ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY MARYLAND

OSTOMY ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. BOX 847

GAMBRILLS, MD 21054

OFFICERS President: Paul Rossi 410-647-6171

268 Shakespeare Drive Severna Park, MD 21146

Vice President Stan Novack 410-255-6802 Secretary Jamie Darr 410-987-0094 Treasurer Lyn Rowell 410-672-6983 Webmaster: Janice Winters

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Allyn Mellits Joan Gardner Ginny Gross Stan Baker Sandi Burnett Bob Keller OSTOMY ADVISERS: Irene Repka, RN, BS, CWOCN Michelle Perkins, RN, BS.

We’re on the Web! www.annearundelostomy.com Volume 41 Number 11 August 2015

Thank you Anne Arundel Medical Center for printing our newsletter.

Note: Meetings are held at 7:30pm, the first Thursday of each month at the Belcher Pavilion at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. From the 2nd floor of the parking garage take the entrance into the Belcher Pavilion and once inside take the elevator to the 7th floor and check with the 7th floor desk for the room number. If AA County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, there will be no meeting.

Sooner or later a man reaches the “B” years of life – Baldness, Bridgework, Bifocals and Bulges.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

August 6th 2015 – Group Discussions

September 3, 2105 – To Be Announced

The   Anne   Arundel   County,   Maryland,   Ostomy   Association,   Inc.   (AACOA)   is   a   non-­‐profit,   volunteer-­‐based  organization  dedicated  to  providing  reassurance  and  emotional  support  for  people  who  have  had  or  will  have  some  kind  of  ostomy  surgery,  such  as  a  colostomy,  ileostomy,  urostomy  (urinary  diversion)  or  a  continent  procedure.    The  goal  of  the  AACOA  is  to  provide  moral  support,  information,  and  education  to  people  with  ostomies  and  their  families  and  friends.    Members  receive  The  Rambling  Rosebud  newsletter  monthly.  DUES  are  $15  please  make  check  out  to  AACOA  and  mail  to  AACOA,  PO  Box  847,  Gambrills  MD  21054-­‐1454  

Membership  Application      Please  Print  

Full  Name  _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

           Last                                        First                                                                                                                                              M.I.  Address:  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________                                          Street  Address                                                                    Apartment/Unit  #                                      _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

     City                   State                              Zip  Code  Phone:  (                )                                                                                                                                                          Date  of  Birth:                                                                                      Gender:              

Email  Address  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

Reason  for  surgery:            ____  Crohn’s                          ____Ulcerative  Colitis      _____  Cancer      _____  Other__________________________  

Emergency  contact  if  we  are  unable  to  reach  you:  ______________________________________________________________________  What  type  of  surgery  have  you  had?                    

☐  Colostomy   ☐  Urostomy     ☐  Spouse/Family  Member  ☐  Ileostomy   ☐  Parent  of  child  with   ☐  Other  (please  specify)          I  would  like  to  help  with  the  following  committee(s)  or  activities:            

☐  Finance   ☐  Hospitality   ☐  Membership     ☐  Newsletter  ☐  Program   ☐  Refreshments   ☐  Sunshine     ☐  Visiting  How  did  you  hear  about  us?                  

☐    Internet  Search   ☐  ET/WOCN  Nurse     ☐  Other          ☐  Hospital   ☐  Physician  

 A WORD OF THANKS for their constant support of our Chapter to: Anne Arundel Medical Center for providing rooms for our regular meetings and special events. We appreciate their support and assistance.

Items  from  this  newsletter  may  be  reprinted  in  other  ostomy  newsletters,  provided  proper  credit  is  given  as  to  source  of  material  REMEMBER!!! The entrance to the Belcher Pavilion is FROM THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE. Once inside the building you will be on its second floor – take the elevators inside up to the 7th floor. When leaving, take the elevator the second floor and go through the doors onto the 2nd floor of the parking garage.

                           

 

 

 

OSTOMY ADVISORS FOR STOMA HELP To consult with one of the ETs below, a physician’s referral is necessary and a fee will be charged. Call for an appointment.

BALTIMORE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL 410-787-4578

ANNE ARUNDEL MEDICAL CENTER Michelle Perkins, RN, BS, CWON

Email: mperkins@aahs.org Laura Alberico-Klug, RN, BSN, CWON

Email: lalbericok@aahs.org 443-481-5508 / 443-481-5177

Fax: 443-481-5198 Private Consultants

Joan M. Sullivan, MAS, RN, CNA, CWOCN 410-932-7312

For  those  serving  on  the  board,  the  next  board  meeting  is  September  21st  at  7:30pm  

2014-­‐2015  

 

Live Well      ❖ Live Independent      ❖ Live Active    

TOWSON  6729  York  Road  

Baltimore,  MD  21212  

Phone:  410-­‐377-­‐5300          Fax:  410-­‐377-­‐5302  

HUNT  VALLEY  10757  York  Road  

Cockeysville,  MD  21030  

Phone:  410-­‐773-­‐0300          Fax:  410-­‐773-­‐0301  

Toll  Free:  1-­‐855-­‐AUSTMED    

M-­‐F    9:00  a.m.  -­‐  6:00  p.m.  Sat      9:00  a.m.  -­‐  2:00  p.m.  

Colleen  Simpson    BSN,  RN,  CWON  

Welcome to Warmer Weather!

When summer heats up, cool down with Austin Pharmacy. Consider moisture wicking bag covers, swimmer belts, waterproof tape, extra barrier arches or medical adhesives. We have a variety of brands and products to meet your needs.

Don’t forget to stay prepared by keeping ostomy appliances at room temperature and in a dry environment so your bag works effectively. Check more frequently for inadvertent leaks and ensure your skin is completely dry before applying your barrier. Limit time exposed to excessive heat from saunas or hot tubs.

We also have non-ostomy related cooling products such as Aloe Vera burn relief creams and other burn products. Cooling slippers and a variety of soft conforming ice packs will help ailing joints or swollen feet.

Finally, make sure you pack extra supplies when on the go and in separate pieces of luggage. Know that smaller, travel-sized ostmy accessories are available. Call Austin Pharmacy today for samples. Celebrate summer and if life heats up, let us cool you down!

August 2015 The Rambling Rosebud

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE At a suggestion from one of our board members, we are proposing changing the number of board meetings that we hold. Currently we have five held in January, March, May, September, and November. With such a small group and few board members, there is little business to conduct. So we propose changing the board meetings to two per year – one in March to coordinate speakers and review the Association’s budgets and finances and the other in September to analyze the expenditures of the year and establish the budget for the forth coming year, and work on the membership drive and plan for the Holiday social. We hope that with fewer meetings more individuals might be willing to serve on the board. Please contact a board member to express your thoughts about the proposed changes to our board meeting schedule. Paul

Understanding Ostomy Terms Lyn Rowell adapted from an article in the Ostonoma News Most people have no idea of what an ostomy is and if you tell someone you have a stoma, you are often met with a blank look. Individuals may have heard of people “having a bag” but that is the extent of their knowledge. Even amongst those who have heard of stomas they assume all are the same when actually there are basically three different types and the output through the stoma differs. An ostomy is a surgically created opening in the body to allow the discharge of body wastes. This can be due to disease (as was mine), accident or injury or due to a birth defect. When I first had my ostomy (stationed on an overseas military base) I had a neighbor whose son had undergone ostomy surgery a few days after birth. She was a wealth of knowledge and comfort. Most people have heard of a colostomy, which is created from a section of the colon or large intestine. A person with a colostomy may still have much of their large intestine left, or they may have just a little of it. The thickness and frequency of the output will depend on how much large intestine is remaining.

An ileostomy is created from a section of the small intestine. Most often the large intestine is removed completely although in some cases it may be left to rest and heal and the ileostomy be a temporary condition that is later reversed. Since the large intestine primarily absorbs fluid from the body, the output through an ileostomy

contains more liquid and can resemble a thick paste. If a lot of the small intestine has been removed then the output will be more watery. An ileostomy usually needs emptying more frequently throughout the day. A urostomy is a diversion to remove urine from the body. As such it will need frequent emptying just as an individual empties their bladder frequently. The stoma is the actual end of the intestine that can be seen protruding through the abdominal wall and through the skin through which feces or urine is discharged. The ideal stoma is round, dark pink and moist. The skin around the stoma (known as the peristomal skin) is intact with no breaks or cuts and no irritation. Not every stoma is ideal, though. A stoma may be retracted, flush or prolapsed and may require additional attention to manage properly.

A retracted stoma pulls in and creates a concave effect, so that the stoma is below the surface of the skin. This may result in increased skin irritation. There are products to help amend that.

A flush stoma is at the same height, or “flush” with the surface of the skin which can result in increased skin irritation. With a prolapsed stoma the intestine is being pulled out of the abdominal opening, so that the stoma sticks our further than desirable. This can be uncomfortable and may cause the stoma to not work as effectively.

Your WOCN can help with any of these issues.

THE MID-ATLANTIC’S LARGEST OSTOMY DEALER

We have a dedicated group of Ostomy Supply Service Professionals that are committed to keeping you in your active lifestyle. Northern Pharmacy and Medical Equipment has an attentive staff that cares about your quality of life. Make us your first step in getting back to life as it was meant to be. After all ………

“We’ve been here for over 75 years, there must be a reason!”

Our Ostomy Department provides a full range of comprehensive services and quality products from trusted brands you can rely on.

WE OFFER: Delivery anywhere in the United States Free delivery available Next day delivery is available Large inventory of ostomy & wound care

supplies in stock (we stock an inventory of over 5,000 boxes of supplies)

Customized hospital and clinic service plans available

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Personalized pharmacy/medical supply specialist available

Easy ordering by fax, phone, online, or in-person.

Toll Free 24 hour hotline Acceptance of all major credit cards

Northern Pharmacy and Medical Equipment 6701 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21234 Harford Rd & Northern Parkway www.NorthernPharmacy.com

SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OUR OSTOMY SUPPLY MANAGER: KEITH CAPPS Phone: (410) 254 2055 x249 Fax: (443) 740 9297 kcapps@northernpharmacy.com

August 2015 The Rambling Rosebud

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UROSTOMY CARE UOAA July 2013, via The Triangle

The urostomate should keep in mind that the stoma may shrink for several months following surgery. It is important that your appliance fits well so that the skin around the stoma does not become thick and white due to contact with urine. This crust may rub against the stoma, causing bleeding.

To cleanse the pouch of crystals, soak it in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Several glasses of cranberry juice each day will help restore the acid level in your body and there is less crystallization. The urinary pouch should be emptied often.

There is no odor when the pouch I kept clean. The portion of the intestine (the ileum) that is used to form the “conduit” is mucous forming, so it is not unusual or abnormal to see some mucous in the urine. Before attaching the night drain, leave sufficient urine in the pouch to fill the entire length of the tube. This eliminates air bubbles which prevent the flow through the tube and causes “backup” problems.

Please remember that for best results, you will want to change your appliance first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything. This may give you some breathing room for a few minutes (when your stoma will not be active) to get the skin dried off and the new appliance in place. If you bend over and try to be sure all stored liquid is forced out before you begin the change, it may also help give you a few minutes of inactivity to complete the change.

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Fear   less,   hope   more;   eat   less,   chew   more;  whine  less,  breathe  more;  talk  less,  say  more;  hate   less,   love  more;   and   all   good   things   are  yours.   Swedish proverb

POTASSIUM HAS ITS UPS AND DOWNS Via Loraine County Ohio Ostomy News

The body leans heavily on potassium. It’s a busy mineral. Potassium is essential for a normal heartbeat. Without it, nerves cannot send messages to muscles. Low potassium levels weakens muscles. People who take a diuretic over a period of time may show a low potassium count. Other conditions that deplete potassium are adrenal gland problems, kidney disease and diarrhea. Once the body has depleted its potassium reserves, the doctor almost always has to prescribe a potassium supplement. It’s nearly impossible for potassium rich foods to restore body potassium levels. Once potassium levels are replenished then foods help keep the levels in the normal range. Bananas, extolled as a potassium goldmine are good, but not a great source of the mineral. A baked potato tops the list. Other food sources are dried figs, yogurt, avocados, watermelon, oranges, cantaloupes, soybeans, peas, squash, spinach, teach, bouillon/broth, molasses, raisins, dates, fish and apricots.

POTASSIUM LOSS

The above article warns about the dangers of low potassium - so what can cause this to happen?

1. Excessive fluid loss. This can be through vomiting, diarrhea or even excessive sweating due to strenuous physical activity, heat exhaustion or fever. Potassium and sodium are both lost this way and need to be replaced. 2. Medications. Some medications act as “diuretics” which help rid the body of excess fluid such as those that treat high blood pressure and heart or kidney disease. Even excess use of laxatives can force too much fluid out of the body taking with it sodium and potassium. 3. Chronic medical conditions may mean that the body cannot properly absorb the potassium it needs through normal diet.

4. Surgical conditions, such as bariatric surgery or large amounts of intestinal tract removed due to disease, can affect the ability to absorb

August 2015 The Rambling Rosebud

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potassium from food. A high volume of stool output because of surgery may also result in a “diarrhea” type condition. How will you know if you have low potassium levels? While only a blood test can accurately tell your potassium levels, the following are possible symptoms of low potassium.

• Weakness, tiredness, cramping in the arms or legs.

• Tingling or numbness in the arms or legs. • Heart palpitations, and fainting due to low

blood pressure.

If you suspect low potassium is a problem for you, contact your doctor and have the situation investigated. As stated in the earlier article, it may be necessary for you to be treated with a supplement and not just adding more potassium rich foods. If you have an ileostomy and require a diuretic remind your doctor that with your ostomy condition where sodium and potassium are lost naturally due to lack of bowel, common diuretics might produce excessive potassium loss. They can prescribe an alternate medication that may not adversely affect potassium levels.

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There are hundreds of languages in the world but a smile speaks all of them.

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If  A  Dog  Were  The  Teacher    (via email) If a dog were the teacher, you would learn stuff like: When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your territory. Take naps. Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

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Disposal bag ideas for your used ostomy appliance:

• The plastic bag your newspaper comes in. • A bread loaf bag. • The produce bag from the grocery store. • A diaper disposal bag (you have to buy those

though!).

Place your used appliance in the bag, tie well and dispose.

A.A.C.O.A. P.O. BOX 847 GAMBRILLS, MD 21054