Itching and Tugging After Pouch Change - Need Advice

Yesterday, I was going a little crazy with sensations after I changed my pouch on Thursday. The itching was a pain in the neck, and when I'd walk around, I'd feel the pouch tugging on my skin. It's not that I'm in dire pain, but I wanted to see if anyone has any advice on how to correct the problem. I did take a little Tylenol and felt like it helped, but I don't want to be dependent on it.

The itching could be a couple of things. Your hair follicles underneath are irritated from wearing the pouch, an allergic reaction, or if you're a newer ostomate, it takes your skin a little bit to get used to it. As far as the pouch tugging on the skin, they make belts and wraps. They will have a pocket inside where your bag will sit in. Off the top of my head, there's Ostomy Secrets, Stealthbelt, Pouchwear.

Hope this helps.

G'day Knitter, I found that if you don't shave where the base plate goes, it pulls on the hairs and it's bloody annoying and painful. Give it a go. Regards, IGGIE

Hi knitter, I think you'll find that a human body has hair regardless of gender, but some have hair which, on some locations of the body, is so fine that perhaps we overlook the crafty little buggers and subconsciously see a bald patch... and then again maybe we don't. However, if by some quirk of fate the little shits are sneakily down there, when the sticky, snide-faced bloody wafer jobbie trustily settles on top of a group of these little fellers... it's a simple tug of war to the end. Wafer wins.

Warning!! Don't ever be tempted to use anything resembling '''Nair''' on peril of blowlamp torture... written in stone that one! I would just try a simple shave, nothing grand, ladies' razor nice and careful, and for someone who may never have used one before, it's more effective to go in more than one direction.

Happy to help, even when it may not be needed,

Brian

Ouch! I can relate to the itching! I've had the same issue, not only after a change but sometimes persisting. If your peristomal skin is not damaged, I'd check with your ostomy care team. When I've had the problem, every time, it's caused by skin breakdown around my stoma. If it doesn't stop within a day after using barrier wipes and stoma powder at change time, I've had to remove and start fresh, making sure I'm crusting well and letting it all dry well before attaching the new pouch.

Getting Support in the Ostomy Community with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister