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We’ve been using this system for a few months now. In the beginning we had excellent results, but overtime her perineum has become increasingly irritated and I have no idea what I’m doing wrong or if this product is not right for her. This product is only used at night, I follow placement procedures and I make sure to apply healing ointment during the day. I do roll her in order to pull her underwear up after placement, is this causing the irritation? I know in teaching they say to remove the purewick when rolling someone, and then replace it. I was told this was to prevent leakage, but now I’m wondering if she’s getting, essentially, rug burn while turning..? I don’t know, which is why I’m here. So she is having increasingly painful irritation in her perineum overtime after beginning to use the purewick. Has anyone else experienced this? Or does anyone have any tips?


Thank you!

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I suppose the obvious thing to do would be to stop using the purewick for a few days and see if matters improve?

If you can't get a nurse to come and examine the affected area, ask your mother's permission and take some pictures, then send these to her PCP or a skin integrity nurse.

The other possible culprit is the ointment - again, I'd take advice and make sure you're using the right product in the right way.

All things being equal, turning or rolling a person's hips once to the left, once to the right and then back to centre shouldn't be enough to cause shearing. I haven't used a purewick myself: is it not possible to position it once the underwear is already on? - try looser fitting ones?
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MAYDAY Jan 2021
You are correct, I guess I was getting to the point that you stated skin is fragile.. I know I look at my LO and the skin just tears :(

babies are pretty durable, I was thinking of diaper rash when I compared them together.
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Questions ::::::

How much does a purewick cost?

how does mom respond to it?

How difficult is it to use?

Does it actually work better than A&D ointment, Calmoseptin, etc?

Do you still need to use a diaper and disposable bed pads?

How long is the tube from the collection tub? How much does the collection tub hold, and how fast does it collect the urine?

When you check her in the morning how strong is the odor compared to the odor of the diaper you needed to change before you purchased the purewick? or, is there any difference at all?
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This is what I found

Precautions: I edit some stuff out

"Experiencing skin irritation or breakdown at the site. Do not use barrier cream on the perineum when using the PureWick™ Barrier cream may impede suction. Always assess skin for compromise and perform perineal care prior to placement of a newPureWick™

I would say to stop and let the area heal.
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My daughter is a nurse, has used Purewick many times in hospital and NH settings, and loudly declares her hatred for it. She says it inflames skin and that they leak like crazy. Just one opinion, but not a believer
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I see this device advertised A LOT ..... so that makes me think a bit..... It does not look comfortable on tv... so is it?
I am sure anything plastic would be irritating, especially in that area...
I don't know how it works, never looked at the directions,,,, I am sure it does not wick away all moisture... so try more calmoseptine ointment...

with this being said... BABIES... Older people's skin revert back to baby stages...
skin is more sensitive, delicate... just like a baby........


SKIN IS FRAGILE .......... TAKE CARE OF IT
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Countrymouse Jan 2021
Point of order - not at all like babies' skin.

Babies' skin is sensitive. Older skin is fragile. They are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
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I just watched the video on the manufacturer's website, which concludes:

"Users who experience irritation should discontinue use."

So discontinue use, at least for a few days.

It also looks as though you're not expected to wear underwear on top of it? - and that would certainly solve the rolling problem!
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Hm, further research...

I gave sample answers to their little mini-questionnaire to see what they would advise, thus:

Are you, or your loved one, impacted by a poor night’s sleep?
- Quite a lot of the time
How many times a night do you, or your loved one, change pads?
- 3 
How would you describe your, or your loved one's, level of mobility?
- Fully immobile 
Is The PureWick™ System Suitable? 
- Great news – the PureWick™ System appears to be suitable for you or your loved one.

Note: I chose "fully immobile" because you describe needing to roll your mother to adjust her clothing.

Now then. If you watch the instruction video, you will see that the user is expected to lie flat on her back with her hips and thighs neatly aligned, and that she is then supposed to adjust her position tidily to give you free access to the entire pudendal and perineal area. It's important to do this both for preparatory cleansing, and for positioning the external catheter correctly (otherwise it surely will cause quite considerable discomfort).

As anybody will tell you, it is almost impossible to get that clear a view of matters or for the user to position herself as shown.

My other concern is that even in post-menopausal women, there is a considerable degree of natural lubrication going on in one's lady-parts (to use the technical term, you understand) and I can't imagine it does them any good at all to be constantly dried out by the gauze wick.

I should definitely schedule in regular breaks, if you decide to continue it again later, and keep the product in place for the absolute minimum length of time. Is your mother able to transfer to a commode?
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YoungCaregivers Jan 2021
We have been doing a break for 2-3 days every 3 weeks. She does not respond well to diapers, and her skin breaks down faster with them. I’ve been told this may just be the best of this situation.. I hate that I can’t make her more comfortable. I’m going try it without the underwear and see how it goes. Thank you so much for your input!!
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