issues with tape

[amanda100wilson]

Hi, I have been doing NxStage for two weeks but have been doing in-unit for several months before that.  Prior to that I was doing PD during which time I never taped my catheter because of the problems that I had with tape irritation.  I am now suffering from the same problem from the tape used to secure my needles.  I have been using the clinic tape which is supposed to be hypo-allergenic and have now switched to silk since in the past I have had less problems with that.  The thing is, I don't think that it is really allergy, but my my skin does get bumpy and itchy and then scaly and I think that the problem is, that I am now stuck in a vicious circle.  I think that it is more of an irritant issue but I do not know what to do.  I am trying to spray an anaesthetic spray on every so often to stop me itching because it is s-o-o itchy!  Any suggestions?

I know that some people use tegaderm.  Is that in addition to tape?  how is it applied to make the needles secure?

[sullidog]

I have the same issue, I just deal with it but I understand it is annoying.
As far as I know people use tegaderm only for catheters.

[SteveK87]

Where exactly do you develop the itchy bumpy skin?  Only in the areas where the tape was?

[cattlekid]

I was having tape problems when I would finish treatment, then leave the tape on overnight.  My nurse suggested that I only had to leave the tape on for a half-hour or so after treatment.  I tried that last night and the tape situation was much better.

[looneytunes]

Amanda...I don't know if this helps or not but hubby was using regular tape, paper, silk and plastic and had troubles with it "eating" his skin, causing breakdown.  Now I put gauze under and over his needles and use just a minimum about of tape and then tape the lines further down to the back of his hand, changing the spot every day.  Also, we use "SureSeals" after pulling the needles which are like bandaids but have a pressure dressing inside them.  This has solved his problem.  If you are in the US and your neph writes a script for the Sure Seals they will be covered and are available through a medical supply store. 

[cdwbrooklyn]

Hi Amanda....,

You can try to use bandaids instead of tape.   When you insert your needles, put bandaids over them instead of tape.  When you are done, you can pull the needles out by putting a gauge over the bandaids. 

Hope this helps. 

[sullidog]

I have the same problem with the silk tape

[bleija]

try using something called skin prep, it creates a barrier between ure skin and the adhesive from the tape, so when u take it offit takes the skin prep off and not ur skin, i use it on my stomach, bc i have yet to find a tape that doesnt irritate it idk where u can get it, my hubby works at a hospital so he bring me them from there but its worth looking up anyway

[BillSharp]

I use paper tape for everything. BandAids and any other tape pulls my skin off.

[amanda100wilson]

Bleija, I tried those skin prep wipes and they seem to help.  I also use Udderly Smooth to moisterize the skin where the tape goes.

[lmunchkin]

I use paper tape for everything. BandAids and any other tape pulls my skin off.

My husband only uses paper too.  What I do after sticking him, I paper tape his 2 needles down securely, then I put a glove over his hand (it keeps his fingers warm) and tape in three different sections on the glove.  Then I run the lines(curve around the glove) up the arm to where I clamped the lines to his shirt.  I put paper tape in front of the clamp (on his shirt) and after the clamp ( on the shirt).  The only place that tape is on his skin, is where I stick him.

He likes it, cause sometimes that tape will sort of break him out, so this way, its not nearly as irritating as was before.

lmunchkin
 

[bleija]

im glad it helped, where did u end up finding them? just curious