Charlotte County Ostomy Support Group
October Newsletter
Website: www.ccosg.org
A 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization, (tax-deductible donations)
Officers:
President: Jerry Downs………….942-629-7568…. . fldowns@embarqmail,com
Vice President: Ken Aukett……609-315-8155
Secretary: Lovelle Meester….941-637-8167
Treasurer: Lorelie Godbout….. 603-474-9063
Directors: Janice Creutzman….910-382-1509
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
Next Meeting:
Tuesday, November 12, 2019, 2:00 pm
South Port Square
23023 Westchester Blvd
Gables East, 2nd Floor Alcove
Port Charlotte, FL
Program: Chance Drawings:
Paul Bixter, Hollister Rep
LongHorn $20
Joseph’s Deli $10
Pioneer Pizza $20
Panera Bread Pick Two
INTRODUCTION
My name is Lorelie Godbout and I am the new person taking over the newsletter from Gloria Patmore. She has done an outstanding job writing and getting the newsletter ready to publish and sent to your e-mail boxes and mailed to you for many years. She feels it is time for her to give it up. She asked me if I would be able to do it and at first, I thought I couldn’t do this. I thought about it long and hard and decided I would give it a try, so here I am. I still don’t know if I can do it as well as she. I am willing to try. She is helping me get started.
After I graduated from nursing school as an LPN, I worked a few years for a hospital in Berlin, NH as a medical-surgical nurse and pediatric nurse. In August of 1972, a year after Bob and I married, we moved to Tilton, NH where I had two daughters. We then moved to Seabrook, NH and I started working in a nursing home/skilled care facility in Hampton, NH. I worked on an Alzheimer’s unit, nursing home unit, and a skilled care unit. I kept up with my education throughout all these years and when I was in my 40’s I went back to school to get my RN degree. I also headed up the Fall Committee, which involved safety issues of residents to prevent falls.
After my husband and I retired we traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada on a motorcycle and later in a motor home trailing our motorcycle. We have also taken many ocean cruises through the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Alaska. We just did a cruise last year to the Mediterranean.
We moved here five years ago because my brother-in-law and his wife moved here and wanted us to be close to them. It took us a few years to decide. We now like it here and have settled in. Bob’s brother and wife have since moved back to NH.
I have a Urostomy. I was diagnosed with bladder cancer nine years ago this past August. I went through chemotherapy and had my operation in February of 2010. There were no problems until a few years ago. A minor skin problem developed that I was able to handle with the help of Nancy Frank, RN, BSN, CWOCN.
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
NEWSLETTER
At our October meeting, we had 26 attending to hear Dr. George Hoffman, retired Urologist who practiced in Texas. He and his wife moved here a few years ago to be closer to family.
Dr. Hoffman explained the procedure called a urinary diversion, Urostomy. There are several reasons why the bladder needs to be removed, the main reason being cancer. The ostomy is usually placed on the right-side halfway between the umbilical and the ileac crest. A midline incision is made and the bladder is first removed, then lymph nodes and the prostate/uterus and ovaries may also be removed. The Urostomy (ileal conduit) then involves connecting the ureters to a small section of the ileum. A stoma is created for the urine to pass into a pouch. Peristalsis keeps the urine flowing through the ileum and out through the stoma. Dr. Hoffman described how sometimes the stoma may need to be placed in a different area, because of factors that come up during surgery. Stoma location may also depend on the placement of the organs, if the ileum is healthy enough, if the patient has a lot of fatty rolls, and other factors. He mentioned that doing urinary diversion is one surgery, but may involve at least four other areas and can last from four to five hours. Dr. Hoffman explained that the stoma should stick out of the opening about an inch. If it lies too flat against the skin, there is a greater chance of leakage. Acidic urine can cause severe skin irritation around the stoma. My stoma was out a ways and I never had a problem, but after I gained some weight my stoma became smaller and receded. I had a few issues with leakage. Now I have the right appliance and have lost some weight, which is helping.
In some people, there may be issues with absorption of nutrients. Vitamin or calcium deficiencies are the most common. There may be no symptoms or a few symptoms. Check with your doctor about any questions you may have.
Ileostomy Absorption Concerns
UOAA Diet and Nutrition Care Guide, Edited by Bobbie Brewer, UOAA UPDATE 11/12
Due to the absence of the colon and often altered transit time through the small intestine, the type of medication taken must be carefully considered when prescribing for the person with an ileostomy. Medications in the form of coated tablets or time-release capsules may not be absorbed and therefore, no benefit received. A large number of medications are prepared this way. Before the prescription is written, the patient with an ileostomy should inform the physician of his concern.
If the medication required is available only in a certain form, and the coating would not be destroyed by stomach juices, then the tablet may be crushed between two spoons and taken with water. (Note: check with your pharmacist to determine if the pill should be crushed).
The best type of medication for the person with an ileostomy is either in the form of uncoated tablets or in liquid form. Although these are not the most palatable treatments, these dosage forms ensure that the medication prescribed will be absorbed.
After ileostomy surgery, never take laxatives. For a person who has an ileostomy, taking laxatives can cause a severe fluid and electrolyte imbalance.
Transit time varies with individuals. If food passes through undigested, be aware that this may be a sign that the nutrients are not being absorbed properly. Prolonged incidences of decreased absorption may lead to various sub-clinical or clinical nutritional deficiencies.
UOAA Diet and Nutrition Care Guide, edited by Bobbie Brewer, UOAA update 11/201 I found this article from United Ostomy Associations of America, inc and thought you may enjoy reading and maybe it may help with some questions you may have.
GIVING THANKS
November is the month to prepare for Thanksgiving and thinking about all the people and things in our life that we are thankful for. I know I am thankful for each new experience I have had over the past few years and how I have noticed how I am growing emotionally in many ways I never thought possible. I am thankful for the many people who have touched my life and have helped me along my journey. I am thankful for my family and close friends who have stood by me when things haven’t been easy. I am thankful that I can enjoy each day and rejoice in what happens each day, good or bad. I have learned and grown from the bad things and learned to appreciate the good. I have found that bad things pass and good things last.
Life is a long journey and sometimes it is not always easy, but if we have enough patience to see things through, we are usually rewarded in many ways. A positive attitude goes a long way to help overcome many trials.
Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
I want to say thank you to everyone reading this newsletter. If anyone can think of anything to add to future newsletters, please let me know and I will try to fit things in.
Sincerely,
Lorelie Godbout, Editor
