference. 

Richard. 

Good luck, Richard. Hope this finally does the trick.

I think it will.  It's a minor thing.  Not like I will be splayed open again.  Couldn't handle that.  Not right now.  But.  She just has to dig a little deeper than she can do in the office.  And trust me she did some diggin until I asked her to stop.  To do what she has to.   I have to be out.  Knocked out.  And this thing has to be stitched.  It's all good.  I am actually looking forward to getting it done.  And out of the way. 

Thank you Lambie. 

Richard. 

richard

sorry to read that this incision/staple spot hasn't yet healed and that it causes irritation.  you are right to be concerned about getting an infection and i trust the doc is also responding to that issue.  one of my staple holes will not heal, but it's so small and there isn't any indication of infection--just a small hole and occasional blood.  have other issues to deal with so park that concern and move on.  keep us posted on what doc says/does.  janet

Thank you Janet. 

It may have been ten months but we.  The surgeon and I have been keeping an eye in it.  She gives me stuff to put in it but even with a band aid it just won't stay put at work.  It gets pushed out everytime. Its just at the spot that gets alot of movement from my work.  And that won't let it heal.  I will crust over on the weekend and one hour into work it's open.  But that's probably been good because I think if able to get crusted and stay that way it would be infected.  The last few weekends it has been looking that way so this is a good time to get it taken care of and it will be taken care of.   It's really nice no big deal.  If it was something more  it  would have been done along time ago.  For sure.  It's just a nuisance.  Once found.  I think it's just a loose stitch.  It will heal fast.  And be on with it.  Jeez.  I hope that's all it is.  I'm sure it is.  But your mind wanders. 

Update. 

Going in in an hour and a half to get this thing looked at.  Nothin serious.  But will update later today if I remember... If your past 50 and you don't write it down to remind yourself... well you know. 

Bad thing is you can't eat or drink thing after midnight.  I get off work at midnight!  And right now I am thirsty!  I did sneak a half cup of coffee but that will go right through me. 

Anyways.  This is it and I am finally done.  No Dr's.  No more drugs.  May have to have stitches out but hopefully she puts the ones in that dissolve.   Just thought I would post.  Bored and TV news is so repetitive.  Ugh. 

Update. 

Just a stitch.  Half hour surgery.  Badaboom.  Done.  Now I can heal.  Completely.  

Hard to believe a simple stitch will not let the skin heal.  But it did.  Glad that was simple cause being there brings back bad memories.  Especially smells.  Hospital smell. 

Richard. 

That's great Richard. Back to healing, once again. You can do it. Janet

Yes.  It was simple.  Small.  Will heal fast.   Final chapter. 

Fantastic news, Richard. Thanks for updating us. Onward and upward. Yeah, those hospital smells. Post traumatic stress smells, sounds.....I remember. They've been playing this Tropicana orange juice commercial lately - "goood mornin', good mornin'!" - and I have to turn it off because it's the same commercial they used to play when I was in the hospital around surgery number one. I can't even listen to the song, it makes me breathe hard. Anyway, keep on healing!

I get a kick out of the IBD drug commercials. Well.  They irritate me.   The one where the woman is dressed like a colon following  another woman around? ?  Make it sound so benign.  When we all know how serious this disease is. 

Yes.  Good old hospital smells.  Been ten months and it all floods back.  

Pot roast and dry chicken!  Lol. 

Never drank the orange juice.  Stuck with water.  I knew if I drank juices once I got out I would never drink them again.  

One thing about going in for something simple.  As soon as they knock you out in a blink of an eye your in recovery!  It was pretty quick.  About 45 minutes.  I saw the clock before I was sedated and asked my wife the time when I woke.  I remembered somehow to do that.  Never did on any other procedure.  Weird.  I was late too.  My Dr.... Surgeon.  She just happened through the waiting area and said... Oh... Your here?  I didn't realize I was late.  Lol.  Makes up for the times I had to wait for her but I apologized for being late. 

It's all good now. 

Haha, one thing about having multiple surgeries and procedures - you're a pro by the latter ones! 

Lambiepie posted:

Haha, one thing about having multiple surgeries and procedures - you're a pro by the latter ones! 

Your are not kidding.  Glad it was a minor issue.  So glad.

It's to a point where I am ready and almost can put my own IV in.  Lol.....