Thursday, February 14, 2019

No Sting Skin Prep Wipes - Product Review

We had a customer reach out to us recently who had exhausted all options to resolve their peristomal skin issues. They had tried various wipes, powders, and sprays, but for some reason had never used Smith & Nephew's No Sting Skin Prep Wipes.  Here is their complete review:

"How I healed excoriated skin around my stoma and surrounding area so I can continue my daily swimming routine

My name is Robin and I am 76 years old and I have lived with an ileostomy for 55 years.  

It’s been quite a journey with various health issues along the way although I am fully aware my ileostomy saved my life and in spite of obvious frustration with it and blips at certain times, I am grateful it has given me the opportunity to live a full and happy life which I hope to continue for many years to come.

I live in Miami and enjoy making the most of the sunshine here and I swim daily to keep fit.  My swimming routine has however been thwarted in recent months as the skin around my stoma and surrounding area became more and more sore which was painful and also made it extremely difficult for my baseplate to stick properly, resulting in me using more and more tape and exacerbating my skin problems!

It’s been a 6 month journey for me to achieve healthy skin to which my baseplate can stick.  At times I didn’t think the skin was ever going to heal and I am amazed how much time and effort has been spent researching for me to find products which help and function as advertised.  Perhaps I have been unlucky but in case anyone is experiencing similar issues, I want to share what helped me and without exaggeration, has been life-changing for me.

A few weeks ago, by pure chance, I read a post which mentioned Smith & Nephew No-Sting Skin-Prep.  There is also a version which isn’t no-sting but it was too painful for me to use so I started using the no-sting version and the results have been quite amazing.  It’s available in spray form or wipes and I have found the wipes the easiest to use.  The liquid seems to form a barrier which protects the skin against whatever is being stuck to it and it also helps the item to adhere much better.  When it’s time to change the baseplate, it doesn’t leave any residue and is easily cleaned with a skin barrier wipe.  I don’t have any allegiance to any supplier but after trying various skin-prep wipes, in my case, nothing has performed like the Smith & Nephew No-Sting Skin-Prep.

There are other products I’ve found along the way (Coloplast skin barrier wipes; Safe n Simple skin barrier arcs; Nu-Hope pink adhering tape strips) which have had a positive impact on my ileostomy changes but there’s no doubt that the skin-prep is what has allowed my skin to heal (along with Coloplast ulcer dressings when necessary and Ultrabase emollient cream too).

As I revert to my Miami daily swimming routine (thwarted today only by the weather!), I am thankful to be back to normal (or my normal) and I wish fellow ostomates luck with finding what works for you and enables you to make the most of every day." 

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Peristomal Skin Trouble? Try This New Assessment Guide!

Ostomy Help with Peristomal Skin

Ask any person with an ostomy about challenges maintaining the health of skin around their stoma and most will tell you that it requires constant effort. There are the few lucky ones that seem to get a perfect ostomy appliance fit with little leaks and don't have any skin problems. 

The challenge is keeping skin in great health despite the constant application and removal of skin barriers and exposure to urine and stool. In addition, ostomates can experience an inflammation of hair follicles as 
well as fungal growths on the skin around their stoma. 

In an effort to help nurses and ostomates identify and treat the various skin conditions, Hollister provided an educational grant to create a Peristomal Skin Assessment Guide for Consumers.

It is easy to use and helps find the cause of what skin condition you have and provide directions as to how to improve your peristomal skin.
Try it today!

Friday, January 12, 2018

Know The Signs of Vitamin B12 Deficiency For Ostomates

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a real threat to anyone that has had intestinal surgery where all or part of the termainl ileum has been removed.  

Concentrated in animal tissues such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, and fortified cereals vitamin B12 is easy to incorporate into your diet. The question is whether it is adequately absorbed.

In a typical "well nourished" individual the body will store about three to five years according to "When the bowel becomes the bladder" from Practical Gastroenterology (Jul 2012).
How can you find out your vitamin B12 status? A simple blood draw can be pretty conclusive. 

How do you know if you're deficient in vitamin B12? Learn 9 signs of vitamin b-12 deficienty from this article in the Ostomy Connection!

Parthenon now has a vitamin B12 dermal patch 

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Ostomy Awareness Day Celebartion 2017

Celebrate those living with ostomies and continent diversions within the United States

Ostomy Awareness Day is today October 7, 2017! This is its seventh year where the United Ostomy Associations of American (UOAA) and the ostomy community celebrating ostomy awareness and increasing national visibility of those with living with ostomies and continent diversions.

Celebrate Ostomy Awareness Day! 



Wear your stoma sticker for Ostomy Awareness Day and share with your ostomy friends
The United Ostomy Associations of American (UOAA) has an entire page with ideas of how to spend this day. http://www.ostomy.org/Ostomy_Awareness_Day_2017.html
The Parthenon Company is an nationwide distributor of ostomy supplies online and through our ostomy catalog. We chat with people living with ostomies everyday to help them find products to better treat the skin around their stoma with ostomy accessories or introduce them to a different type of skin barrier that may improve things. Each day has its challenges and each day we are thrilled to assist our customers get the ostomy products they need at a discounted price! 







Friday, September 1, 2017

Ostomy Suppliers Present at the United Ostomy Associations of America 6th National Conference

People of all ostomy types were present at the recent United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) national conference

Do you have an ileostomy, colostomy, or urostomy?  If yes, we hope you have attended the UOAA national conference before or at least have plans to attend the next one in 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  This is the most complete gathering of ostomates, industry representatives and WOC nurses in the United States.  As an ostomate, it is the perfect place to come to learn, socialize with other ostomates, sample new products, meet representatives from your favorite manufacturer or ostomy supplier and more!
This year was in Irvine, CA and it was an excellent venue with the hotel being very accommodating for all of the events and exhibitors. Not to mention it being minutes from the airport!
Some of the highlights from the conference include:
  • 1st timers orientation for new ostomates
  • opening night social
  • exhibition hall featuring representatives from across the country
  • stoma clinic with wound, ostomy, continence nurses
  • Nu-Hope Labs fun run
  • special session on travel with TSA representatives
  • Sunset/dinner cruise in the bay
  • Get a free Phoenix Magazine copy
The UOAA isn't just a group of old people with ostomy bags! There are people of all ages with all types of ostomies! It's not always easy to get to these meetings, but if one is anywhere nearby you in the future, it is worth the effort. There are many passionate people working hard to put this event together and it's because building a sense of community among ostomates is important.

Parthenon company was very happy to be there and visit with many of the attendees, some of which were customers!  Also, some of the other exhibitors included: Cymed, Hollister, ConvaTec, Coloplast, Nu-Hope, KEM OstoEZ Vent, Stealth Belt, and H20RS to name a few!

We hope to see you in 2019!
Ostomy Suppliers Present at the UOAA 2017

Find ostomy suppliers nationwide


Friday, May 5, 2017

Parthenon Customer Review for Ostomy Supplies

 Shopping For Ostomy Bags & Skin Barriers From the Parthenon Company Gives "Consistent and Accurate" Orders for over 30 Years!

It's always wonderful to hear that you are doing a great job!
Thanks for being such a great customer!


Thursday, April 13, 2017

You Can Get The Best Ostomy Supplies and Customer Service at Parthenon Company

Customer Service and Ostomy Supplies

Tired of getting supplies mashed into a box with no padding and with

nothing but a recorded message from customer service of you supplier?


Looking for a company that puts customer service first? Check out what Dennis R. just wrote

Parthenon customer service:

"May I make a comment, long overdue, on your consistent quality in filling my 

ostomy supply orders. This is not flattery, but if a company turns out consistently accurate 

shipping of various items, it should not go unnoticed.

I believe I started ordering ostomy supplies from your company in June of 1988. This would 

average about 3 orders per year. Not once in ALL those orders, did I receive a damaged 

package or damaged items. Never received a shortage of any item nor the wrong item. 

Which makes it 30 years of very consistent shipping and handling.

Bravo! Whould that all companies could measure up to this consistent accuracy.

Thank you." Dennis R. (MN)

ostomy supplies and excellent customer service everytime at Parthenon