Hi. Don't know if this is an ostomy-related question; that's what I want to find out. A lot of us have had issues with itching around the stoma due to allergic reactions to products or when leaks begin. I've had my ostomy for 2 1/2 years. Over the last year or more, I get terribly itchy all over, mostly on my arms and legs. Sometimes I get a horrendous rash that may last for only a few minutes or hours. It seems to come and go out of nowhere. This doesn't seem to be related to my stoma, but shortly after my surgery I started losing my hair and later learned that other bag people had the same thing happen. It never would have occurred to me on my own that hair loss could be ostomy-related. So now I'm wondering if body itching could also be related. Even though the rash may last a short time or there may not even be a rash at all, the itching gets so bad that I often scratch until I bleed and have scabs all over my arms, legs, and back. Have I put a lovely picture in your head with that last comment? I take Benadryl, but by the time it takes effect, I've already scratched the crap out of myself (no pun intended). Sometimes Benadryl cream helps; sometimes not. A dermatologist had me try salt, alcohol, and water in a spray that I discovered all his patients use. Doesn't help. Anyone else have itching in non-ostomy related areas? Like hair loss, could the ostomy have anything to do with it? Lastly, any suggestions? I wasn't happy becoming a bag lady. Don't want to be a scab lady too.
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Hollister
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Hollister
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