Chickspeed:
Your surgeon's suggestion of a spray and spritz of Flovent is A-OK. Flovent is similar in action to Benadryl and will lessen skin inflammation due to irritation.
Skin irritation is more apt with a loop ileostomy due to the location of the stoma placement higher up the small intestine than an end ileostomy or colostomy. This means that the fecal output is more liquid in consistency and higher in caustic enzymes. Liquid output more easily undermines an ostomy wafer as a cause of dreaded leaks. Caustic digestive enzymes in contact with the skin are a source of genuine skin irritation and excoriation.
I highly recommend use of an Ekin Cohesive Seal (by ConvaTec) (or similar hydrocolloid ring by another manufacturer). The Ekin Cohesive Seal is a ring of hydrocolloid material that you can stretch and mold around the stoma. It acts like a gasket in a water faucet.
The Ekin Cohesive Seal is the Gold Standard in minimizing leaks. It is a go-to item for most people with an ileostomy and highly liquid fecal output.
The advice to visit with a stoma nurse or Wound Ostomy. CAre Nurse (WOCN) by Lisa is sound advice. There are a gazzilion ostomy products and your body and skin type and skin topography may do better with a different pouching system than the one you were sent home with. Hospitals tend to contract with one ostomy supply manufacturer in issuing products to new ostomy patients. You may find that there is a better "fit" of wafer and poaching system than what you were first issued by the hospital where you had your surgery. I was sent home with Hollister and switched gears to Coloplast and CyMed as my go to ostomy systems.
Finding what ostomy brand and products work best for you is an individual process. Working with a WOCN can be ever-so-helpful when you are new to an ostomy as they can narrow down product options and provide learned experience.
Another tip to lessen skin irritation: Do not pull the wafer away from the skin when removing. Pulling a wafer up and off of the skin damages the top epitheal layer of skin and leaves skin vulnerable to further damage. Instead, remove a wafer by pressing into the skin with your fingertips along the outer margin of the water, pressing down on the skin and pushing the skin away from the wafer. Work along the edge of the wafer, pushing the skin away from the wafer in small increments until the water is fully released.
You can also purchase sprays that loosen the heat-activated bond of the wager to the skin. A few sprays of a skin prep remover product and the wafer will fall off if the skin like Teflon. Skin prep remover sprays are sold under the manufacturer names of Torbot Skin Prep Remover and Safe 'n Simple Skin Prep remover. As the name implies, these spray formulations are designed to remove any accumulated build up of ostomy care product in the skin.
You are welcome to visit the United Ostomy Association forum and ask questions to seasoned ostomy veterans. Most people in the ostomy forum have permanent ostomies and years and years of experience - spanning an array of the common and the not-so-common stoma occurrences. The group also comes with a good sense of humor.
http://www.ostomy.orgSending you best wishes for healthy and intact skin,
Karen
Dear friend to Bella Piazza, former Colon Club member (NWGirl).
I have a permanent ileostomy and offer advice on living with an ostomy - in loving remembrance of Bella
I am on Palliative Care for broad endocrine failure + Addison's disease + osteonecrosis of both hips/jaw + immunosuppression. I live a simple life due to frail health.