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 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 45 Number 1 October 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

October5th–ColleenSimpsonCWOCNAustinPharmacy

November–Dr.CarolTweed

“There is a beautiful and an ugly way in which to say almost everything, and happiness depends upon which way we take.”

Delia Porter

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

2018-2019

Live Well❖ Live Independent❖ Live Active

TOWSON6729YorkRoad

Baltimore,MD21212

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

HUNTVALLEY10757YorkRoad

Cockeysville,MD21030

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

TollFree:1-855-AUSTMED

M-F9:00a.m.-6:00p.m.Sat9:00a.m.-2:00p.m.

Colleen Simpson BSN, RN, CWON

Did you know that Austin Pharmacy & Medical Supplies is

now a one- stop -shop for ALL your Medicare needs?

With the recent competitive bidding complete, Austin

Pharmacy was granted access to supply Medicare patients with

wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, support surfaces,

nebulizers and much more! In addition to our medication,

diabetic, compression and brace support, we continually strive

for excellence in providing the most efficient and best quality

wound, ostomy and continence service in the region.

To find out more, give us a call!

October 2017 The Rambling Rosebud

4

PRESIDENT’SMESSAGE Many thanks to those who have already returned their membership forms. If you want to save a stamp, bring it to the October meeting. We apologize that Dr. Kahan wasn’t at our last meeting. Hopefully we can reschedule for next year. We have been invited by another group to attend their upcoming product fair. It will be on October 5, from 2pm-4pm in the Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center (JHOC), located at 601 North Caroline Street in Baltimore. Go to room 2140-2150 on the second floor. There is a parking garage on Caroline Street and the group offers parking validation. They are anxious to have others join them because a big attendance means they reps will be happy to come back in the future.

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

Jenn Davis, RN, BS, CWON Anne Fischer, RN, BS, CWON Joyce Onken, RN, BS, CWON

Sarah McClain, RN, BS, CWON Email ostomyRN@aahs.org

443-481-5508 / 443-481-5177 Private Consultants

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

UPCOMING MEETINGS OCTOBER Colleen Simpson – Austin Pharmacy NOVEMBER Dr. Carol Tweed DECEMBER Holiday Party

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.

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

October 2017 The Rambling Rosebud

6

TO REDUCE ACID IN THE URINE To reduce acid in the urine, avoid the over consumption of meat, alcohol, soft drinks, caffeine, coffee, most nuts, eggs, vinegar, sauerkraut, ascorbic acid, pasteurized milk, cheese, and white sugar. Add more ripe fruit, vegetables, soy beans, bean sprouts, water, raw milk, onions, figs, carrots, beets, miso, calcium citrate and vitamin K to your diet. See http://www.enzymedica.com/pdf/pH_Handout.pdf

Other alkaline foods include almonds, milk, fruits and vegetables (except cranberries), plums, corn and lentils. See http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/virtual_wc/nutrition_handbook/nutrition_chemo.htm

..the most acidic foods are the junk foods, sugars, artificial sweeteners, coffee, alcohol and white flour…..Ideally, our food intake should be approximately 80% alkaline and 20% acidic. As you reduce acidic foods, you should eat more alkaline foods, for example, fruits and vegetables (especially the non-starchy variety). See http://www.drsalzarulo.com/alkaline-foods-article.html

**********

Editors Note: August was not a good month for me as I had more than one stomach virus that led to high volume, watery output. The following contains some helpful suggestions for managing output.

OSTOMY OUTPUT via NV Town Karaya; and Green Bay (WI) News Review

What to do if your ostomy output becomes thin, watery, or greatly increases in volume: • Never limit your fluid intake in order to thicken the

drainage, since this can lead to dehydration. Editor’s note - sip liquids SLOWLY – taking a mouthful of water every 3-5 minutes helps you stay hydrated and stops fluid from just rushing through your body.

• Avoid food which you know from experience makes drainage too loose and too frequent.

• Begin a low-residue diet, avoiding especially green beans, broccoli, spinach, highly spiced foods, raw fruits and beer.

• Add strained bananas, applesauce, boiled rice, tapioca, boiled milk and peanut butter to your diet.

• Pretzels help in thickening and add bulk to the drainage. The salt, also, helps to stimulate thirst.

NOTE: Many people lack an enzyme which is responsible for the metabolism of milk sugar (lactose). This condition can cause diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea and cramping. The elimination of milk products may cause a dramatic improvement in the symptoms. What to do if your ostomy output becomes thick, or if you develop constipation: • Increase your fluid consumption, especially fruit

juices. • Increase the amount of cooked fruits and

vegetables you are consuming. Very few foods need to be omitted from your diet because of fear of food blockage. Perhaps more important than the food in avoiding blockages is chewing well. You can reduce your intake of foods which are very high in fiber, and foods with seeds that are hard to digest if they appear to be a problem. Examples are Chinese vegetables, raw onions, nuts, pineapples, corn-on-the-cob, raw carrots, raisins, celery, mushrooms

IN THE NEWS Thanks to Herb for sending me the link to an article in USA Today about Edward Yakacki III an ostomate who is a cancer survivor and former body-builder. About his ostomy he said: “It's like a trophy…It's a constant reminder of what I went through. ... People are ashamed of these things. They try to hide them. I'm just trying to show it, so people won't be ashamed of it." He was featured among 12 survivors under age 50 in a 2016 calendar called “the Colondar” published for the past decade by The Colon Club, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of colorectal cancer. While some of us are a little reluctant to show off our ostomy, there is a growing number of individuals who are not afraid of revealing their ostomy as they seek to spread general ostomy awareness.

October 2017 The Rambling Rosebud

7

THE RISK OF BEING SET IN YOUR WAYS By: Sharon Williand, RNET, Metro WA “By-Pass” & Golden Gate Chapter

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 ostomates. While writing this column, I was reminded of several examples of individuals recently seen by our ET team. One gentleman had a sigmoid colostomy performed many years ago and had developed a huge peristomal hernia. He irrigated his colostomy daily and had been using 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. All-in-all, 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 lady called the ET 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 also had no idea of what supplies were locally available. She was totally amazed at the new light-weight odor-proof pouches now on the market. Another case involved a gentleman 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 “Ostomy Quarterly,” attend ostomy support group meetings, ask your doctor, ET, and pharmacist “What’s New?” You may be surprised at the improvements you will discover.

Sports After An Ostomy (via Swiss Ostomy Website via GB News Review)

There is no reason to reduce sports activity just because you’ve had ostomy surgery, though there are some common sense considerations that should be utilized: A tight strongly sticking pouch is absolutely necessary. There is no need to do anything extraordinary. You should try to keep your pouch reasonably empty. Avoid sports with high risk of injury such as boxing. If you insist on contact sports, protect yourself. There are manufacturers of special stoma guards that will permit you to do just about anything. Do not allow our stoma to keep you from doing any activities you would ordinarily do. A sport that stresses your abdominal muscles too much should be avoided, unless you have slowly and deliberately, under the guidelines of a knowledgeable professional, built up these muscles to the point where you can easily perform the skills necessary without undue exertion. Check your pouch after strong physical effort. A change of pouch may be necessary due to perspiration and movement. We all get less wear time due to any kind of physical activity. It is better to change the pouch after an exciting, active day. Before you go swimming, make sure your pouch is secure and empty. There is no reason that having an ostomy should keep you from swimming. Some people may need to take extra steps, such as adding extra tape, but the newer ostomy equipment, with advanced adhesives, work pretty well on their own. Specialty stores have specific swimwear for ostomates, which are higher cut with a pocket for the pouch.

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