After suffering itchy skin at the hands of her routine stoma care products, Amy decided to try something new. Here, she shares why Trio’s Elite® Adhesive Remover Spray and Elisse® Barrier Spray are a winning combination.

“I want to support people and share what products work”

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at age seven and had all the typical symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – pain after eating and constant toilet trips. After years of unsuccessful treatments, at 19 years old, I had my permanent ileostomy surgery. I’m 31 now although I still get my bad days, I like to share my ostomy reality to raise awareness, educate and support others. I use my social media profile, mainly Instagram, to share what products work for me and to help other ostomates feel empowered to make a choice. In a recent meeting, I just happened to mention I had sore skin and that’s when I discovered Elite® Adhesive Remover Spray and Elisse® Barrier Wipes.

“Other products were making my skin itchy”

I’d always used an adhesive remover spray and barrier wipe as part of my normal changing routine. That would usually be enough to keep my skin healthy. But the products I was using were making my skin itchy. It’s like having an itch you can’t scratch, but sometimes it’s just unbearable and you give in when you take your ostomy bag off and then the damage is done. I also found that my bag just wouldn’t stick properly. It was coming away at the top and it was only with the help of Comfizz waistbands that it stayed in place.

I’m quite a confident person when it comes to having my stoma – my bag doesn’t own me – but to be honest it was getting a little bit of a nuisance in my everyday life. I wasn’t feeling as empowered as I usually do, so I was willing to jump in and try some new products. I can honestly say from the first use of the Elite® spray and the Elisse® barrier wipe I literally had no sticking problems. It was like a transformation overnight. It was almost too good to be true!

“It was like a transformation overnight”

Before, it would take two or three applications to get all the gooey adhesive off my skin. My bag wasn’t sticking, and the spray was stinging my skin. Now, I use Elite® and within two or three seconds it’s all gone, which is what you want as an ostomate. You want to streamline your routine and make it quicker, especially if you have a busy life. I think it’s something to do with the ingredients in the products because I found using both the spray and wipe together has worked best for me.

A lot of people don’t understand that it’s not normal. They think itching and having skin issues is just part and parcel of having a bag and it’s not the case at all. Sore skin should not be something that people have to deal with daily, but a lot of ostomates will come into contact with that due to having a bag stuck on their skin 24/7. I like the fact that Trio believes that everyone has a right to healthy skin. You shouldn’t have to wait for a problem to find a product.

“I’m going to make my ostomy work with me”

It’s hard to explain to someone without a stoma but you get little twinges under your bag sometimes and worry if it’s coming unstuck or you have a leak. But I haven’t felt like that one bit with Elite® and Elisse®. For me, I think the products not only solved the problems, but they have also given me that empowerment as a young, busy, career-focused woman to just focus on being the best version of me that I can be. It’s allowed me to carry on. My ostomy is part of me but doesn’t define me. It’s just there. It’s part of me and, where possible, I’m going to make it work with me, not against me.

About the author: Best known on Instagram as @IBDWarriorPrincess, Amy is a 31-year-old ileostomate and freelance health blogger who lives with her husband in East Yorkshire. We love to share your experiences and hear how our products are supporting ostomates. If you have a story, please get in touch.