Charlotte County Ostomy Support Group
March Newsletter
Website: www.ccosg.org
A 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization, (tax-deductible donations)
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 Creutzman….910-382-2509
David Sandora….941-828-107
Committees:
Newsletter: Lorelie Godbout
Programs & Education: Jerry Downs,
Gloria Patmore, RN (retired)……..941-627-9077,
Nancy Frank, RN, BSN, CWOCN ……………….941-629-5118,
Marie Michel RN, CWCA, CHRN, OMS……. 941-626-260T
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, OMS
Charlotte County Ostomy Support Group Newsletter for March 10, 2020
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He lived from 385-461 AD. Saint Patrick’s day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by many Christian Churches around the world. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It also celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Legend says that Saint Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish Pagans.
Our speaker at our February meeting was Nancy Frank, RN, BSN, CWOCN. She works at Fawcett Wound Management & Hyperbaric Medicine in Port Charlotte. She has been there for 25 years and has many more years of experience in wound care management.
Nancy discussed Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for wound care, Pyoderma Gangrenosum and Fecal Microbiota transplant.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:
It involves exposing the body to 100% oxygen at a pressure greater than normal. Exposing a wound to 100% oxygen may speed healing. It is used for serious infections and wounds that won’t heal as a result of radiation injuries, infections, burns, crush injuries or diabetes.
Nancy discussed different types of chambers used to deliver the oxygen. One chamber can accommodate more than one patient. If more than one person is using the chamber they have to have the same amount of treatment. Most places have a monoplace chamber. This can fit one patient. The person can speak to the therapist and the therapist can observe the patient and talk with the patient throughout the procedure. The session will last from 30 minutes to 2 hours. The patient can be in a prone or reclining position.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum:
Pyoderma gangrenosum is a condition that causes tissue to become necrotic leading to ulcers and chronic wounds, commonly on the leg. It is very rare (fewer than 20,000 cases per year in US). It starts off as a small red bump and then develops into a large open sore and is very painful.. These painful sores (ulcers) develop on the skin–often on the legs. The exact cause is not known. Pyoderma gangrenosum requires treatment
reduce inflammation, controlling the pain and controlling the underlying disease. It is attributed to immune system dysfunction. It is associated with autoimmune diseases such as ulcerative colitis, crohn’s disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. A characteristic of pyoderma gangrenosum is pathergy, which means that new skin trauma, such as a wound or cut, can trigger new ulcers. The disorder itself cannot be prevented but formation of new ulcers can be prevented by avoiding injury or any other form of trauma to the skin. There is no specific treatment that is uniformly effective for all patients of the disease. Systemic or topical medication and good wound care are important. Systemic Corticosteroids are used as the main treatment. Immunosuppressants are used as an adjunctive or alternative therapy to systemic corticosteroids. Depending on the drug they can be taken orally, injected or applied to the wound. Antibiotics are started before the correct diagnosis. They are continued if secondary wound infection or surrounding cellulitis is present. They are not required for uncomplicated pyoderma gangrenosum. Skin grafting is attempted only after the ulcer starts healing, because trauma can trigger new ulceration. Diagnosis is made by culture. A biopsy may be necessary to rule out other causes of ulceration.
Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT):
FMT is a treatment for diarrhea that is caused by the Clostridium difficile bacteria. Stool from a healthy donor is screened for parasites and other pathogens, diluted, cleaned with saline solution, strained, and implanted into the patient’s colon. This may be a cure for some people with the most worrisome gastrointestinal disorder–C-Diff infection and treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Here is an article I found in a UOAA newsletter. I thought it may be helpful to some of us. I know it will help me, because I like to dress up, especially when I go on cruises.
FEELING GREAT IS ALWAYS IN FASHION
Living with 2 Ostomies Since 1974
Jearlean Taylor has never known life without an ostomy. She has had two ostomies (colostomy and urostomy) since she was just two years old. But with the support of her family and her own inner drive, she triumphed to become a successful model, author and businessperson. Here she shares her story and offers ostomy fashion tips that work—both on and off the runway.
DRESSING UP AND LOOKING GREAT
Maybe you don’t want to be a fashion model. Maybe you just want to look good at your friend’s party this weekend. Here are some practical fashion tips Jearlean learned from the modeling business that work in everyday life, too. When in doubt, try it on. “Maybe not every outfit will work for your ostomy, but something will. If you like something, try it on. You may be surprised.” You can make anything fashionable. “Sometimes I throw on a scarf with an outfit. I might put a belt around my waist. Even when it may seem strange or crazy, I put an outfit on to see if it makes me feel confident.”
Find the right jeans.
“A lot of people want to get back in their jeans again. If you’re anxious to get back into jeans right after surgery, try maternity jeans; they stretch and put less pressure on your pouch as you get comfortable with your ostomy.”
Fashion-friendly wraps.
“Some ostomy wraps have a pocket on the inside that securely fits your pouch and keeps it flat against your abdomen to help relieve the pressure of your pouch filling. This is helpful when you’re wearing certain kinds of clothes.”
Feel good about yourself.
“No matter who you are, you’re beautiful. You’re carefully and wonderfully made. You’re a designer original. There’s nobody like you.”
Editor’s note: This educational article is from one of our digital sponsors, ConvaTec. Sponsor support along with donations from readers like you help to maintain our website and the free trusted resources of UOAA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Jearlean Taylor wrote a book of her life “Pretty Girl Blues”. Website prettygirlblues.com
If anyone has any ideas for future articles let me know.
Lorelie, lagodbout@centurylinknet
