2012
RETURN
TO:
Home
Meetings
Office
& Board of Directors
Membership
Manufacturers
Links
Contact
Us
Journal
Online
ARTICLES:
A SINGLE MOM'S NEED FOR HER CHILD
CHAPTER MEMBER DUES
E-MAIL THIS NEWSLETTER TO A
FRIEND
ARTICLES:
A SINGLE MOM'S NEED FOR HER CHILD
While I was reviewing the UOAA’s Facebook on the internet, I came across a
posting from a mom, Sara, looking for something to help her three-year-old child
Alyssa, who has two ostomies. Her child went through multiple organ transplants
last year in December and is now fighting off rejection.
Sara wanted something to help support the pouching system but she could not find
anyone that made it in the exact size that would be comfortable. I contacted
her and suggested that we could make them for her and it would be at no charge.
She agreed.
I
contacted Hollister, Inc. and explained the situation and they agreed to send me
a sample to use for our project. Thanks you Hollister. My partner and I met,
and the Ostomy Pockets for the child was created, one with two snaps and one
with three snaps. We mailed them out to Sara and she tested them with great
success. The support they provided and the comfort helped Alyssa handle life’s
challenge a little better. She was very appreciative and while meeting with
other mothers at their clinic in UCLA, wanted to know where Sara obtained the
pockets.
Dear
Joe,
I am
so impressed with the ostomy pockets you sent
for Alyssa. They work wonderfully! The two snap pockets are a little bit more
convenient for time sake as little ones do not have a very long
attention span and it is so hard for them to
sit still. However, the three snap pocket provides a little more support if the
pouch becomes heavy.” Sara
On the 22nd of September, we received a note that Alyssa had passed
away. She put up a great fight but could not fight off the organ rejection.
CHEWING GUM AFTER BOWEL SURGERY
Most of
us that have had ostomy surgery know that after abdominal surgery the bowels
often become slow or even shutdown. Doctors sometimes call this phenomenon
ileus. When the bowels shut down, pain results with vomiting and abdominal
swelling. The patient may not even be able to eat or drink. We are required to
stay in the hospital until our bowels start working again.
The
study was conducted using 34 patients undergoing
bowel resections on the sigmoid colon for diverticulitis or cancer. It divided
the groups in two, half who chewed gum and half who did not chew gum after their
surgery. The gum-chewing patients had sugarless gum three times daily for one
hour at a time right after surgery until they were
released.
All of
the patients who chewed gum passed gas several hours sooner than the half who
did not chew gum, and they had their first bowel movements an average of 63
hours after surgery compared with 89 hours for those who did not chew gum.
Somehow, chewing stimulates nerves that promote the release of hormones
responsible for activating up the gastro-intestinal systems in our bodies. The
gum chewers were released from their surgery after
an average of 4.3 days versus an average of 6.8 days for the other patients.
Gum chewers also had fewer complications from surgery.
CHEWING GUM AFTER BOWEL SURGERY
CONTINUE YOUR SOCIAL LIFE WITH AN OSTOMY
EXERCISE: THE FINAL INGREDIENT IN OSTOMY MANAGEMENT
HOSPITALIZATION GUIDELINES FOR OSTOMY PATIENTS
INFECTIONS IN UROSTOMIES
MY DOCTOR SAID I HAVE A HERNIA
OSTOMY OBSERVATIONS
SOOOOOO - HOW DO I CLEAN THIS POUCH?
TEMPORARY OSTOMIES
UROSTOMATES & FLUIDS
VISITING A PATIENT WITH A TEMPORARY OSTOMY - A PERSONAL
REFLECTION
WHAT OSTOMATES SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DRUGS
A LETTER FROM OUR CHAPTER PRESIDENT
HELP WANTED
OUR LIST OF ADVERTISERS
A study by
published in the Archives of Surgery said that chewing gum after intestinal
surgery could help reactivate paralyzed bowels.
Editor’s Note: Those of us with GERD can greatly benefit from chewing gum. Many people with GERD have had relief from symptoms from just chewing gum all during the day. Many of these same people have virtually stopped using protein pump inhibitors to reduce stomach acid if they chew gum daily. Using these drugs over only a few weeks is very beneficial; however, these drugs do upset the natural flora in our body and over time induce serious side effects. People with GERD often are provided no other option. Chewing gum is that better option. The benefits of chewing sugarless gum for someone with GERD are miraculous!
CONTINUE YOUR SOCIAL LIFE WITH AN OSTOMY
Your social life can be as active as it was before surgery. restroom after eating, and nobody will think it is unusual if You can enjoy all activities: meeting people, attending concerts, sporting events, civic and social club meetings, parties, religious occasions, or whatever you enjoyed before. The first time you go out of the house after surgery, you may feel as if everyone is staring at your appliance, even though it is not visible under your clothing. You can feel your appliance on your body, but no one can see it. Keep these questions in mind: Did you know what an ostomy was or where a stoma was located or what it looked like before you had surgery?
F
or those with colostomies or ileostomies, you may also worry about your pouch filling with gas and sticking out under your clothing. A quick trip to the restroom can take care of this problem. If you are worried about your pouch filling up immediately after eating at a social event, remember that people without ostomies often need to go to the restroom after eating, and nobody will think it unusual if you do the same! You probably will find that you need to empty your pouch less often than you need to urinate.You may be wondering about your relationships with others. Now that you have an ostomy, you may feel that it will change your present relationships and decrease new opportunities for friendship and love. True friendships and deep relationships on any level are built on trust and mutual understanding. These qualities depend on you and other persons. You have the same qualities you had before surgery, and your ability to develop friendships is unchanged. If you
- via Green Bay, WI, The Pouch, N. VA & GB News Review
Return to Articles
Exercise has become fashionable" -- and that has probably
done more to put
people off it than anything else.
If the thought of
strobe lights, rowing machines and leotards gives you the shivers,
then take
heart. There are no end of easy, enjoyable ways to make yourself a little
stronger,
a little fitter. Just find the ones that are right for you.
Most
of all, don't overdo it. Even light exercise is good exercise - for joints, your
muscles,
your lungs and for your general sense of well-being. Gently does
it.
To begin with, don't confuse exercise with sports. There's more to
getting healthier than chasing
a ball around on a football field. Walking is
a great place to start.
Post-operatively, just walking to the next door
neighbors or to the end of the garden is fine.
When you begin to regain your
strength, try to walk more - both for pleasure
and as an alternative means of
transport. And when you do, walk briskly - so you get slightly out of
breath.
Gardening is great, too. Digging, weeding, hoeing and mowing can
constitute a superb day's workout.
And of course you'll have a showpiece
garden to show for it.
Wait for about 3 months after surgery before beginning
gardening.
You'll be surprised at bow quickly you feel the benefits. After a
few aches in the early
days, you'll begin to feel more supple, and be able to
do more without getting out of breath.
Doctor's orders - All doctors agree on
the benefits of exercise - but it's a good idea to talk to
your doctor before
starting an exercise program, especially if you're very out of practice or
if
you have other health considerations, like asthma or a hearth condition.
Your doctor will advise
you to take it easy to begin with and to enjoy
yourself. And you can't get better advice than that.
HOSPITALIZATION FOR OSTOMY PATIENTS
Remember that laxatives or cathartics by mouth can be troublesome for people with colostomies. For people with ileostomies, they can be disastrous—people with ileostomies should always refuse them. A person with an ileostomy will have diarrhea, may become dehydrated and go into electrolyte imbalance. The only prep needed is to stop eating and drinking by midnight the night before surgery. An IV should be started the night before surgery to prevent dehydration.
Rule 4 – X-rays
X-rays present special problems for people with ostomies, again, differently managed according to ostomy type:
Dr. R.B. Kelleck, Great Britain, Via Snohomish Insights
The new ileostomate may find it difficult to believe that life without a colon can be completely healthy. To understand this, one needs to know what is the normal function of the colon or large bowel which has been removed. This organ is only found in land animals and its major function is to absorb water from the food residue. When animals first moved from the sea to the land they moved from a world where water was plentiful to one where it might be very scarce and they adapted to this by developing the colon as one means of avoiding dehydration. The only other substance that is absorbed from the colon is salt. All the other things we get from our food and which we need for energy and health are absorbed from the small intestine which is unaffected by the usual operations for ulcerative colitis. People with an ileostomy get just as much food - whether carbohydrates, fats or proteins - as anyone else. The other function of the colon is to act as a reservoir for the waste products of the body until there is a convenient moment for disposing of them. This function is simply taken over by the pouch whether external or internal.
By Renard Narcaroti
It is very common from our experience at the Chapter that when people come home after having ostomy surgery that there will be a brief period of grief and mourning. However, you should only have this feeling for a short period. . . it should only be temporary. As you once again return slowly to an active lifestyle, you will be transformed to the person you once were before the surgery or the disease/circumstances that brought you to this point. If depression lingers or is severe, this is not normal. You should see your doctor. He/she can help you with these feelings. Often they are caused by the shock of surgery to your system, the psychological adjustment to being well or a chemical imbalance. Your doctor has ways to help you so that you may be back to yourself once again.
If you have an ostomy, you should learn all you can about it, not only for your own sake, but also for the sake of setting a good example and being able to advise others with an ostomy. You will at sometime have the opportunity to educate someone about this life saving surgery and alleviate his/her fears. Never, ever, be embarrassed about having an ostomy. You will be amazed at how many people will truly admire your for the courage you show in adapting to the ostomy. Remember, there are very few, if any, people who never have any medical problems during their lifetimes.
While you are learning about your new life, know how to change your ostomy system. New people regularly come to our meetings and tell us that they have someone else change their pouch. . . this always surprises us. This may be acceptable for a brief time, while one recuperates, and it is good for a family member to know how to change it in an emergency. Nevertheless, not to do it yourself is equivalent to a normal person not wanting to sit on the toilet and do his/her business by himself/herself. This habit needs to be changed in order to have a better quality-of-life and to adapt to changing circumstances, i.e., when nobody else is around.
Be proud of your ostomy. Do not act as if by owning an ostomy that you are less of a person or somehow a less complete person. You are just one of the sporty new front-end exhaust models.
Develop a support system of people you can count on to assist you with ostomy issues. Your ostomy nurse, your friends and relatives, and your local ostomy support group are proven ways that work. There are over a half-million of us in the United States, you are far from alone. Most importantly, we are very glad to be alive. For most of us, the alternatives for not choosing ostomy surgery would have resulted in our deaths.
Another observation from talking to our members is that we Americans seem to like to compete with ourselves to wear our ostomy systems as long as possible. Why do we do this? There is no prize given for the longest wear time. We have one member who would wait until he had a leak before he changed his ostomy system. We vigorously tried to persuade him that it is better to have a regular routine, e.g., using the best practice of changing one's ostomy system every three to four days. Having one accident is so much worse than changing it at regular, responsible times that this should never even be considered an option.
The number one concern with people about to have ostomy surgery is odor, according to multiple surveys performed by ostomy nurses. Know this; we have less of a problem with odor than normal people do. Modem pouching systems are completely odorproof when closed. Under clothing, people with ostomies absolutely have fewer parts exposed to make odors then normal people. Everybody creates some odors in the bathroom -- just like you and me.
Another observation published by recent medical studies is that we will stay healthier when we exercise regularly -- than means at least a half-hour every single day -- as long as this is safe for you to perform. We must also consume a low fat diet and drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. If you have an ostomy and do not drink enough water, you are asking for trouble.
Advances in surgery and drug therapy have provided us an opportunity to experience a "second cha6ce" at life. If we lived in many other countries, or before WWII, we would probably be dead right now. However, we are not. We are alive and well. Be happy, you have been given a new life.
by Nancy Brede, RN, ET, Via The Pouch, The New Outlook, Chicago
Permanent ostomies are created with
the intent that the ostomy surgery will not be
reversed - usually the anatomy
in the gastrointestinal or
urinary system has been removed. Permanent ostomy surgery is usually performed
when disease or injury prevents maintaining the anatomical structures
needed for reversal.
A large number of temporary ostomies involving the colon are done on an emergency basis. The colon becomes obstructed or blocked, and stool cannot pass through. Because of the emergency nature of the surgery, the bowel cannot be cleaned and prepared ahead of time. Reversals
Cancer of the colon with obstruction - or other abdominal cancer affecting the colon. Hirschsprung's disease, a disorder or malfunction in infants that prevents the passage of stool. Due to a lack of nerve cells in certain areas of the large intestine, stool is not moved through and an ostomy is necessary. Diverticulitis, a small out-pouching in the wall
Persons with temporary ostomies
face many of the same problems permanent ostomates have. It's just as important
for them to have support, reassurance, and teaching as it is for persons with
permanent ostomies. They must learn proper skin care, stoma care, and pouching
techniques. Often, stomas are not ideally situated on the abdomen, because of
the urgency of the surgery. Thus, pouching and skin care can post difficult
problems.
Following temporary surgery, measures need to be taken to improve the patient's health. He /she must be in the best
People with urinary diversion no longer have a storage
area, a bladder, for urine.
Therefore urine should flow from the stoma as
fast as the kidneys can make it.
In fact, if your urinary stoma has no
drainage for even an hour, it is time for serious concern.
The distance from
the stoma to the kidney is markedly reduced after urinary diversion
surgery.
Any external bacteria have a short route to the kidneys.
Since
kidney infection can occur rapidly and be devastating, prevention is
essential.
Wearing clean appliances and frequent emptying are vital. Equally
important is adequate fluid intake,
particularly fluids which acidify the
urine and decrease problems of odor.
In warm weather, with increased
activity, or with a fever, fluids should be increased to make up for
body
losses due to perspiration and increased metabolism. It is important
that you be aware of the symptoms
of a kidney infection: elevated
temperature, chills; low back pain; cloudy, bloody urine; decreased urine
output.
All ileal conduits normally produce mucus threads in the urine
which give it a cloudy appearance.
Bloody urine is a danger signal. Thirst is
a great index of fluid needs. If you are thirsty, drink up.
Also develop the
habit of sampling every time you pass a drinking fountain.
Important - if
urine is collected for urinalysis, called C&S, sterile specimen,
checking
urine for infection, etc., be sure your doctor and nurse know that a
sterile
specimen, must be taken directly from your stoma and not from the
pouch
Bacteria builds up in the pouch immediately. It will give false test
results .lf they are
not sure how to do this, do the following: remove
your pouch; clean the stoma;
bend over; catch the urine in a sterile cup. If
there is a slow flow of urine being expelled;
drink a glass or two of water -
the kidneys will work. Urostomates who do not use a night
drain are running a
big risk of puddling and the backing up of urine into the conduit up to the
kidneys.
This may cause not only irritation but serious infection. . .
from Regina (SK)
Newsletter; via S Brevard (FL) Ostomy Newsletter
As a certified visitor with
the local ostomy chapter, I have had many occasions over the years to visit
patients who have just undergone surgery that left them with a temporary ostomy.
Usually a temporary ostomy is done on an emergency basis, as the result of a
blockage or obstruction in the colon. This may be the result of diverticulitis,
colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn's disease, and the result is a
temporary ostomy to allow the bowel to heal. The intent is to reconnect the
bowel at a later time, and many patients are told by the attending physician to
expect to have an ostomy for anywhere from three to nine months.
My first thought as I headed
off to visit a patient with a temporary ostomy was that this would be a piece of
cake, and the visit would involve lots of questions about management of the
ostomy. I also figured that the patient would be greatly relieved knowing they
would not have to deal with an ostomy on a permanent basis. Boy, was I
wrong!
This particular patient was
angry beyond all belief, upset with what had happened to her and definitely not
prepared to deal with anything as disfiguring as a colostomy. To be sure, she
wasn't angry with me, but the medical profession as a whole suffered her wrath
and it was quite evident that the nursing staff gave her a wide berth. She was
NOT going to like this ostomy thing! Not having encountered this kind of
reaction before, I wasn't exactly sure how to proceed, but I found myself
listening to her frustrations and empathizing with her situation. This calmed
her somewhat and she told me that I was the first person who had not treated
lightly her fears about the ostomy. She felt people did not take her seriously
because hers was only a temporary situation.
The visit actually went fairly
well after that and although she was still angry with many things, I left
feeling that she would manage her colostomy quite well in the short period of
time she would have it. It impressed upon me that people with temporary ostomies
struggle with the same fears and anxieties that all of us who have permanent
ostomies do. In addition to this, because the surgery is done on an emergency
basis, they have absolutely no time to prepare themselves for the eventual
outcome, the ostomy.
Do I sound like an all-knowing
and understanding saint?? Well, I don't feel like one on some of these visits.
In general, I find most persons who have just had surgery resulting in a
temporary ostomy to be very upset and unusually angry. They just hadn't expected
this! I am sympathetic, as mentioned before, but the thought also crosses my
mind, "Deal with it!" Recently, I paid a visit to a woman who, after her
emergency surgery, asked me how I could tolerate having a permanent ostomy! At
that moment it seemed bizarre that I should be counseling her when I am the one
who has to live with this thing on a full-time basis. She could look forward to
a reversal. On the other hand, hard as it may sound, her comment actually helped
me and I didn't have to hesitate a second for the answer. I know I cope with it
because I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my surgery for colorectal cancer. I
was 37 at the time and I suppose I had every reason to be angry but I wanted so
desperately to live. The surgery and colostomy gave me a second chance at life,
for which I am grateful.
I would like to be able to
remind some of the people who have to live with temporary ostomies that their
surgery likely saved their lives too, and that a few months is really not such a
long time to live with an ostomy. But I also have to remember how very
frightening this surgery is and how it is still considered such an awful thing
to have an ostomy. Despite our attempts to educate the public about the normal
lives we lead, who among us wouldn't choose not to have an ostomy? So I
internalize my thoughts and sympathize and try to make the patient feel better
about coping with their new situation. But a question still lingers: Why do some
people marvel at their good fortune while others retreat into anger and disgust?
We humans are a complex lot.
WHAT OSTOMATES SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DRUGS
Via St. Paul PacesetterLiquids are faster acting than pills or gel caps. The degree of compression of a tablet determines the rate that medicine is dissolved in one's system. Vitamins should be taken on a full stomach or else they will irritate the lining of the stomach and produce the sensation of feeling hungry. The amount of absorption is based on the amount of intestines still intact; therefore, the type of drugs taken must be in accordance with how much absorption "power" you have. Time-release capsules are NOT for the ileostomate. Time release medicine will completely dissolve at once if alcohol is consumed with it or shortly afterwards. Most medication is available in a variety of forms. Be sure to tell your pharmacist that you have an ostomy so he or she can provide the right form of prescribed medication. The following precautions are offered to avoid food and drug interactions that can reduce the effectiveness of prescription drugs.
. Don't mix medicine into hot beverages. Heat can destroy or alter drug ingredients.
. Don't stir medications into food which can destroy the release mechanism of certain drugs.
. Real all directions, warnings and precautions about your medication.
The Philadelphia Ostomy Association and satellite support group the Abington Ostomy Support-Group are completely-voluntary organizations;
none of our officers, board members or visitor's to new ostomates receive any remuneration for their time or efforts. Our mission to help in the psycho-social rehabilitation of ostomates of all types, will continue, unaffected by whatever happens to the national organization -- The United Ostomy AssociationOur chapter is in great need of people who are willing to volunteer some of their time to assist our Officers and Board of Directors in the tasks necessary in keeping our chapter functioning. Many of these folks work full-time jobs and have families and other responsibilities, which also demand their time, and yet they continue to take on added responsibilities to keep the chapter going and to better serve you, our members. Many of us have reached, or are rapidly approaching, the point of frustration. Our Visitor Coordinator has already resigned.
Some of you have been approached at our meetings or by phone and asked if you would be willing to help us out, but we haven’t gotten many positive responses. As a chapter with over 200 members, we do not want to have any more of our “workers” reach their “burn-out” point. None of us want to see the chapter fold because there is no one willing to accept the responsibilities of keeping things going. Would you please give some serious thought to the support, information and friendships our chapter has provided for you, and consider stepping up and volunteering to take a more active role? People are needed to help with the Visitors’ Program, the Help Hotline, programs for our meetings, and the Regional Conference being planned for November.Contact any of the Officers or Board of Directors and let us know that we can count on your help. Thank you!
CHAPTER MEMBER DUES
THE PHILADELPHIA OSTOMY ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. BOX 14343
Philadelphia, PA 19115
Dear Chapter Member:
It is time once again to renew your support to the Philadelphia Ostomy Association, Inc. Your dues help support all of our local activities, bi-Monthly meetings, the publication of The Journal, our visitation program, the state advocacy program and our website at: http://www.philaost.org
Our current dues are $15.00 a year. I am asking for this minimum contribution. All of your contributions are tax deductible.
For this small amount of money, you will be helping new and future ostomates as well as help our organization remain strong and viable. Following the program, time is devoted to speaking with other ostomates or consulting with the professionals with any questions you may have.
In addition to attendance at meetings, there are other ways you can actively participate. You may be interested in serving on one of our committees. We invite you to contribute your special talents!
Local dues support the following services:
- Visitor Programs
- The Journal (our chapter newsletter)
- Our Chapter Website,
http://www.philaost.org
and Journal Online
-
Educational and support group meetings –
discussions about
self-care, psycho-social
issues, rap sessions and sharing
of
personal tips
- Social events
like our May Vendors’ Fair
and Stoma Clinic
- National
Networks – Continent Diversion (CDN), GLO, Parents’ Network, Teens,
Young Adults (YAN) and 30 Plus
Thank you very much for your participation and support.
Sincerely,
Sheldon Sokol
President
Philadelphia Ostomy Association
OUR ADVERTISERS
This
space can be rented!!! Please
contact: www.philaost@hotmail.com RETURN TO:
This site is supported in part by the following
Advertisers:
Home
Meetings
Office &
Board of Directors
Membership
Manufacturers
Links
Contact Us