April 2023 Newsletter

Newsletter for April 2023

Officers:

President: Jerry Downs 941-629-7568 fldowns@embarqmail.com
Vice President: Ken Aukett 609-315-8115
Secretary: Lovelle Meester 612-240-2175
Treasurer: Lorelie Godbout 603-474-9063
Directors: Janice Creutzmann 910-382-2509
David Sandora 941-828-1076

 

Committees:

Newsletter: Lorelie Godbout
Programs & Education: Jerry Downs,
Gloria Patmore, RNET (retired) 941-627-3077
Nancy Frank, RN, BSN, CWOCN 941-629-5118
Marie Michel, RN, CWCA, CHRN, OMS 941-626-2607
Visitation: Nancy Frank, RN, BSN, CWOCN
Library: Lorelie Godbout, RN (retired)

 

Professional Advisors:

John P. Rioux, MD, F.A.C.S.
Nancy Frank, RN, BSN, CWOCN
Marie Michel, RN, CWCA, CHRN, OM

A 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization, (tax-deductible donations) Website www.ccosg.org

 

 

 

 

 

April 4, 2023

Happy Easter and Arbor Day!

 

Next month’s meeting is at the Golden Corral in Punta Gorda on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. Cost is $10.00 per person.

     On March 7th, we met at the Golden Corral in Punta Gorda.  There were nine attendees.  Marie Michel, RN, CWCA, CHRN, OMS, Inpatient Ostomy, and Wound Care Specialist from Shore Point Health was our speaker.  She discussed the program that she helped set up for patients that would be undergoing ostomy surgery.  The patient would have pre-surgery consultation, be seen post-surgery, and have office visits set up with the Ostomy Nurse after going home. This program is set up to help the patient come to terms with their new normal.   Having to have an emergency ostomy surgery can be traumatic and life-changing, but with the right resources and support from family, support groups, and the health community patients can feel good about themselves and find they can do everything they did before and with less pain and stress.  She also mentioned she is seeing younger people with bowel problems and having to have ostomies.  She discussed carrying an extra pouching system in case you have a leakage.  It does happen to almost everyone at some time, and you may have to go to the restroom and change your appliance so it is always good to carry an extra bag.

She discussed that there are some nurses that are interested in becoming ostomy and wound care nurses and going on to further their education. She is also teaching her assistant how to help patients with ostomy problems.   

 

 CALLING ALL OSTOMATES, YOU’RE INVITED TO H-TOWN!!

 

 

Come one, come all to Houston, TX, for the 8th United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) National Conference!

From August 10-12, 2023, UOAA and the fourth largest city in the United States is opening its arms to welcome ostomates from all over the country for three full days of fun, learning, advocacy, and unity.

Leave your worries behind and imagine a learning vacation where you can be surrounded by new ostomy friends who have been in your shoes.  The only thing you’ll need to do is have an open mind and have some fun.

 

THE LUXURIOUS ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL

 There are lots of places to go in the Uptown area but The Royal Sonesta Galleria itself offers enough that you never even need to leave its luxurious ambiance.  It has four restaurants, a coffee shop, a fitness center, an accessible swimming pool, a hot tub, and, if you do want to head somewhere, a free shuttle service to points of interest within 3 miles (ADA transportation available upon request.)  You can bring your pet too!

What could be better than finishing a fun-filled day at the conference by hanging out with new friends and old acquaintances without having to go anywhere?  Just gather around in the lobby area, sit together at a restaurant (enjoying a meal, a special drink, or just a glass of water), or hang out at the pool and talk the night away sharing stories and experiences with ostomates from all over the country.

You’ll want to stay through Saturday night and get some dancing boots to wrap up the event with music, desserts, and country line dancing lessons. 

     

 The above information is from UOAA web site

 

 

 

HAVING THE GUTS TO GET A BLACK BELT

CASSANDRA KOTTMAN’S STORY 

I started Shaolin Kempo Karate back in 2012.  I had trained in Shotokan  Karate in high school and really wanted to get back into martial arts.  I’ve struggled with ulcerative colitis since I was 12 and staying active always seemed to help. My UC was still severe and I was in and out of the hospital quite often, so training was still a struggle. Eventually, my colon ruptured in 2016, and I was rushed to the ER and had to have an emergency colectomy.  I was in pretty bad shape and almost didn’t make it, even after the procedure. I was bedridden for about 9 months and on TPN for almost half of that dealing with the symptoms of pancreatitis. 

I slowly got back on my feet.  The whole time nurses were telling me that I wasn’t going to be able to live a normal life and that I couldn’t do martial arts or many other kinds of activities. It was a very depressing time.  Fortunately, I thought to ask my surgeon what kind of limitations I was going to have.  She was so positive and let me know of another one of her patients who was a professional water skier, and the precautions he took to get back into his sport.  That same day I went and ordered an ostomy guard, and foam to make a belly pad, and texted my karate instructor to let him know I was coming back in.

My first class was absolutely horrible.  All my muscles had atrophied.  I did 3 stationary “jumping jacks.”  Basically, I lifted my arms over my head three times and that was all I could manage. I almost passed out and ended up lying on the floor watching everyone else for the rest of class.  I kept going back and pushed myself a little more every week.   It took a good year and a half to get back to “normal.”

Because of the trauma I had gone through and my passion to continue training, I was inducted into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame as 2017’s Woman of the Year.  Happy to say I am the first ostomate to ever be inducted.  It’s a little weird to say, but I actually inspired myself, knowing everything I had gone through, and that I pushed myself to be my best. So, I continued to push my training to where I was able to train 3-4 hours 5 times a week.  In 2018, I was invited to perform for the Abbot and test for my black belt at the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, China, which was a tremendous honor.

 

So, on November 6th, I took the test. Six intense hours of high-intensity drills, sparring and defense maneuvers against fists, knives, and clubs.  I could barely move the next day, but it was all worth it because I passed.  It really is a good feeling, and I’ve impressed myself with how hard I can push myself.

I still deal with day-to-day issues like hydration, or general fatigue, but overall, everything is manageable.  If I have learned anything it’s that you need to listen to your body, and if there is something you really want to do, you can find a way to make it happen.  It might not be the way everyone else is doing it, but all that matters is that it works for you.

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

The above article is from UOAA web site

 

 

 

 Tips and Tricks

1. If you are staying overnight, consider carrying a “chuck pad” plastic backing) for your peace of mind.
2. Always carry an extra replacement pouching system in case you spring a leak while away from home.
3. Carry an extra pouch closure (clamp) in your pocket or purse–just in case you drop one. Or keep a few rubber bands in your wallet( could be a lifesaver).
4. If you do not use pre-cut wafers—try using a small seam ripper (for fabric) for cutting the size you need for your barrier wafers.
5. Don’t expect to get the same wear time in the summer months.
6. Put skin prep around in the inner edge or cut edge of the wafer to help prevent the wafer from “melting” away.
7. Ziplock sandwich bags are useful and odor-proof for disposing of used ostomy pouches,

The above information is from the Clearwater Ostomy Support Group Newsletter.