September Newsletter 2018

Charlotte County Ostomy Support Group
Website www.ccosg.org

A 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization, (tax deductible donations)

Officers

President: Jerry Downs……. 629-7568 email:fldowns@embarqmail.com

Vice Pres…Bonnie Coker 423-8542

Secretary: Lovelle Meester….637-8167 David
Sandora…..941.828-1076

Treasurer: Lorelie Gadbout 603-474-9063

Joan Huber………941.575-8708

Directors
Janice Creutzman;941-639-2370

Committees

Webmaster: Bonnie Coker

Newsletter: Gloria Patmore & Karen Chalfant

Programs & Education: Jerry Downs, Penny Maki, RNET,CWS, 205-2620
Gloria Patmore, 627-9077

Nancy Frank RN,BSN,CWOCN, 629-5118,

Marie Michel RN,CWCA, CHRN,OMS, 941-626-2607

Visitation: Nancy Frank BSN,CWOCN

Library: Karen Chalfant

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 (CCOSG)Oct newsletter
By Gloria Patmore RNET (retired?)

Next Meeting

Tuesday, October 9, 2018, 2:00 PM

South Port Square 23023 Westchester Blvd Port Charlotte Fl

Gables East 2nd floor alcove

Nancy Frank RN, CWOCN

chance Drawings

Phil’s$10

DSC05053

Morgan’s Café $10

Morgan-Street-Cafe--300x199

 

Peter’s $10

 

profile-pictures-album

Beef O’Brady PG $20

logo2

My niece who is deaf says, “Time goes by fly!” This is certainly true! As another friend has said, ”Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The nearer you get to the end, the faster it goes.”

The summer still seemed mighty long as we waited for the first meeting here in September. It was a delightful surprise when 25 showed up for this meeting. I do believe this is the largest September meeting we have ever had. I have been working with our group for over 30 years now and usually September had from 12-15 attend. Fortunately, it has been a slow Hurricane season, and there is a good possibility that has been part of the reason. Everybody is here in their home with no immediate threat hanging over our heads. What a blessing.

Something else worth mentioning as being very new is seeing Lorelie Godbout doing many of those chores that Karen Chalfant has been doing for many years. Don’t worry about Karen. She is okay but felt it was time for someone else to shoulder many of the responsibilities she had taken on. Not only is Lorelie able, but she is also willing! She is our new Treasurer and so much more. The signs were all in place, the library materials available, the name tags waiting to be filled out, the sign in sheet ready, and the library ready to use. The facility does help us, but it takes our involvement for them to know what we need.

Lets-RapOur meeting was a rap session, and everyone joined in with a lead from President Jerry Downs.
Among the discussions was the problem of getting supplies from mail order companies. It’s a help when you can share your frustrations with others, and find just what company is providing the best service. The subject came up of being sure you store your supplies in a cool dry place. Never keep supplies in the trunk of your car. Talk about hot and humid!

You need to keep your doctor’s prescription updated. You might need to have that prescription renewed yearly. Good idea to check with your supplier on the subject.

You don’t want to be caught short, but you don’t want a lavish supply just because Medicare “allows” it. Only order what you will use. Excess is just waste. There have been many people that have ordered as much as they could. Then we all wonder why the costs of Medicare is so high, and will it run out before our kids reach Medicare age? Keep your conscience clear and only order what you truly will use.

Then there is the unexpected situation where you experience skin break down and leakage and need more than the amount allowed. What then? First find out why you are breaking down and why the leakage. You might need to make an appointment with Nancy or Marie to solve what is going on. And you might need more supplies. Fortunately, we do have our Ostomy Supply closet in the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center in the Promenades. This is where we have been allowed use of shelves for supply donations. To make use of the supplies where you need to call me (Gloria Patmore 941-627-9077) or Jerry (941-629-7568) and we will contact the center and be given a time we can come in. There is much information available on our website. If you are with a computer you need to check us out. Past newsletters for the last couple of years can be read.

December download (1)meeting is  the Holiday Party 

Olympia Restaurant

download

 3245 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL 33952

 

Bring any extra supplies you might have sitting unused to our next meeting. Someone might be able to use them.ostomy_supplies

Our National magazine is really a must! We have extra copies available at every meeting and subscribe taking 2 each year. If you do subscribe however you will realize the articles and advertisements are well worth your time. In any case please borrow the magazines left out for you. Jerry’s story has been printed, and we also had a 100-year-old in our group whose story was printed as well. UOAA (United Ostomy Association of America) is our national organization. We are listed in the magazine so people can find us. Articles are sent to us to reprint as wish. We have many urostomates in our group so I felt the following worth reprinting.

 

Acidic Urine and its importance for Urostomates.

Urine odor from the urostomy pouch indicates possible infection.

More often this is due to stale alkaline urine residue (or poor hygiene) although some medications or foods will produce odor in the urine. Acidic urine tends to keep bacteria down, thereby reducing the incidence of infection, and decreases urine.  In chemistry “PH defines the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a substance. When food you eat is burned in the body it yields a mineral residue called ash. This ash can be either acid or alkaline in reaction depending on whether the food burned contains mostly acidic or basic ions. The reaction of urine can definitely be hanged by foods. Most fruits and vegetables actually give an alkalized ash and tend to alkalinize the urine. Meats and cereals will usually produce an acidic ash that will acidify urine.

By taking Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) one can acidify urine PH. The normal dosage is 20mgm 4x a day. Do not take the total daily amount all at once. Several doses a day give the best results. High alkaline urine may cause stoma stenosis (narrowing of the stoma opening) often caused by bacteria in alkaline urine. High alkaline may also cause blockage of urine and subsequent ureteral and kidney damage. Persons with urostomies should maintain acid urine with a PH of 5.5 to 5. This range can be determined by dipping Nitra zine (litmus) paper into a fresh (Not from the pouch) urine that has come directly from the stoma. (never take a specimen sample from the pouch itself). Stale urine is almost always alkaline.

How the ileostomy changes digestive function

(Sterling Area Ostomy Ass. Via Metro Maryland UOAA update 8/20 2014)

Some may wonder how it is possible to live without your colon. (Large intestine) The major functions of the colon and rectum are storing intestinal contents, absorbing water, and carrying waste to the outside of the body. Although these functions are necessary for you to live, they can be taken over by the small bowel.

The major function of the small bowel is to absorb nutrients. Enzymes released into the small intestine break food into small particles so that vitally needed proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals can be absorbed. These enzymes are present in ileostomy discharge and they will act on the skin the same way they act on foods. This why skin around an ileostomy must always be protected.intestine

When the colon is still present the food you eat will eventually reach the large intestine where it is stored and more water is absorbed. Many hours or even days later the mass is expelled through the anus as a formed stool. Peristalsis (muscle contractions ) pushes the contents toward the anus. When the stool reaches the rectum the need to empty the large intestine occurs and nerve pathways from the brain initiate the process of defecation.

The new ostomate at senior age

Because the population as a whole is living longer, greater numbers of people are suffering illnesses that require ostomy surgery. Problems the senior new ostomate may face include:

Fear of increasing dependence and non-acceptance by family.images

Family acceptance and support are essential for complete rehabilitation.

Unpreparedness for a stoma. Surgery may often be done as an emergency procedure and there is little time for an older person to adjust to this change in body image. Often the older person is confused after surgery because the hospital routine is foreign. Side rails are up and she/he are confined as though he/she is a child. It is in these circumstances that he/she gets acquainted with the ostomy.

Hard to manage stoma. Particularly when created during emergency surgery the stoma may be adjacent to a wound or done in haste and poorly positioned. Experienced ostomates and caregivers can and should work to teach the new ostomate acceptance and self-care. It might take extra patience. Ability to learn does not diminish with age, but speed of performance and reaction decline and it takes longer to learn new tasks. Advice: Allow the student to learn one task well before proceeding to the next one.

After removal of the colon and rectum, you no longer have the need or control. Unlike the anus, the stoma has no shut off muscle. Digestive contents pass out of the body through the stoma and are collected in an individually fitted drainable pouch which is worn at all times. Because the small intestine does not store and make intestinal contents solid the stool will never get thicker than toothpaste. However, the soft stool in the ileostomy pouch should not be confused with loose stool and diarrhea.

 

 

1 thought on “September Newsletter 2018

  1. I still enjoy reading your newsletter and keeping up with ongoings. WOW what a Sept. Meeting. Keep it up folks. My best to you all.
    Fran Wilson

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *