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September 2009 Last
Month’s Meeting
We had a perfect day to enjoy the last general meeting of the summer. To add to the festivities, Mike and Rhoda Gordon celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary August 27, the day of our meeting. Not only that, but Jane was able to join us at the meeting to celebrate her birthday on this same day. We enjoyed a wonderful time. We had special visitors from Hollister, Inc., Sonia Gonzalez, Nate Neau and Jeff Teiwes. They all are involved with actively providing solutions for ostomy concerns to people who have challenges in managing their pouching system. They are specialists in ostomy care, and we are always grateful when they visit us and share that cutting-edge knowledge. Our featured speaker for this evening was Alan Sear from Mark Drug Medical Supply. They are one of the premier retailers of ostomy supplies in the greater Chicagoland area. One of the added values they bring to their clients includes the expertise they share with people with ostomies that have special needs. For instance, if an ostomy nurse recommends to a patient that a hernia belt may improve his/her quality-of-life, he/she could send them over to Mark Drugs to be personally fitted. They provide many services such as this to serve personally the ostomy community. Alan showed us some of the new products that people have been purchasing along with a demonstration of how they work. He, along with our visitors from Hollister, Inc., talked about the very high quality of products being produced and encouraged our members to explore some of the new options available. You see, many of us with ostomies tend to use the same products year after year. We become very myopic and do not see better possibilities for ourselves. One of the advantages to coming to our monthly meeting is to see and explore the new product offerings along with how they may serve us. Alan also talked about the new competitive bidding process instituted by Medicare in ever-increasing product categories. This is a most important issue for everyone who uses medical services. Stay tuned for the dope on how this new process for providing medical supplies to patients will affect you. Unfortunately, the free market system providing the individual choices you and your doctor can now make for servicing your health needs is being replaced with a rigid system designed to save a few pennies yet greatly reduces your choices. The
parking situation at Lutheran General has your board considering different
meeting options for 2009. We are
thinking of having a bi-monthly get together at Tiffany’s Restaurant on We would
like you to know that The Cancer 2008 Meeting Dates September 24—Madelene Grimm, WOCN, “The Gas We Pass—living beyond
the child's story
book.” October 22— December 10 ( Southwest Suburban The Southwest Suburban Chicago Ostomy
Support Group is an entirely volunteer ostomy association dedicated to the
mutual aid, education and moral support of people with ostomies and their
families. Meetings are held at 7:30 PM
on the third Monday of each month throughout the year, except July, August,
December and January. For information regarding this special
ostomy group serving A new ostomy support group has formed at
They meet every other month on Thursdays about 1:00 PM at 901 W. Kirchoff in the Diabetics
Exercise Room on the first floor.
This building is located on the hospital grounds at the west end. It is easiest to enter from 2008 Meetings October 9 December 11 Frank Talk
about The
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University is collaborating
with the Wellness Community to host a free workshop for patients, family
members and caregivers titled Frankly Speaking about Colorectal Cancer.
The program provides support,
education and hope to people affected by colorectal cancer and their loved
ones. Its purpose is to provide the
tools and confidence needed to be able to discuss colorectal cancer with
healthcare providers as well as friends and family. A boxed dinner will be provided for all
pre-registered guests. Featured speakers and exhibitors include: Mary Mulcahy, MD—GI Medical Oncologist Lynne Wagner, PhD—Director, Supportive Oncology Program Candace Henley— When: September 18, 2008, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Where: Prentice Women's
Hospital—Third Floor Conference Area, 250 E. Registration: Registration is
encouraged, simply call 312-908-5250 or cancer@northwestern.edu 86866) Additional Information: ·
Boxed dinner
provided for all registered guests · Discounted parking will be available at the Huron/St.
Clair garage
To Order Call 1-800-826-0826 Urostomy Concerns Circulated by ostomy publishers in the Germs are all over the
world. Nevertheless, when they are in
the urinary tract, either in the conduit, the
ureters or the kidneys . . . they are in an abnormal location. This is what causes a urinary tract
infection. What causes infection? Mostly, the reasons are unexplainable. Why do some people get more colds than others
do? Infections can be caused by
obstructions, kidney stones, tumors, cysts or scar tissues. Almost synonymous with
urinary obstruction is infection, and then along with this comes stone
formation. Once you have stone
formation, it is hard to get rid of the infection. It is a kind of a cycle
that goes around and around.
Infection can be caused by urine being forced back to the kidneys
through the conduit. This could happen
if you fall asleep with the appliance full of urine and accidentally roll
over on the pouch, causing urine to be forced back through the stoma and the
urinary tract with tremendous pressure. Invariably, the urine in the
pouch is contaminated. In general, to
prevent and treat the infection, you need a good flow of urine, much like a
stream. That not only dilutes the
bacteria or germs in the urine but also helps wash them out. Two quarts of fluids daily are required for
the average adult but if you have had problems with infections, you need to
drink more water. Night drainage is necessary
for everyone with a urostomy.
Otherwise, one runs the risk of urine backing up into the kidneys,
which can cause irritation or infection.
This is especially important for people with urostomies with only one
kidney. It is important to be aware
of the symptoms of a kidney infection . . . elevated temperature, chills, low
back pain, cloudy urine, and decreased urine output. It is normal for people with ileal conduits
to produce mucus threads in their urine, which give a cloudy appearance. However, is will be different with an
infection. Moreover, be aware that
bloody urine is a danger sign. You
must see your doctor if any of these symptoms occur. He/she will usually prescribe an
antibiotic—which will be very efficient—to clear a bacterial infection in the
urinary tract. This will not prevent
future invasions but will cure the immediate infection. By Lyn Kramer, CWOCN Fungal rashes are more
prevalent in late spring and summer.
This rash is the same as the one you can get on your feet, groin or in
any dark moist skin fold. This is the
perfect place for this natural body organism to flourish—it is also called a
yeast or candida infection. People, who have high blood
sugar, eat high quantities of sweets, those with diabetes or people who take
prednisone type medications are more prone to this rash. People with an ostomy—all of whom wear a
plastic pouch on their side—are also more prone to fungal infections. The plastic ostomy pouch,
plus the contents of the pouch, increases the body heat and perspiration in
this area especially during the warmer months. Everyone who wears a barrier can experience
this by feeling the face of old barrier when one removes it. It will be warm to the touch. The old adage of “an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure” comes to mind.
If you know you fit into the above-mentioned
groups with these indications, and then take action before you get the rash. Some simple things that you can do are: ·
Make sure the barrier that sticks to your body is kept dry after
showers and baths. You may use a hair
dryer set to cool or dry this area very well with a towel. ·
Use a micro-granulated, anti-fungal powder around the intact barrier
area as well as under the pouch area. The
area under the pouch may be applied daily.
There are many over-the-counter brands available. The main active ingredients to look for are
miconazole nitrate 2% or zinc oxide.
These are not prescription items and are less expensive than
Mycostatin powder that is often prescribed by a doctor for treating fungus. ·
Use a pouch cover between you and your pouch. Some newer style pouches have an extra
layer of material on the back that is called a pouch cover, but it is still
made of plastic. You need a cloth or a
very good quality absorbent towel cut to fit under the pouch area. You need to change the cover when it
becomes moist or it can also grow the fungus. ·
If you do develop a rash, do not use a cream on your skin area that is
under your barrier. The barrier will
stick to the cream . . . not to your body, and may make the barrier seal
unsatisfactory. There are creams that
may be applied under the barrier, depending on your particular body
chemistry. However, they must be
gently rubbed in until completely absorbed so as not to interfere with
adhesion of the barrier. You only need to use the miconazole nitrate 2% powder on the infected
area. If the manufacturer’s application
instruction on your skin barrier allows it, you may seal the powder in with a
skin sealer or prep. You may need to
change your pouch more frequently until the rash clears. It should clear in one or two changes. The skin actually heals better under the
barrier than it does when it is exposed to air only. Remarkable isn’t
it. Doctors, Learn to Listen Contributed By Jane Michnik Studies shows doctors rarely
let a patient finish what he/she is saying, and most interrupt in a matter of
seconds of the patient's starting to speak.
Researchers specializing in communication studies, say surveys of
doctor-patient exchanges found about a third of those polled were reluctant ever
to question their doctor's opinions. "We're ultimately
responsible for our health," researchers say. "We can find another doctor, we can
get second opinions but psychologically that reality doesn't exist for many
people." It is the patient who
speaks up who lives longer and gets the treatment he/she needs. Their advice: "Before your doctor's appointment,
write down all of your questions so you'll remember what to ask, and don't
hesitate to ask plenty of questions." Colostomy Question UOAA discussion board Question: My mother, age 91, has recently had surgery
for colon cancer that left her with a colostomy. We are looking for an ostomy pouch for her
situation. She is in an assisted
living facility (which she loves) and they have just told me that they cannot
empty her pouch because of state laws. They told me that they
require that she use a two-piece closed pouch that can be removed once or
twice a day and discarded. They claim
that they are allowed only to do this and not to empty her pouch. Right now, they have been changing her
entire pouching system every day, even though the barrier is meant to stay on
for 3-5 days. Consequently, her skin is in
pretty bad shape now. Therefore, what we think we need is a pouching
system that is made to be removed more often, which
would not cause the skin problems she is having. Thanks for any help. Response: First off, if the two-piece closed-end
pouch is being removed/changed frequently enough now
to cause skin damage, then the facility staff is doing the wrong thing. They are causing harm that should not be
taking place! It is ludicrous to suggest
to you that emptying a pouch is prohibited while changing one is
acceptable! Would your mom have
encountered skin breakdown if they merely emptied the pouch
as needed . . . No! I would challenge the
protocol that prohibits staff from assisting with regular pouch emptying. Look at it this way, if
other residents at the facility are assisted in their toileting needs by the
staff, why is your mom not also accorded the same toileting assistance? An ostomy and its corresponding pouch
routine is now your mom's toileting norm.
Oh, and by the way, it is much easier for the staff to empty a pouch
on a patient every occasionally than to assist in the toileting of people
with normal evacuation. Press these folks for common
sense and clarity regarding their prohibitions and hold them accountable for
the subsequent harms. Good luck, Mike the ET By Gail Wilhite, CWOCN An ileostomy stoma should be
at least 3/4” in length and some surgeons advocate a longer length of 1” to 1
1/2 “. A spout-like stoma is necessary
to deposit the effluent into the pouch preventing pooling of contents at the
base of the stoma. Conversely, a stoma that is too long is subject to external trauma and
injury. Weighing the consequences, it
is preferred to have a stoma somewhat too long than one too short. There is a difference
between the creation of colostomy and ileostomy stomas. Frequently, when fashioning a left-sided
colostomy, the surgeon will create a flush stoma. The contents of the left colon are
relatively inert and in times past were often regulated with irrigation;
therefore, little or no functional problems occur with a flush colostomy
stoma. An ileostomy stoma is never
constructed as a flush stoma; nevertheless, sometimes the stoma may retract
for various reasons. The common cause
of stomal retraction is post-op weight gain.
Prior to their operations, most people with ileostomies have lost
considerable weight. Following
surgery, weight gain can be rapid, and, many times, excessive. What once was an adequate stoma now
retreats within the expanding environment!
Another cause of retraction may be inadequate fixation of the opposing
serosal layers following eversion. If
these layers fail to adhere, healing and subsequent scarring may tend to draw
the stoma into the abdomen. Problems resulting from
retraction are decreasing adherence of the skin barrier and skin breakdown. The pooling of the excoriating intestinal
contents causes the loosening of the adherent bond resulting in leakage of
ileal effluent on the skin. This skin effluent
contact naturally produces breakdown.
The combination of irritated, weeping peristomal skin and continual
pooling leads to an unbearable situation, which must be remedied. One treatment for a slightly
retracted stoma is the use of a convex skin barrier. The convexity applies pressure on the skin
surrounding the stoma, thus pushing the stoma up. When using a convex skin barrier, it is
important not to lose the convexity by applying thick barrier layers under
it. The skin and skin barrier should
suffice to maintain the advantages of both convexity and skin protection. If the use of a convex skin barrier proves
unsuccessful or if the retraction is severe, then surgery is advised to
create a new, longer stoma. By
Rosemary Van Ingen, CWOCN Is it not interesting that
people with normal intact bowel tracts and urinary systems manage odor
problems in an acceptable manner in our society? But when disease
or trauma strikes and the person is the owner of an ostomy, the biggest concern
he/she has is the fear of offending society with an odor. What is an ostomy? Basically, an
ostomy is a manufactured exit site that changes the point of exit from the
bottom or back of our body to the front.
Our eyes and noses are obviously on the front of our body, which leads
us to be more aware of our changed body image and our odor-producing
products. I am sure you have heard the
statement, “You’ve come a long way, baby.”
Yes, ostomy management has come a long way-considering that as little
as twenty-five years ago, we had very few 100% odor-free pouching systems. Ostomy Collecting
Receptacles. When ostomy surgery was first developed,
people with ostomies wore anything to collect output. Tin cans, rubber gloves, cups of all shapes
and sizes, bread wrappers, and plastic margarine cups . . . just to mention a few, were standard
equipment for the person with an ostomy.
Not only the feasibility, but also the odor problems this type of
equipment produced, was enough to give ostomy surgery and people who had
ostomies a very deplorable place in our society. Presently, virtually all the pouching
systems available to us today are made of odor-barrier materials. Odor Detective Work. Therefore,
if a person with an ostomy does have a fecal or urinary odor about them, some
detective work should be done: Check out the application of the pouching
system to the body. Is it
leaking? Check out the closure of the
pouching system—is it closed properly so that no fecal matter is oozing out
after the closure? Do not put holes in
the pouch, as gas will seep out continuously. Urostomy Odor Cautions. A
person with a urostomy should rinse or wipe off the spout of the pouching
system with a bathroom tissue after emptying.
Those few drops left in the spout after closing the pouching system
can cause a urine odor under clothing.
It is interesting to note that most urostomy pouching systems on the
market are odor-proof, but the connecting tubing and bedside and leg bag are
not. You must dispose of and replace
these products when they take on urinary odors, or else your entire living
quarters will smell. Elimination in People
with Ostomies versus Others. Emptying a pouching system is comparable to
a person with an intact bowel or urinary tract having a bowel movement or
emptying their bladder. How does the person
without an ostomy handle the odor produced by the normal function of their
body? Room deodorizing sprays are
popular, a quick flush of the toilet when defecation occurs and opening a
window are some acceptable methods that have been used for odor management. Why are People with Ostomies so uptight
about elimination odors when our pouching systems are emptied? This
constant complaint has encouraged ostomy supply manufacturers to create
products to meet the need for odor control.
Just remember, there is not a man or woman on this earth whose wastes
do not smell. If someone tells you
that their waste products are odorless, then a nose overhaul is in order for
them! Which Pouching System for You? By
Gwen Turnbull, ET (A pioneer in ostomy nursing) With so many ostomy products
available, it is hard to know which one is right for you. Regardless of the brand
of product or type of surgery you have, there are a few basic features a pouching
system must have to give you a sense of security and confidence. First, it must contain urine or stool, gas
and odor without leaking. Second, it
must help protect the skin around the stoma from damaging effects of stool or
urine. Third, the pouching system
should remain in place for a sustained and predictable wear time. Wear time—this means you
should be certain your pouching system would remain intact without leakage
for a definite period. That period
varies among individuals and ranges from 24 hours to a week. One should never wear a pouching system for
over a week without changing it. Wear
time has much to do with the
amount and character of your output, the climate in which you live, your
daily activities and the type of skin barrier you use. Output—High volume liquid output will melt standard, pectin-based barriers
faster than the more modern synthetic extended-wear barriers. Using a skin barrier paste as “caulking”
around the stoma or a “bead” on the back of the skin barrier, may help
increase wear time and skin protection. Visibility/Intimacy/Cost—Once the above criteria have been met,
look at other pouching system features that might affect the way you feel
about yourself. For example, is the
pouch visible under your clothing, and does that determine your feelings
about yourself during periods of intimacy?
Do ostomy supply costs, or worry about them, overwhelm you? Your Adjustment—Researchers believe that such concern can
affect your adjustment to, and satisfaction with, your life after ostomy
surgery. That is why it is important
to look at the fine distinctions about pouching systems. Consider a system’s wear time as it relates
to its costs. Calculate your ostomy
supply costs on a yearly total-cost basis rather than a cost per change
basis. You may find that an inexpensive
pouch that must be changed daily costs more in the end than the more
expensive pouch you can wear for three days. Conclusion—Investigate the size, shape, color, contour, profile and ease of
application and emptying of a variety of pouching systems. Which one will be right for you? The one you feel is right for you!
Editor’s Note: All manufacturers of quality ostomy products will be
glad to send you free samples if you contact them. You can find every manufacturer of ostomy
products in the entire world—the ones we heard about anyway—on our Internet
site at www.uoachicago.org under
“Useful Links” Do You Obtain All Your Benefits? Adapted via UOAA Advocacy More than 5,000,000 seniors
are currently missing hundreds of state and federal benefits programs. A Web site by the National Council on the
Aging may help. A pioneer in helping seniors
find the correct benefits programs to meet their needs is www.BenefitsCheckUp.org . The site contains fast, free and
confidential tools to determine eligibility for nearly 1,000 unique state and
federal programs, and detailed instructions on how to apply for them. More than 3,000,000 seniors
are eligible for—but are not receiving—food stamps; 1,200,000 elderly are
eligible for—but do not participate in—the Supplemental Security Income
Program; and as many as 3,000,000 eligible seniors do not participate in
Medicaid. Most states even have
underutilized pharmacy assistance programs. Seniors can fill out a
confidential questionnaire at www.BenefitsCheckUp.org, which then compares
their information with eligibility requirements for federal programs such as
Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamps and Weatherization or state
administered programs, such as, pharmacy assistance, vocational
rehabilitation and in-home services. Users then receive a
printable report that tells them which programs they may likely qualify for
and where to go to enroll. What used
to take days, weeks or longer to find out, www.BenefitsCheckUp.org can do in
minutes. The next time you are at your pharmacy, go to the thermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson. Be very sure you buy this brand. Open the package and remove the thermometer. Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully. You will notice that in small print there is a statement: “Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized.” I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer quality control department at Johnson & Johnson. There is always someone else with a job that is worse than yours is. By The One of the most frequently
asked question is what is the correct way to empty a pouching system—
regardless of the type of ostomy? So many people with ostomies
want to make this so complicated and unnatural. ·
Some kneel on the floor in front of the toilet . . . ·
Others take off the pouch, empty and then rinse it in the toilet bowl ·
Some remove the pouch, empty it in the toilet and then wash it in the
sink . . . ·
Still others fill the pouch with water, swish it around and then empty
it again We could go on and on about the way pouches are emptied. Name it . . . it has been done before. Why not make life as easy as
possible. Make pouch emptying as
natural and stress-free as a normal trip to the restroom. When the pouch is less-than one-third full,
empty it. Otherwise, the weight may
cause tension and loosen the adhesion of the skin barrier resulting in
leakage. Throw away the syringes, plastic bags, tin cans and whatever else it is that
you use. Maybe the nurse at the
hospital told you that you had to wash it out or that you had to kneel or
face the toilet. However, think about
an easier system . . .. One suggestion when using an open-system
is: ·
Sit on the toilet with the pouch between your legs ·
Lean forward ·
With the enclosure clip on, turn the contents upward away from the body ·
Remove the clip carefully, aim the end of the pouch into the toilet and
empty ·
Wipe off the end of the pouch with toilet paper. Refasten with the clip and . . . presto! Editor's note: Place a removable clip away
from harm's way when emptying your pouch. The top of the toilet paper dispenser,
inside your watchband, between your lips, etc., all work from
time-to-time. Always carry a spare
pouch clip with you when you will be emptying away from home or are
traveling. Take your time when
refastening the pouch clip, as you may be more apt to fumble the clip into
the toilet when you hurry. In addition, there are pouching-washing
systems that attached to your household plumbing that make rinsing out a
pouch fast and easy. These are
excellent products and offer a fresh alternative. In
the Face of Adversity By Hubert H. Humphrey The
worst moment of my life was when I discovered I had bladder cancer. I know what this dreaded disease can do to
a person and what the chances of survival are. However, if you think of yourself as a
statistic, then you are really in trouble.
You have to believe you can win this fight. You have to gear yourself to the continuity
of the struggle, knowing that there will always be days when you will not
feel good. My
faith and hope gets me from day to day.
Deep down, I believe in miracles.
They have happened to many people who were given up to die and then
were restored to good health. However,
there are days when I get discouraged, when I start feeling sorry for myself,
I tell myself, “the doctors told you this would happen. You can’t do anything about it, so get on
with living.” If you can’t get over self-pity, the games all over with. I
think the biggest mistake is giving up.
Adversity is an experience, not a final act. Some people look on any setback as the end. They are always looking for a benediction
rather than an invocation. Most of us
have had enough problems so that almost any day we could fold up and say,
“I’ve had it!” But you can’t quit.
Life is a struggle. If anything
is easy, it’s not likely to be worthwhile. The important thing in any setback is
whether you can pick yourself up. That
helps me with my illness. I keep
thinking, “Well, tomorrow’s another day.”
There are many people who say, “It’s all
right for you to talk about tomorrow being another day, but if you knew how
much pain I suffer…..” I
do know. Let me tell you something. When you give, you receive back a thousand
fold. If you have a well and draw
water from it, it fills. If you don’t draw water from it, it gets stagnant. You have to learn to give to yourself. I hope that I can demonstrate for others
that you don’t have to throw in the towel when you
have something like bladder cancer. Be
grateful for every day of your life. Be
buoyant about it, and do the best you can with what you have. Former U.S. Senator Hubert H.
Humphrey had a urostomy due to bladder cancer probably caused by years of
cigarette smoking. He was an
inspiration to many on how successfully to embrace life after ostomy
surgery. He stood out as a courageous
person who was open about his surgery at a time when there was a significant
stigma attached to it.
By Sharon Williand, CWOCN Sometimes, it takes a catastrophe to shake us out of our complacency. It is easy to fall into the “ostrich syndrome.” This is unfortunate, particularly when it comes to ostomy management. It is only through education that individuals grow, learn and reach their fullest potential as people with ostomies. While writing this column, I was reminded of several examples of individuals recently seen by our ostomy nurse team. One man had a sigmoid colostomy performed many years ago and had developed a huge peristomal hernia. He irrigated his colostomy daily and used what now classifies as an antique set. The irrigator was a latex bag with no measuring guide to gauge the amount of solution being given. There was a hard rubber catheter with no shield present on the irrigator tubing. He had been forcing the tubing into its full twelve-inch length. He poked and poked until it finally went in. Overall, it was a miracle that he had not perforated the herniated bowel. He had not been successful with irrigations, continually losing as much water around the catheter as he was instilling. It was difficult for him to accept an explanation of why he was flirting with danger. After all, he had always done it this way! Only after a great deal of persuasion was he agreeable to trying a new set with a measuring guide on the irrigator and a cone in place of the catheter. One elderly woman called the ostomy nurse office in a state of panic. She was no longer able to obtain the rubber pouches she had been using for 25 years. She had been ordering through the mail from a distant state. She had no idea of any other pouch that could be substituted and had no idea of what supplies were locally available. She was totally amazed at the new lightweight odor-proof disposable pouches now on the market. Another case involved a man who had put up with a continued skin irritation from a cement he had been using for many years to adhere his ostomy pouch. He was obviously allergic to this preparation and would periodically have to discontinue wearing a pouch to allow his skin to heal. Had he known several years ago about the new hypoallergenic skin barriers when these became available, how much more comfortable his life could have been. In conclusion, being an ostrich with your head in the sand is for the birds! Keep updated—read the UOAA publication The Phoenix; attend your local ostomy support group meetings; ask your doctor, WOC nurse and pharmacist “What’s New?” You may be surprised at the improvements you will discover.
As a woman, I ask myself if people have ever been guilty, like me, of
looking at others your own age and thinking, “I can’t look that old.” Well, I was sitting in the waiting room to
see a new dentist. I noticed his diploma,
which bore his full name. Suddenly, I
remembered that a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been
in my high school class some 30 odd years ago. Could he be the same person that I had a
secret crush on? Upon
seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This bald, fat man with a deeply lined face
was way too old to have been my classmate. He
examined my teeth and I asked him if he had attended MRSA Found
in More Locations
MRSA—methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus—is one of the
bacteria that is antibiotic resistant.
It was usually seen only in hospitals.
However, now it has been discovered in such unlikely locations such as
health clubs, as reported in The
This “super bug” exists on human skin or in the noses of healthy
people where it is fairly harmless. However, if there is the slightest cut or
abrasion on the skin, MRSA is able to enter the bloodstream. It can be deadly. It will attack anyone, young or old, male
or female, healthy or sickly.
The Center for Disease Control says that MRAS is virtually always
spread by direct physical contact and not through the air. It can be spread through indirect contact
by touching objects such as towels, clothes, workout areas or sports
equipment that have been contaminated by the infected skin of a person with
MRSA. It begins as a small pimple or boil on the skin.
It can be successfully treated with antibiotics at this stage.
People with ostomies have the added risk of contacting MRSA under
their skin barrier. It is advised
always to wash one’s hands with soap and water before touching the peristomal
skin. This reduces the possibility of
transferring some bacteria or fungus to the skin under the skin barrier, an
ideal location for bacteria or fungus to grow; i.e., dark, warm and moist.
The Center for Disease Control Recommend the following to reduce the
risk on contracting MRSA: ü Wash
your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, especially if
you are in a public place. ü Wash
towels, uniforms or gym clothes frequently. ü Clean
wounds and scratches immediately. ü Do
not share personal equipment with friends. ü Keep
cuts and abrasions clean and covered with bandages until they are healed. ü Avoid
contact with other people’s wound or material contaminated from wounds. ü If
you think you may have a MRSA infection, contact your doctor immediately. Bridges By Joe Rundle,
Aurora, IL Ostomy Support Group I
recently read a book by Don Piper entitled Heaven is Real, which he
relates his experiences in for form of bridges in our lives that we must
cross—some for the better and some for not.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has experienced some
traumatic periods in his/her life—I guess this would be everyone.
Piper’s first book, 90 Minutes in Heaven, offers a
background to the second. He talks
about all the bridges he crossed following his accident leading up to the
point that he felt he was nearly fully recovered.
As people with ostomies, we had to encounter many bridges when we were
first diagnosed with the conditions that lead to our surgery—at least I did. First comes the “Why me?” followed by “Now
what will my life be like?” As we
approach these bridges, we do not know what will be on the other side of that
bridge. We must trust that everything
will work out in our best interests.
We must optimize our new situation.
In the chapter entitled Prayer Power, he stresses the power of support
groups. “We also need to consider
support groups. Some people have a
fear of sharing intimate details, but that is part of the issue of
trust. It is part of learning to share
with one another. I do not suggest
babbling about everything in our lives, but often in support groups when a
person opens up, it is exactly what another person needs to hear. I believe we all need support groups of
some kind. Another thing about support
groups is that it works both ways—as we support, we are supported. As we give, we also receive.”
If you do not believe him or think it is just silly, you should attend
one of the many support groups out there.
Witness for yourself the outpouring of love and information that comes
out of one of these meetings. As for
our own ostomy support group, you would be surprised at the conversations
that go on way after the meeting is over.
I have had many members, friends of and spouses of people with
ostomies tell me afterwards how much they have learned by just listening or
becoming involved in one of the many conversations. We can go it alone, but it is usually much
easier to share one’s burden with another person that has walked down that
same path.
Don closes this chapter with a thought, “As we pray (support) for
others, God smiles on us and connects us more closely with each other.” Will you be at our next ostomy support group
meeting? I sure hope so! Instructions
for Life Forwarded By Peggy Bassrawi ü
Take into account that great love and great achievements involve
great risk. ü
When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. ü
Follow the three R’s . . . Respect for self, Respect for others and
Responsibility for all your actions. ü
Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. ü
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. ü
Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship. ü
When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take
immediate steps to correct it. ü
Spend some time alone every day. ü
Open your arms to change, but don’t let go
of your values. ü
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. ü
Live a good and honorable life.
Then when you become older and think back, you’ll
be able to enjoy it a second time. ü
Share your knowledge. It is a
way to achieve immortality. ü
Be gentle with the earth. ü
The best relationship is one in which your love for each other
exceeds you need for each other. ü
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to achieve it. ü
One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole
life. ü
Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t
see the whole staircase. ü
Why choose to assume a negative outcome in an unknown situation? I was shocked, confused, bewildered As I entered Heaven's door, Not by the beauty of it all,
But it was the folks in Heaven Who made me sputter and gasp— The thieves, the liars, the sinners, 'And
why's everyone so quiet, Pregnancy with an
Ileostomy By Kathy DiPonio In 1989, at the age of 18,
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I had two-thirds of my colon removed in November
1994, when I was 24. Over the next
several years, my Crohn’s was active and in full force. I tried all the medications that were
available and did not respond well to any of them. I then tried Remicade and
had no luck with that either. Having
been hospitalized several times due to severe flare-ups of my Crohn’s, I was
told not to go without medical coverage and absolutely to not become pregnant.
A few years later, as a last resort, I
joined a study for an experimental drug. I suspect I received the placebo because I noticed
no change in my health. Shortly after this last
hope of a medicine controlling my Crohn’s, I saw a surgeon and agreed to have
the rest of my colon, rectum and sphincter muscle removed. That happened in January 2003. I was 32 years old and forced to make the
decision to have ostomy surgery that ultimately saved my life. For the most part, I felt well after ostomy
surgery with what I considered minor flare-ups of Crohn’s disease. It was nothing like before surgery and nothing
that I could not manage by carefully watching my diet, managing stress and
getting enough rest. My then boyfriend
was beside me through the whole thing. Two weeks prior to surgery, we became
engaged, and we were married six months later. My colon-rectal surgeon said that I should
wait at least a year before becoming pregnant so that my body could heal. I started taking prenatal vitamins in
January 2004. I knew that this would be the year that my husband and I would try to
conceive. I wanted to make sure
I had enough vitamins and minerals in my system for when the time came. When my husband and I felt
that we were ready for a child, I went to see an ob/gyn that had experience
in delivering babies to women with both Crohn’s disease and ostomies. That was in June 2004. He was very patient with me and answered all
of my questions. I asked him if there
was anything that specific I needed to do. He told me to keep taking the prenatal vitamins,
go home and get busy. He also told me
to be patient because my uterus was tipped and due to my previous surgeries,
I have a considerable amount of scar tissue so it might take me a while to
get pregnant. He said this is normal for
someone with my medical history and he did not want me to be discouraged. It was a time to be patient. So, I stopped at
the store on my way home and got an ovulation kit and a pregnancy test. When my husband came home from work, I
insisted that we get right down to business.
I thought if this could take a while, we should not waste any time. That was at the end of June. To everyone’s surprise, I was pregnant by
August! It was not very long
before my Crohn’s disease started flaring up. Only now, the flare-ups would last two to
three weeks and were severe. I had horrible
fatigue and pain from ulcerations in my mouth and throat. I had trouble eating and drinking. I went to see my gastroenterologist at the beginning
of November 2004, for the first time since my ostomy surgery. I had ulcers in my mouth, throat and nose, those
red bumps on my legs and I felt tired like I had never felt tired before. I was so tired that I would have a hard time
staying awake when driving home from work after a long day in the office. The doctor prescribed me
medication to help keep my Crohn’s under control. I had to change the medication after just over
a week because it would not dissolve before passing through my system. Several weeks went by and
I was not feeling much better. At my
next ob/gyn appointment, in late November 2004, I was in tears because my
Crohn’s was so bad. We discussed in
detail the issues I had, and I expressed my concerns about my health and my
baby’s. I had a very demanding high
stress job. The added stress to my
body from my pregnancy was more than I could handle both physically and
emotionally. The doctor decided that it
was in the best interest of my pregnancy and my health for me to stay off
work until after the baby arrived. Once
I was off work and home for a few weeks, I started to feel better. I was able once again to manage my Crohn’s disease
by taking medication, obtaining enough rest, watching my diet and keeping my
stress low. When I could feel a flare
up starting, I would do as little as possible and rest as much as possible. The remainder of my pregnancy
was not too bad. I made sure that I
ate right; obtained than enough rest, kept my stress low and I did exactly what
the doctor said I should do. I
developed a hernia during my pregnancy.
I vomited on a daily basis during my whole pregnancy and that could
have caused the hernia. Because of the
two abdominal surgeries I had prior, I could have gotten the hernia from my
stomach growing, sneezing or coughing.
There was no way to pin point the cause. I had concerns of my stoma
prolapsing because of pushing the baby out via vaginal delivery. I did not want to risk having surgery to
correct that problem even though the risk was low. My ob/gyn and I decided that I would deliver
my baby via cesarean section and we scheduled a date. In addition, at the end of nine long
months, I delivered a healthy baby boy!
Hurray! I had my hernia repaired
at the same time . . . a two-fer. I had
no complications during surgery and was awake for the whole thing. At the UOA National
Conference in August 2004, there was a session on pregnancy. The women that spoke were very open and
answered everyone’s questions. My
concern was that my stoma would prolapse and not go back down to its normal
size. I was also concerned about the
increased gas being produced. They
said that the stoma does get larger but assured me that it will go back down
to normal size as one heals. It turned out that my
stoma size did not change at all. It
looked exactly the same when I was nine months
pregnant as it did before I got pregnant.
It did not make any more noise than normal either. The only thing that I did different was change
my pouching system more frequently—twice a week—and this was because my
stomach was growing. Prior to pregnancy, I only
had to change my skin barrier about once a week. I did not have any accidents or leaks, either. As far as my stoma and ileostomy were concerned,
I had no issues whatsoever. I did have
to be a little creative during intimate times because my belly would get in
the way. Ileostomy surgery has been
a positive change in my life. I am
currently in better health than I have been in years. I can do virtually anything I want to do
without limitations. I have been able
to do things that I could not or would not do prior to surgery. I travel all over including foreign
countries. Moreover, I am active in my
community and church; I am the Vice-President and Visitor Coordinator of my
local ostomy support group; I am also the Co-Chairperson of The 30+ Network
that is affiliated with The UOAA, Inc.
I have wonderful family and great friends that have all proven their
unconditional love for me. Most importantly, I am the
mommy of a healthy, happy baby boy who is the absolute light of my life. I am truly blessed and very grateful to
have the wonderful things in my life that I do. I am living proof that ostomy surgery is not
the end of the world but a second chance at life and the beginning of a new and
exciting chapter in my book of life. Looking
back over all that I have gone though, I would not change a thing! Always
wear clean underwear
in public, especially when
working under your
vehicle. From the
Northwest Florida Daily
News comes this story
of a Crestview
couple who drove their car to
WalMart, only to have their car
break down in
the parking lot.
The man told his wife to carry on with the shopping while he fixed the
car in the lot. The wife returned later to see a small
group of people near the car. On closer
inspection, she saw a
pair of male legs
protruding from under the
chassis. Although the
man was in shorts,
his lack of
underwear turned private parts into
glaringly public ones. Unable to stand the embarrassment, she
dutifully stepped forward, quickly put her hand up his shorts and tucked
everything back into place. On
regaining her feet, she looked across the hood and found herself staring at
her husband, who was standing idly by.
The mechanic, however, had to have three stitches in his forehead. A Letter Received By the Ostomy Association of Greater I have just read the article Ileostomy and the Closed End in the August edition of The New Outlook. Maybe it is just me and my good luck because for the past 17 years that I have been fortunate to have lived with a skin barrier and pouch attached to my side that saved my life. I thought about it and found that I have used the two-piece system, skin barrier and open-end pouch with a clip, all these years without a problem. I keep my skin barrier on at least nine days, less if I have had loose output. My pouch is used for about three changes of my skin barrier. The challenge mentioned about the clip rubbing against me was solved after I wore the clip for a just a few days. This issue was solved this using the mid-length briefs I always wear. I have sewn a pocket on the inside of my briefs. I place the new pair over the pouch and make marks on the outside to show where the bottom of the clip shows on the brief. I make the pocket about five inches wide and six inches deep. This pocket works wonders supporting the pouch especially when it is pretty full. In addition, when emptying the pouch, I always rinse it out with a large plastic cup as I knell next to the toilet. I do not rinse the pouch if I am not at home, like at a restaurant etc. I have found that for me, rinsing out the pouch extends the wear time of the skin barrier along with the added benefit of having a clean pouch—at least for a little while. I am 75 years old. Harry Baranowski |