blister kits

[Douglas Simpson]

My feet are very happy right now yet I want to be prepared to care for them well if need be. Is there a "blister kit" available in the U.S. that contains all that I will need?

 

[Kanga]

I think most people make their own. Mine is just a needle, some sterile wipes and a bit of micropore tape.

 

[Stellere]

My mom bought me a blister pack from an outdoor store in Canada. I brought a few pieces of it with me - alcohol wipes, moleskin, blister pads (they looked a lot like compeed). Then I just bought more compeed as I went.

I didn't have major problems with blisters. During my walk I only had one small one on my heel, and the threat of one of my big toe. But I went through *a lot* of compeed because I shared with people that I met along the way. On day 2, I met a girl with awful weeping blisters in Larrasoana. Nobody - including the albergue, which I found quite surprising - had anything big enough to help her. After that, I stopped in a farmacia in Pamplona and started carrying gauze squares and tape, just in case I ran into anyone who needed it.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Make your own kit?

2 oz. alcohol
Sport Slick http://www.sportslick.com/
acquire Compeed as you need it -- there are so many sizes that you need a blister and location to get the right size and shape!

If you like to pierce the blister and potentially admit bacteria, add a needle and thread, which you can sterilize with the alcohol.

 

[dougfitz]

If you are worried about getting blisters, take some Micropore or similar tape, and tape your toes and other areas of concern as a preventative. If a blister starts to form, stop early and tape the area, or if it is more developed, use compeed. I also carry Fixomul or moleskin, and some iodine cream. I haven't drained blisters for many years - I find it preferable to leave the blister intact for as long as possible. If it eventually bursts, it can be treated like any other wound with the iodine cream, and covered with the Fixomul or moleskin.

I have also used Fixomul as a preventative measure under the sole of the forefoot, where it can be left in place for several days. I prefer strapping tape for the heel, but that should be applied in the morning and removed in the evening to allow the skin to breathe. If strapping tape is left on too long, it can lift the skin when it is removed - clearly not a desirable outcome.

The other element of any blister prevention regime are your socks and any lubricant you apply to your feet. Opinions vary, and there are many approaches that seem to work. My own approach is to wear a liner and outer sock, and treat the liner socks with an anti-fungal foot powder before putting them on.

 

[Leaniamath]

Would you put compeed over this or gauze and tape? I'm stuck in Hontanas because of this mess!!


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[Deleted member 3000]

Compeed. Try the oval shape. Clean it first, of course.

 

[northerngirl]

If there is a lot of moisture compeed will not last long and make wound more soggy. Gauze will stick, use a foam adhesive dressing will absorb moisture and give protective cushion. Good luck

 

[Deleted member 3000]

If there is a lot of moisture compeed will not last long

Compeed is wet wound technology, so it absorbs the moisture coming from an open blister. With a lot of moisture, it will come off, and you will need to apply a new one. The absorbed moisture forms a gel, which gives a protective cushion. A blister on the ball of the foot is a tough one to treat, by the way.

 

[Caminobd]

My husband had a blister in the same spot on both feet that would not heal and created a lot of discomfort until someone suggested he go to a farmacia and ask for vendajes de plata made by hansaplast. These are silver iodine band aides. Once he started using these, the blisters cleared up quickly. Good luck!

 

[dougfitz]

@Leaniamath - Compeed will be difficult to shape and place so that it seals, but could be your best option. If you have Fixomull, consider shaping a piece a cm or so larger than the Compeed so it keeps the Compeed patch in place. Cut the Fixomull so that it fits and lies flat between the toes and holds the Compeed in place. Avoid cutting the Compeed, although if it isn't sealing, it will be less effective anyhow.

 

[annelise]

The farmacias (and many of the albergues) are a treasure of knowledge along the CF - they have seen it all. - But for preventive measures I always put compeed on 'hot spots' prior to a blister coming out in full force.

It is worth the trouble to stop whereever you are if you feel one coming. So I personally never had any 'full-blown' ones. - And as Fitz said, let the compeed sit there until it comes off by itself (maybe fixated with a bit of help from another 'breathing' adhesive device).

annelise

 

[Kanga]

My husband had a blister in the same spot on both feet that would not heal and created a lot of discomfort until someone suggested he go to a farmacia and ask for vendajes de plata made by hansaplast. These are silver iodine band aides. Once he started using these, the blisters cleared up quickly. Good luck!

These or specialist patches made for leg ulcers and weeping wounds - I think the first farmacia you will come across after Hontanas is in Castojeriz. Get their advice. Until you get there I would pad and tape it. Compeed won't hurt for a short distance but is not going to fix it IMO.
To stop it happening again you could try Stephen Nichols' trick of a panty liner attached to the bottom of your feet. I haven't tried it yet but it makes sense. With clean dry feet, "put the panty liner on the floor, sticky side up. Then carefully position your foot over the liner so that the ball of the big toe and the base of the toes was lined up along the edge if the liner. Then press your foot down onto it. Then carefully put on your walking socks. You can use either the short or long liners: if you use the long ones, fold the ends over the top of your feet."