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Skin Preps are called several different names.  They are sometimes called barrier films, wipes, barrier wipes, barrier spray, etc.  All of these things are the same product: Skin Prep.  They are used to protect your skin from harsh adhesives, shear, and stomal output.  Over time the skin around your stoma can become irritated by the constant presence of the adhesives from your wafer.  If you have redness, sores, broken skin, irritated itchy patches, or anything other than healthy skin, skin p …

It is time for Back to School and that means no more late summer nights making s’mores or playing flashlight tag.  It is back to homework and early bedtimes.  Lunch boxes and school supplies will need to be purchased but if you are the parent of a child with an ostomy there are some extra items you will need to add to your list. Ostomy supplies will need to be organized and you will have to work to make sure your child's school is ready to be a part of your ostomy team!  Communication is of the …

The price differences in Compression Stockings and Socks can be confusing.  The pictures look the same and the descriptions don't always shed a lot of light on why one sock costs so much more than another.  Is it just brand?  Are they all the same?  The short answer is, no, there are important differences between a manufacture's economy line and their premium line.  Companies like Jobst make a wide range of compression stockings and socks.  All compression stockings need to be hand washed and l …

Compression stockings and socks are used to help relieve tired, achy legs, swelling of feet and ankles, and to increase blood flow. Compression stockings and socks come in different compression levels. The measurement used for compression stockings, is mmHg, otherwise known as millimeters of mercury. The higher the number of mmHg, the firmer the compression will feel when wearing the socks or stockings. The different levels of compression are worn to combat different medical conditions. The bes …

I spend a lot of time researching and learning about ostomy.  I have read countless articles on ileostomy, what it is, how it works, and how to help people live their best life with one.  An ileostomy is a surgically created opening in the abdominal wall.  With an ileostomy the ileum, the lowest part of the small intestine, is brought through the abdominal wall to form a stoma.  The stoma is actually the intestine.  The stoma is usually pink or red and it does not have nerve endings.  Right aft …

Common Questions Regarding Using Medical Tape with Your Ostomy SystemProblem: The edges of my ostomy wafer are peeling up when I am in the pool or when it is hot and I am sweating. Solution:3M Blenderm is a waterproof plastic tape. The waterproof aspect of this tape will help it stand up to the pool or even sweat from the summer heat.  The best way to tape an ostomy wafer is to "frame" the outside edges with the tape. Literally making a picture frame of tape, make sure the tape is half on the wa …

When you are standing in a pharmacy aisle or looking at an online medical supply store, it is very easy to be overwhelmed with the choices for medical tape.  This will hopefully help you understand what 3M means by medipore, transpore, microfoam, etc. 3M makes high quality medical and surgical tape. More than likely, if you were in the hospital you have seen 3M tape. All the medical tapes listed in this article are hypoallergenic. They are not all latex-free. Different Types of 3M Medical …

Emergency preparedness is important for everyone.  Weather conditions can disrupt electricity, water, and shipping.  You should always have canned goods, flashlights, water, extra batteries, and an emergency radio on hand just in case.  But what if you have a medical condition, like an ostomy?  This brings a whole new reason for emergency preparedness.   Most people have their ostomy supplies delivered to their home directly from an online medical supply store.  When shipping halts due to impas …

There are standard wheelchairs and there are transport chairs, how do you know which one will best meet your needs?  The first step is, you need to determine how you will be using your new wheelchair or transport chair.  Will you be pushing yourself?  Which chair will work best for your budget?  Will a caregiver or family member be pushing you in the chair?  Another consideration is, how often will you be using your chair?Transport Chair Information:Transport chairs have small front and back w …

Express Medical Supply is celebrating their customers with FREE GIFTS!  Every order placed between February 9th - 13th will receive a free gift!  The free gift is for any order no matter how small and because this is such a great offer, supplies may be limited so substitutions may occur.  Each day will mean a new surprise gift!  Every night at midnight, the free gift will change, so each day is a chance for something new to be added to your order!  The gift is for all of our customers who place …