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 42 Number 2 November 2015

Thank you Anne Arundel Medical Center for printing our newsletter.

Note: The November 2015 meeting will be held at 7:30pm in the Rotary Room (next to the Garden Cafeteria) in the Clatanoff Pavilion at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. If AA County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, there will be no meeting.

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all ... Thumper’s Dad in Bambi

UPCOMING MEETINGS

November 5th, 2105 – Group Discussion

December 4th, 2105 – Holiday Party

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.

NEXT BOARD MEETING: Monday March 21st, 7:30pm

Belcher Pavilion

 

                           

 

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

2015-­‐2016  

 

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.  

 

Happy Fall to All …. Looking beyond ostomy, wellness on a day to day basis is a challenge for most people. Small steps towards a healthier lifestyle can be simple and make a big difference over time. Better food choices, adding healthier foods to just one meal each day, or adding incremental amounts of daily exercise will provide long term health and wellness benefits. As we age joint and leg support, whatever the activity level, is a necessity. A reduction in swelling or amount of improper joint movement can prevent injury and more serious complications. Come by Austin Pharmacy & Medical Supplies to see our line of warming joint support, trendy compression socks, copper sportswear and leg-healthy stockings for everyday use. We even have devices to make donning these garments. Lastly, don’t forget to schedule time with friends, loved ones and your local support group. Best of health! The Austin Pharmacy Team  

November 2015 The Rambling Rosebud

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I’d like to thank Sandi for arranging for Dr. Carol Tweed of Annapolis Oncology to speak to us last month – it was well attended and it was a very informative session. We don’t have a speaker for this month so we will just have a group discussion.

For this month again, go to the Rotary Room (next to the Garden Cafeteria) in the Clatanoff Pavilion. Park in GARAGE C. This is effective for this month only. Next month will be our Holiday Party and as part of that we have come up with a way to do something for others in our ostomy family. If you have any unopened supplies that you no longer need (maybe you’ve switched brands or have some samples you never used) please bring them to the December meeting. We will have a box to place them in that will then be sent to the Friends of Ostomates Worldwide (FOW). If you don’t have any supplies to donate and you would like to participate, we can also collect checks made out to FOW that we can forward. FOW does amazing work to ship ostomy products to countries that don’t have the advantages that we do.

We also voted in our recent board meeting to have just two board meetings a year as we have little business to conduct and two ought to be sufficient. And if there are only two meetings perhaps some of you might be available to come and share your ideas.

Paul DEALING WITH SOCIAL SITUATIONS – Dr. Craig White, Monterey County, via Metro MD.

Social anxiety usually occurs when you believe that something will go wrong in a social situation. You may worry that your ostomy will make a noise or that you will smell. You may imagine that your bag will leak all over your clothes in the middle of the supermarket or that noises might erupt from the bag during prayers at church.

Accidents and unplanned incidents do happen. Instead of stopping your thought process after you have considered the worst possibility, take it forward and construct a coping plan. Remember, even if your worst fears do come true, there is always something you can do to cope. Most likely you will never have to use your coping plan, but a least you know it is there if you need it. Most people say they find it easier to put a plan into action that they’ve already thought about, rather than having to improvise when something happens. .

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

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

THE MID-ATLANTIC’S LARGEST OSTOMY DEALER

We have a dedicated group of Ostomy Supply Consultants 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

In-house Medicare and insurance billing specialists

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 CONSULTANT: KEITH CAPPS Phone: (410) 254 2055 x249 Fax: (443) 740 9297 kcapps@northernpharmacy.com

November 2015 The Rambling Rosebud

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SOME THOUGHTS ON A SUPPORT GROUP Lyn Rowell

I once talked to a young ostomate who had required the surgery for severe illness and was very grateful for the surgery since it had significantly improved her ability to live her life. Since not everyone feels that way I was happy to see that they saw this as something positive in their life. However, they declined my invitation to attend a support group because, in their words, they were extremely happy with their ostomy which seemed to indicate in their opinion that only unhappy people go to support groups. While they honestly didn’t have any concerns at the time, I think another reason they declined to join a group was I was significantly older than they were and they probably thought support groups were full of “old” people we had nothing in common. Frequently we focus on differences instead of focusing on commonalities. While our age when we undergo ostomy surgery may significantly impact how quickly we recover, at the end of the day our experiences often overlap. As I write this I am getting ready for an appointment with Dr. Proshan as I have a very painful pelvic abscess. I am blessed with a wide circle of friends who have all been comforting and desire to help out. But the young couple from my church congregation were the most helpful as I waited for diagnosis (it took 10 days). Despite the fact their children are younger than some of my grandchildren, we share a common experience since the husband (who has had surgery for Crohns disease) has had a pelvic abscess. So we talk a common language that my other friends don’t understand. Our age difference is immaterial – what is shared is our common experience. Have you ever considered what “normal” is – if you take all the people in your neighborhood, the majority will not have an ostomy so therefore it won’t be “normal.” However in a gathering of our group, an ostomy is entirely normal. And

while we all hope everything will function year in and year out as it should, there might be times when something odd happens and then it is comforting to talk to someone else who has “been there and done that.” The dictionary defines support as providing approval, comfort or encouragement, which again implies (to me) that you go because you have a problem. While that may be true I believe our group also provides opportunities for new friendships and a place to share our common experience. In the spirit of this thanksgiving season, I would like to express thanks to all I have associated with during the 19 years that I have been coming and who have provided me a network of “normal” ostomates.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR OR WOC NURSE Via Stoma-Life CA & Baltimore Ostomy Assn • If cramps last more than two or three hours. • If you get a deep cut in the stoma. • If there is excessive bleeding from the stoma

opening or a moderate amount of blood in the pouch after several emptyings.

• If there is bleeding at the juncture of the skin and the stoma.

• If there is severe irritation or deep ulcers in the peristomal skin.

• If there is unusual change in size or appearance of the stoma.

• If the color of the stoma changes to purplish-blue.

• For severe watery discharge lasting more than five or six hours.

• If there is strong odor lasting more than a week.

November 2015 The Rambling Rosebud

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• For any other unusual occurrence regarding the stoma.

A man in Florida, in his 80s, calls his son in New York one November day. The father says to the son, “I hate to tell you, but we’ve got some troubles here in the house. Your mother and I can’t stand each other anymore, and we’re getting a divorce. I’m telling you now, so you and your sister shouldn’t go into shock later when I move out.”

He hangs up, and the son immediately calls his sister in the Hamptons and tells her the news. The sister says, “I’ll handle this.” She calls Florida and says to her father, “Don’t do ANYTHING till we get there! We’ll be there Wednesday night.”

The father agrees, “All right.” The old man hangs up the phone and hollers to his wife, “Okay, they’re coming for Thanksgiving. Now, what are we going to tell them for Christmas?”

SOOOO—HOW DO I CLEAN THIS POUCH?

Via: Hemet-San Jacinto, CA If you are cleaning a drainable two-piece pouch for reuse, use warm, rather than hot or cold water. Cold water doesn’t lift stool or urine as readily from the plastic and the pouch is less pliable. Hot water will cause the pouch to wear out faster and may increase the likelihood of odor. If you want to rinse the pouch while you’re still wearing it, use a small squirt bottle to get the water in it, slosh’ it around by holding the end and let things empty into the toilet. Unless you have no option, it’s best to remove the pouch entirely for cleaning. A bit of ordinary dish detergent with warm water, or, if bacteria is a concern, a bit of white vinegar mixed with water will do the trick. Fill the pouch with the warm water/soap/vinegar solution and slosh it by hand over the toilet, drain and repeat as necessary. It’s not recommended that you wash these things in the sink- - the drains are usually too small to handle this sort of waste and the result will not be hygienic. Once you have things reasonably clean, you can hold the pouch under the bathtub faucet and let it rinse. Tub drains are larger and so long as you let a good flush of water follow,

and scrub the bathtub on a regular basis (which you do anyway, right?) your bathroom will not smell. Baking soda in the wash water and down the drain is an excellent deodorizer. You can hang the wet pouch by the ring on a hook to dry or just leave it flat on a towel and it will be ready for use the next day. The inside doesn’t have to be bone dry for use, but the outside and ring should be. A lot of products have a thin fabric covering on them—nice against the skin when dry but very uncomfortable if damp. Make sure that part is dry before putting it back on..

SAVE THE DATE!

UOAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

April 29th – May 1st 2016 To e held at the Holiday Inn Washington Dulles International Airport, Sterling, Virginia 20166 Events include speakers, workshops, exhibits, Stoma clinic, Reception, Breakfast and lunch buffets. Registration begins 4PM Friday April 29 and conference begins at 6:30 PM Friday and ends at noon on Sunday, May 1

HOSTED BY: Ostomy Support Group of Northern Virginia,

LLC (OSGNV, LLC) and its satellite

Ostomy Connections Support Group, Fredericksburg, VA

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