Author: ostomyassociationofstpaul

Due to our severe winter storm this weekend, St. Paul Ostomy Association is canceling its meeting on Saturday, January 18, 2020. Please stay inside and keep warm. We will see you at our February 15 meeting.

I had been wearing my pouching system for 2 days. No area had any pulling away at the edges, so I figured I’d get another day of wear time. Nope. In the evening, I starting having itching underneath. Crazy itching. It felt as if I couldn’t get that pouch off fast enough–both for relief and to see what was going on.

Despite the urgency I felt, I removed the pouch with the “push down skin, pull off pouch” method. Then, I could see. The barrier ring had simply melted away on one whole half of the circle. Now there was a raised area of skin that looked like a blister. What is that?, I asked myself. Great. Is that going to stay like that?, I wondered.

I had no choice; I had to replace. So, I removed residue with a wipe, then cleansed my skin with my Aloe Vesta cleanser. Put on the new barrier ring, covered it with the new pouch.

Hmmm, what had happened? Did I drink anything new recently? Yes. Yes, I did. I had been feeling a cold coming on, so I drank a warm electrolyte-replacement beverage. I have no idea if there is any connection (and I have consumed that product many other times). But, I wonder….

Lucky, lucky, lucky! My replacement pouch felt as comfortable as always, and with the next change, the skin was back to normal. But that itching? I’m so glad I didn’t ignore it! Well, I really couldn’t. ~P.H.