Next Program:
Charlotte County Ostomy Support Group's Holiday Party
December 13, 2011,
The party was held on our usual second Tuesday, at the Golden Corral Restaurant in Punta Gorda.
Since our treasurer was unable to attend, Karen Chalfant, our former treasurer, stepped right in, registering each arrival and accepting payment. It was a last minute request, and her willingness to help was typical of this loyal supporter. Thank you from all of us Karen.
Joan Huber chaired the party as she has done in years gone by, with her usual efficiency and cheerful manner. She was ready with her little pouch that held names of each person. As people checked in gifts for the exchange were put on display for each of us to see. Each name was placed in the pouch to be drawn for the gift exchange.
I, your president, Gloria Patmore, brought decorations for each table, adding to the festiveness of the room. A favorite was my jazzy Santa Claus who plays a trumpet, "Santa Claus is coming to town."
The Golden Corral gave us the room for the party free of charge and also gave us a gift certificate for a buffet for two to be used as a door prize.
Best of all was seeing 33 people show up for the party, when there had been no preregistration required. Joan had told the restaurant manager that we would have between 30 and 40, and we did. Attending was a new ileostomate, Margaret Bosiak. She had recently arrived from Canada and needed information about suppliers. What a wonderful way to begin her association with our group. She will be at our meeting in January when we return to South Port Square.
Present also were Geri and Bob Moore and Geri Perry attending today.
We had a 59th wedding anniversary being celebrated today by Roger and Fran Wilson. Fran has worked right along with Roger to help both our support group, and now Southwest Florida’s Group in Fort Myers. As has been proven time and again, an Ostomy involves not only the individual with the stoma, but their significant other as well. If a relationship falls apart after an individual has had this surgery, it was on shaky ground before the surgery. A relationship grows stronger many times when an ostomy has been done.
Also attending today was Gina Battle with her college aged daughter, Maya. Maya is on break and it allowed time for mother and daughter to share the occasion. Gina"s article appears in the "Phoenix" this month on page 36. Be sure to read it. If you do not subscribe to the magazine I strongly recommend that you do so. Of course you can borrow from the library since we have 2 subscriptions, but it is great to be able to use the magazines for reference. Another reason for ordering your own subscription is because 1/2 of the money is for support of the United Ostomy Association of America. (UOAA) They are very important to all of us. In unity there is strength.
We held a drawing for the 2 door prizes. Lita Bain was the winner for the Buffet for two at the Golden Corral, and Roger Wilson was the winner for the $20 gift certificate for Benedetto's
Art Richer and his wife Pat made it today. He has had a rough year but was all smiles. His wife helps him so very much. She maneuvers his wheel chair and gets him settled. I noticed that she filled his plate and got him set before she returned to the buffet to fill her own. They are such a cheerful pair, and spread joy to those around them.
Bonnie and Ross Coker were here and spreading joy in spite of the fact that they were fitting the party in between meetings that they needed to attend for their Chamber of Commerce in North Port. They were also leaving the day after our party to bring Holiday cheer to friends that are very lonely in Michigan.
Others present today are:
Travel News. The South West Regional Airport Security has asked for an education session for their security aiming to improve their techniques when dealing with an ostomate. Colostomates seem to have fewer problems than ileostomates and urostomates, and it does help avoid problems if you empty your pouch prior to passing through the gate. Howard has a committee that will work with security for the educational seminar that they will hold.
The moral of the story is that if you have abdominal changes due to weight gain you have viable choices with your pouching system to continue a high quality of life. You just need to implement these suggested changes. Your ostomy nurse can help you with these issues.
A urostomy patient can have normal GI XRays without any problems. Never allow anyone to put barium into your stoma. At times dye may be injected through a soft plastic catheter into a urostomy for retrograde and renal studies, often called an ileo-loop study.
Rule #5 Instructions
Rule#6 ALWAYS Communicate!!!!
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Town Hall of South Port Square, 23023 Westchester Blvd, Port Charlotte
Speaker: Dr. Larry Backle, DODDA,FACOEP,FAPWCA,CHM Wound Care Specialist
Chance drawings: $25 Santhino Family Restaurant, $20 Whiskey Creek, $15 Beef O'Brady's
She had told us it would be fun, and she was so right.
The food, as usual, was plentiful and outstanding. I admit I always overdo the desserts trying just a little taste of everything. The chocolate fountain with five choices of items to coat was in itself great temptation. There is such a tremendous variety of food that everyone was able to fill their desires.
Lita Bain has returned to her winter home here. It is Lita's son, Mark, who invented and is manufacturing the "Stomastifler", and advertising with us and in the "Phoenix". An article on new inventions features his product and some information about Lita on page 44 of the Dec. issue. I didn't know that Lita is a retired nurse. Read about Mark and the invention in the December "Phoenix".
Bonnie and Ross give much of themselves to many. She is President for the Sarasota Support Group and she saw to it that they had a wonderful Holiday party too. They had a covered dish party and a wonderful turn out. It is always amazing how a covered dish party can have such variety without much duplication. We were able to distribute "Goodie Bags" to people attending today, if they missed our Ostomy Fair in October. Bonnie and Ross had been responsible for attaining the contents of the bags, and Howard Weisberg, President of the Southwest Ostomy Support Group, had donated the bags. Bonnie is our Librarian and Director of our support group. She is also active with other organizations and she and Ross are manufacturers of C&S Ostomy Pouch Covers. They have ads in our newsletter and on our website and on page 61 in the December "Phoenix". Bonnie has been to many conferences with her husband Ross and has a great deal of knowledge of products and how to use them. Bonnie is a welcome resource for all of us. We are so fortunate that she has found time to include us in her busy life.
Rita McNamara, Tony and MaryAnn Ferlazzo, Richard Goddard, Edith and Jacob Lindesmith, Lovelle and Stan Meester, Phyllis and Charles Rodefeld, Jerry Perry, Betty and Bill Crandall, Mary and Jack Gilbert and Geri and Bob Moore.
Everyone that brought a gift took part in the gift exchange. I understand that this is called a "Yankee Swap" in some areas up north. Joan did a great job, except we didn't know how to end it when gifts were swapped many, many, times. We couldn't help but really get into it when two or three were trying to be the ultimate winner of an item that they really did want. I am proud to say that my contribution of my home made Christmas cookies was among the favorites. A small Foreman Grill and a beautiful string of beads were also among the favorites.
Our group demonstrated the true meaning of Christmas with the story that Gina Battle shared with me shortly after her return home from the party. She and her daughter had tried, and lost, in the attempt to win the plate of cookies and the Foreman Grill. As they started to leave the party the winner of the cookies gave them to Mayo. In the parking lot the winner of the grill gave this to Gina. How wonderful!! I am proud to be part of your group!
Edited by Bobbie Brewer, UOAA update 11/20/11
Most ostomates have used stoma paste at one time or another, and considerably more than 1/2 use it on a regular basis as part of their pouching system.
What is it? Technically, stoma pastes are skin barrier compounds manufactured by several companies. The paste is molded around stomas or skin surface irregularities, to provide additional protection and a uniform sealing surface around the stoma and under the wafer/barrier.
Stoma paste usually comes in a tube similar to tooth paste. Use sparingly (thin line).
The name of the compound (i.e.paste) does not accurately describe its application, and the manufacturers could have found a better name. It is not a glue, (as the name implies to some). It is not meant to adhere the wafer to the skin.
What does it do? When applied correctly, stoma paste provides an additional degree of protection around the stoma and on any exposed skin between the base of the stoma and the opening in the wafer/barrier. It can be used to fill any skin irregularities such as wrinkles, folds, scar tissue underneath the wafer. This will provide a smooth skin surface, for better adhesion and less chance of leakage. The easiest way to understand how stoma paste works is to compare it to the caulking compound used around your bath tub. It is used to fill in the voids.
edited by Bobbie Brewer UOAA update 11/20/11
The phantom rectum is similar to the phantom limb of an amputee. A person may feel their limb is still there. For ostomates it is normal to feel the need to evacuate.
This can occur years after the surgery. Explanation of this sensation helps the ostomate to understand it is a normal mechanism related to spinal nerve control. Simply stated, the nerves have innervated the rectum. This nerve is responsible for rectal continence and continues to respond even after the rectum has been removed.
If the rectum has not been removed one may also have this feeling and may pass mucous when sitting on the toilet. Some who have had the rectum removed say the feeling is relieved somewhat by sitting on the toilet and acting as if an evacuation is taking place.
Edited by B. Brewer, UOAA Update 11/2011
When you had your ostomy surgery the surgeon was allowed(according to your personal physiology) only so much moveable bowel in the construction of your stoma. Once that piece of bowel was pulled through your abdominal wall it was tacked down on the inside of the abdominal wall and on the outside of the skin. That length will remain constant throughout your life; therefore if the abdominal wall thickens; (i.e. with fatty tissue) the length of bowel used to create your stoma will not change to accommodate your increased girth.
A result caused from the fixed length of bowel which forms the stoma as the abdominal wall thickens is that when you sit or stand the changed position causes the abdominal wall to shift forward and down. The stoma segment prevents the peristomal skin from shifting as much as the rest of the abdomen. The limited movement results in a skin well around the stoma when you sit or stand. Skin adjacent to the stoma becomes quite mobile being pulled down and then flattened by your changing positions. This may cause problems having your pouching system adhere and may cause leaks.
1) Adjust your weight and return your abdomen to its shape before surgery. This could include exercising to firm your body as well.
2) Another common solution is to change to a convex pouching system. I have found that a skin barrier with a convex surface pushes the skin back and holds it stable relative to the stoma and works much better than flexible flat barriers.
Edited by B.Brewer UOAA update 2011
It is important that you as an ostomate know you should be handled differently as a hospitalized patient than non ostomates. It is up to you, and very important, to communicate to medical personnel who take care of you (Including every physician who treats you) that you have had an ostomy and what type. Here are some rules to help you cover the details.
If you feel something is being done or going to be done to you that might be harmful, refuse the procedure. Then explain to the personnel, especially your physician.
Take your own supplies to the hospital. Never assume the hospital will have your exact pouches or irrigation system.
Follow the points below concerning laxatives or irrigation practices, according to the type of ostomy you have. (medical personnel often assume all stomas are colostomies, but practices vary among types).
A transverse colostomy cannot be managed by irrigations. Only descending and sigmoid colostomies can be managed with irrigation. Even these do not have to be irrigated in order to function: many sigmoid colostomates prefer letting the stoma work as nature dictates. If you do not irrigate your colostomy let thet fact be known to your caregivers. If your physician orders your bowel cleared, irrigate your own colostomy; do not rely on others. There is a strong possibility that those caring for you will not know how to perform the irrigation. Take your own irrigation set up to the hospital.
If you have an ileostomy or urinary diversion ostomy neverallow a stomal irrigation as a surgical or XRay preparation.
Remember that laxatives or cathartics can be troublesome for colostomates, and they can be disastrous for an ileostomate. Ileostomates should always refuse them. The only prep an ileostomate needs is to stop eating or drinking by midnight the night before surgery. An IV should be started the night before surgery to prevent dehydration.
XRays present special problems for ostomates, again managed according to ostomate type. Colostomates: Never allow radiology technicians to introduce barium into your stoma with a rectal tube. It is too large and rigid. Take your irrigation set with you to XRay and explain to the technicians that a soft rubber or plastic catheter F#26 or #28 should be used to enter the stoma. Put a transparent bag on before going to XRay. Have the technician, or do it yourself, place the catheter into your stoma through the clear plastic bag. When enough barium is in your bowel for the XRay the catheter can be withdrawn and the open end of the bag closed. The bag will then collect the barium as it is expelled and can be neatly emptied after the procedure. Once the procedure is completed irrigate normally to clean the remaining barium from your colon. This will prevent having to take laxatives by mouth after the procedure.
An Ileostomate may drink barium for a procedure, but never allow anyone to put barium into your ostomy.
Take to the hospital two copies of instructions for changing and irrigating your pouch. Give one to your nurse for your chart and keep one with your supplies at your bedside. If you take supplies that are not disposable, mark them DO NOT DISPOSE.