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 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 44 Number 6 March 2017

Thank you Anne Arundel Medical Center for printing our newsletter.

Note:Meetingsareheldat7:30pm,thefirstThursdayofeachmonthattheBelcherPavilionatAnneArundelMedicalCenterinAnnapolis.Fromthe2ndflooroftheparkinggaragetaketheentranceintotheBelcherPavilionandonceinsidetaketheelevatortothe7thfloorandcheckwiththedeskfortheroomnumber.

If AA County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, there will be NO MEETING.

UPCOMINGMEETINGS

March2nd–Dr.DannebergerAnneArundelUrology

The Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Ostomy Association, Inc. (AACOA) is a non-profit, volunteer-basedorganizationdedicatedtoprovidingreassuranceandemotionalsupportforpeoplewhohavehadorwillhavesomekindofostomysurgery,suchasacolostomy,ileostomy,urostomy(urinarydiversion)oracontinentprocedure.ThegoaloftheAACOAistoprovidemoralsupport,information,andeducationtopeoplewithostomiesandtheirfamiliesandfriends.MembersreceiveTheRamblingRosebudnewslettermonthly.DUESare$15pleasemakecheckouttoAACOAandmailtoAACOA,POBox847,GambrillsMD21054-1454

MembershipApplicationPleasePrint

FullName_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Last FirstM.I.Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________StreetAddress Apartment/Unit#_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City State ZipCodePhone:()DateofBirth:Gender:

EmailAddress_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Reasonforsurgery:____Crohn’s____UlcerativeColitis_____Cancer_____Other__________________________

Emergencycontactifweareunabletoreachyou:______________________________________________________________________Whattypeofsurgeryhaveyouhad?

☐Colostomy ☐Urostomy ☐Spouse/FamilyMember☐Ileostomy ☐Parentofchildwith ☐Other(pleasespecify) Howdidyouhearaboutus?

☐InternetSearch ☐ET/WOCNNurse ☐Other ☐Hospital ☐Physician

2016-2017

Colleen Simpson, BSN, RN, CWON Joan Selekof, BSN, RN, CWOCN Sue Currence, BSN, RN, CWON Founder of GBMC’s Outpatient Ostomy Clinic Founder of UMMC WOCN Department Founder of St. Joseph’s Outpatient Wound & Ostomy Clinic

We have time and would love to see you! Give us a call or just stop by ...

410-773-0300Austin Pharmacy & Medical Supplies

10757 York RoadCockeysville, MD 21030

Consultative Hours: Monday - Friday 9-4 pm $40.00 Fee

If you are having concerns or haven’t been to an ostomy clinic recently, come see us.We provide the guidance and reassurance needed to keep you on the road to wellness.

EXPERTS PROVIDINGSOLUTIONS

I’m having issues with …

Leakage Burning Redness & Irritation Ulceration Appliance Adhesion Adequate Wear Time Odor Hernia Support

ADVICEIt would be great to know …

Am I using too many products? Are there better products out there? How should I use these products? Is there an easier way to do this? Should I avoid certain clothing? What can I do if I have a hernia? Best method for swimming and exercise? What to expect when traveling?

REASSURANCEFrequently asked questions …

Is this ‘normal’? Should this be happening? Things have changed, what should I do? Am I doing this correctly? What do others do? Could this happen? Can I become pregnant? Is intimacy still possible?

March 2017 The Rambling Rosebud

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PRESIDENT’SMESSAGE Missing so many meetings last year, I feel I neglected my duties as President. First of all I would like to thank Stan Baker, Lyn Rowell, Sandi Burnett, and Irene Repka for their help filling in for me. Also a big thanks to Jan Winters, who, although living far away keeps our website current. Also, the members that keep this Association running. They make my job as President easy. Please thank them the next time you see them. This year I would like to concentrate on increasing membership and attendance at meetings. Many of you have seen the positive effect we can have on a person who comes to a meeting for the first time. I can remember many people who were going to have or had recently had ostomy surgery leaving our meeting feeling a lot better than when they first came to the meeting. You are the reason that happens. We offer a lot of support and advice and I believe we are a very welcoming group. I’d like to reach more ostomates with our positive message. I would like to get the word out about our meetings in two ways. We have a very nice brochure that describes our group and meeting information. First, I would like to leave some brochures in each Anne Arundel Public Library. Each library has a section with community and health information. I would like to leave our brochures in the offices of Doctors that care for ostomates. Both of these ideas involve visiting the libraries or Doctor’s offices. I’ll ask for volunteers at a future meeting. Any ideas to increase membership are appreciated. Please talk to me or email your ideas – plrsailing01@msn.com.

Paul

Items from this newsletter may be reprinted in other ostomy newsletters, provided proper credit is given as to source of material.

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

“Kids today don’t know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.”

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

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

x� Customized hospital and clinic service plans available

x� In-house Medicare and insurance billing specialists

x� Personalized pharmacy/medical supply specialist available

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

x� Toll Free 24 hour hotline x� 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: AARON SACCO Phone: (410) 254 2055 x260 Fax: (443) 740 9297 woc@northernpharmacy.com

March 2017 The Rambling Rosebud

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Allergic? How to Tell For Sure by Katherine Hoyman, CETN; via Minneapolis (MN)

Ostomy Outlook and S Brevard (FL) Ostomy Newsletter

Many times I hear that people are allergic to adhesive tape, or paper tape, skin prep, or any number of different products that are used in ostomy care. Allergies can occur with any product. They can occur with the first use of a product or after years without problems. Most people never have an allergic reaction, but a few are plagued with multiple sensitivities. However, many things assumed to be an "allergic" reaction may be another problem. It is important to know whether or not you are truly allergic to a product, because eliminating products reduces your options. Believing you are allergic may cause you not to try a pouch that might be perfect for you. Allergic reactions are usually severe and cause blistering and/or weeping skin wherever that pouch touches.

Two situations are frequently labeled as allergic by mistake:

First, if a skin sealant wipe is used, it needs to dry completely to allow the solvents to evaporate. If the pouch is applied while the solvents are still on the skin, sore skin can easily occur. Since the solvents can't evaporate through the skin barrier as they can through the paper tape collar, this will look like an allergy to the skin barrier. Second, each time you remove a pouch, the adhesive takes with it the top layer of dead skin cells. However, if you are removing a pouch frequently, cells can be removed faster than they are replaced. This is called "tape stripping." Everyone's skin reacts differently to having tape removed. But it's important to be gentle and not remove a pouch more frequently than necessary. Skin that is stripped will be sore in some spots and not in others. Sometimes skin around the stoma becomes fragile and strips easily, and a pouch and tape with very gentle adhesive must be found.

To check whether you are really allergic: Take a small piece of skin barrier or tape and place it on the other side of your abdomen or, with the help of someone else, on your back. After 48 hours, take it off and see whether you are reacting. (If pain, itching or blistering occurs, take it off immediately.) If it's an allergy, you will react. If you have a history of allergies, test this way before trying on a new pouch. It's better to have a patch of sore skin on your back than around the stoma, where you need a good seal. If you develop an allergy to a product you have used for a long time, you can call the manufacturer and find out if they have made changes in the manufacturing process. Calls from users are sometimes their first notice that the new improvements aren't working.

Mayyourtroublesbelessand

yourblessingsbemore,andnothingbuthappinesscomethroughyourdoor.

POOR OSTOMY MANAGEMENT IDEAS Via: GB News Review The following are poor procedures we found some people implement to manage their ostomy system. They are not recommended because they will yield less than optimal results. Sometimes we all do things that seem logical at the time, but inadvertently lessen our quality of life. A few of these are:

March 2017 The Rambling Rosebud

6

Using alcohol regularly to clean the peristomal skin. This may result in itching, skin irritation and damage to sensitive tissue. Using the same pouch too long. Seven days is the maximum recommended. Pouches become saturated with odor which cannot be removed. Ignoring skin problems. Always treat any skin irritations when you change your ostomy system. Barriers covering damaged areas are made to actually help heal them if used properly.

Wrapping the drainable pouch tail around and around the clamp before closing it. This will not make the clamp work better. All it will do is spring the clamp out of shape. Replace your old clamp with a new one every month. Letting the pouch get full before emptying. Excess weight will separate a two-piece system and will also put too much weight on the skin barrier resulting possibly in multiple problems. Empty the pouch at least when it is about one-third full. Living with unsatisfactory ostomy management. If you are unhappy with how your ostomy system works, make an appointment with an ET nurse. Not coming to UOA Chapter meetings. Once you figured out this thing, sharing with others turns out to be a surprisingly good way to keep yourself proactive and happy.

THIS AND THAT If you use an electric blanket and Stomahesive or karaya paste, beware of setting the blanket too high. Your faceplate may melt out of place. A couple of drops of mineral oil spread in your pouch by rubbing sides together will cause feces to drop to the bottom and not bunch around the stoma. If you use reusable pouches (with a two-piece system) wash the pouches in cold water. Hot water does not get them cleaner, but it does weaken the pouch and destroy the odor-proofing. Hot water locks color and odor into the pores of the plastic.

To lessen rustling sounds with disposable plastic pouches, put a piece of tape down the entire length of the bag, in the center and on the outside. Scotchgard sprayed on your elastic belt will help keep it clean longer and make it hold its shape better. If you need support hose, today’s sheer support panty hose are fine and will not “squish” your stoma. Put toilet paper in the toilet bowl before emptying your pouch to prevent splashing. Urinary Discharge Can Affect Skin and Kidneys Via Contra Cost (CA)) & S Brevard Fl

Urostomates have to be especially careful about cleanliness. Bacteria from stale urine can cause white, gritty deposits on the skin and stoma, which can be irritating, abrading the skin like sand paper. Fresh urine doesn’t usually hurt the skin unless it is trapped in contact with it. If urine collects under the pouch, the bacteria multiply rapidly. This skin should be completely cleansed and dried before applying tapes, barriers, faceplates, etc. Empty the pouch frequently. Keep the urine acid (through diet) to prevent gritty deposits. A quarter cup of half water and half white vinegar solution sloshed in the pouch around the stoma will dissolve any deposits. Solutions for cleaning and disinfecting urostomy equipment can be obtained from your appliance dealer.

Product Problems Occasionally you may experience “product” failure. A pouch won’t stay on, or has a problem. Life isn’t perfect and there is a potential for an occasional manufacturing problem. So if you have a problem with a product that you normally use without issue, contact the manufacturer with the lot number (it’s on the box). It will help them detect patterns in case others have had a problem also. Also, the manufacturer will usually replace the product for you.

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