OFFICERS President: Stan Baker 410-672-5219 958 Fall Ridge Way Gambrills, MD 21054 Vice President Paul Rossi Secretary Mary Keller Treasurer Lyn Rowell 410-672-6983 Webmaster: Janice Winters BOARD OF DIRECTORS Allyn Mellits Joan Gardner Sandi Burnett Bob Keller OSTOMY ADVISERS: Joyce Onken BSN, RN, CWOCN Lead Inpatient Wound Ostomy Nurse AAMC We’re on the Web! www.annearundelostomy.com Volume 45 Number 12 September 2018 Thank you Anne Arundel Medical Center for printing our newsletter. ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY MARYLAND OSTOMY ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. BOX 847 GAMBRILLS, MD 21054 Note: Meetings are held at 7pm, the first Thursday of each month at the Belcher Pavilion at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. From the 2 nd 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 desk for the room number. If AA County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, there will be NO MEETING. UPCOMING MEETINGS September 6th Presentation by Jenn Davis, RN, BS, CWON DON’T FORGET WE START AT 7PM
Transcript
OFFICERS President: Stan Baker 410-672-5219 958 Fall Ridge Way Gambrills, MD 21054
Vice President Paul Rossi Secretary Mary Keller Treasurer Lyn Rowell 410-672-6983
Webmaster: Janice Winters BOARD OF DIRECTORS Allyn Mellits Joan Gardner Sandi Burnett Bob Keller OSTOMY ADVISERS: Joyce Onken BSN, RN, CWOCN Lead Inpatient Wound Ostomy Nurse AAMC
We’re on the Web! www.annearundelostomy.com Volume 45 Number 12 September 2018
Thank you Anne Arundel Medical Center for printing our newsletter.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY MARYLAND OSTOMY ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. BOX 847 GAMBRILLS, MD 21054
Note: Meetings are held at 7pm, 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 desk for the room number.
If AA County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, there will be NO MEETING.
UPCOMING MEETINGS September 6th
Presentation by Jenn Davis, RN, BS, CWON
DON’T FORGET WE START AT 7PM
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
Last FirstM.I.Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________StreetAddress Apartment/Unit#_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Soft convex ostomy wafers are not new to the ostomy world, but have recently been added to
popular product lines such as Hollister, Convatec, Coloplast and Marlin. Their
delivery is a great alternative where rigid convexity has no place, but is still a need. Examples include but are not limited to
recessed stomas, peristomal hernias, and deep abdominal crevices where rigid convexity
“pops” off. These products tend to bend easily, feel and fit comfortably, and don’t usually
pose a risk for pressure ulcers. The reimbursement varies depending on your
insurance, however, if you find yourself in the need, ask yourWOCN or give us a call!
Give us a call to discuss more topics of interest or for consultation. Our best,
Colleen, Joan & Sue
Schedule Your Ostomy Consultation Today!
p. 410-773-0300 (x3) f. 410-773-0302
Austin Pharmacy & Medical Supplies Baltimore
6729 York Rd Towson
901 Dulaney Valley Hunt Valley
10757 York Rd
September 2018 The Rambling Rosebud
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The day of our last meeting (August 2nd) reinforced why I’m glad I’m retired and no longer have to commute to work. I took a friend of mine to Dulles to catch a flight to Europe. Simple enough. The normal two hour drive round trip took slightly more than four hours. Mother Nature mixed in a nasty storm. It was not fun. And people make that kind of drive every day. Despite the longer than expected drive, I made it to our meeting that night. Our speaker was Tonnie Warfield, a nurse from Baltimore, who told us about the UOAA Youth Rally. In addition to helping the kids with their medical problems, the counselors help with the social problems of being “different.” If you’re looking for a worthwhile group to receive a donation, the Youth Rally certainly qualifies. We having speakers or activities scheduled for the rest of the year. Join us.
Stan
Items from this newsletter may be reprinted in other ostomy newsletters, provided proper credit is given as to source of material.
UPCOMING MEETINGS October – representative from AA County Department of Aging November – Charlie Black, AquaFit Physical Therapy December - Holiday Party
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
Joan M. Sullivan, MAS, RN, CNA, CWOCN 410-932-7312
The Ostomy Nurses at Austin Pharmacy 410-773-0300
No referral necessary ($40 consultative fee)
The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it’s the same problem you had last year. John Foster Dulles
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
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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
Back in April I wrote an article about the FDA making Loperamide more difficult to purchase in bulk because of individuals who were abusing the drug, which in very high doses causes heart problems. So I was a bit disappointed to find bulk quantities have already been pulled from places such as Costco. Apparently the FDA asks stores to voluntarily remove bulk packages from purchase which must have happened as when I went to find some at Costco, sadly they were gone. The product is no longer listed on their website but is available through Amazon, but at a hefty price - $49 for one bottle of 200 pills when it used to sell for under $10 for two bottles at Costco. Because it’s no longer available in bulk, the price has skyrocketed.
I read that often the next step is to move the drug from off the shelves to behind the counter, requiring you to ask a pharmacist for it (which has not happened yet). The next step for the FDA after that if they are still concerned, is to make it only available on prescription. Depending on your prescription co-pay if you are someone who needs it daily, it might be more cost effective on prescription than buying over the counter, where currently a pack of 48 is over $20.
************ FOLLICULITIS – A HAIRY PROBLEM By Kathy Dahn, RN, Riverside HealthCare via Kankakee Ostomy Association At the risk of sounding sexist, this article primarily applies to hairy guys (sorry fellas – but women seldom have much hair on their bellies!). So what’s the big deal? The fact of the matter is that abdominal wall hair can be so strong that it can grow out through a wafer and the waterproof tape, sticking straight up like blades of grass. If I hadn’t seen this myself, I would never have believed it!. Needless to say, removing the wafer when the hair is caught like this is going to be very
painful (similar to “wax jobs” you see on TV). OUCH!!!
As if the pain isn’t enough, this type of hair removal can cause folliculitis, which is an inflammation within the hair follicle. Removing the waver in a rough manner and dry-shaving can also cause folliculitis. This condition presents as reddened bumps on the peristomal skin. This redness may be confused with a yeast infection, but if you look carefully, the redness is only present around each hair follicle. If infection is present in the hair follicle, the bump may look like a pustule. So what is the solution to this hairy problem? Many men find they must shave the peristomal skin with each appliance change. In the past, the ostomy literature has always recommended using an electric razor. I personally have never had great success with this method although I have heard that some folks do very well with the newer small razors that were designed for trimming mustaches and sideburns. If you use a safety razor, as we do in the hospital, be sure to apply sufficient shave cream so that this is NOT a “dry” shave and be gentle. Most shave creams have emollients so you will need to wash the skin with a plain soap afterwards (like Ivory), rinse and dry well. If the skin is very irritated and itchy, we have found Kenalog spray to be helpful. This is steroid (cortisone) spray which decreased the itching and irritation. It does not require a prescription from the doctor. If you use Kenalog spray on your peristomal skin, apply lightly then allow it to dry a bit prior to placing your appliance. The spray has a slightly oily base so your wafer probably won’t stay on as long as you are used to, but hopefully, your skin will be healing! If there are actual pustules around each hair follicle, you may need to use an antibiotic powder such as Polysporin powder to clear the problem. Again, a prescription is needed to obtain this product.
September 2018 The Rambling Rosebud
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Folliculitis is not as common a problem as skin breakdown or yeast infections but it is very annoying when it does happen. Hopefully, these hints will help.
Keeping Your Pouch Odor Proof
by Victor Alterescu, RNET; via Quad City (IL) Newsletter and S. Brevard (FL) Newsletter, Stillwater-Ponca City (OK) Ostomy Outlook
Rinsing a pouch out each time it is emptied is primarily a waste of time. For one thing, it takes longer to empty the pouch and you need more materials around you. You also leave more odor in the room since the pouch is kept open longer. The water, especially if it is warm, may open the pores of the pouch material and encourage odor permeation. Also, rinsing can affect the seal of your adhesive.
Rinsing a pouch after each emptying serves only an aesthetic purpose; the interior of the pouch may be clean but it does not serve a functional purpose. Frankly, it does not matter whether the interior of your pouch is clean any more than it matters if the interior of your colon is clean. The pouch is replacing an organ of storage, the colon and/or rectum.
The most important portion of the pouch that should be cleansed very thoroughly is the tip of the drainable pouch.
Rinsing the interior can only increase permeation but cleaning the exterior neck will avoid any odor that may be present as a result of having fecal residue on the end of the pouch. Therefore, I often recommend that a person carry an alcohol wipe (individually wrapped in foil) to clean the tip of the pouch. The pouch is emptied, the toilet flushed immediately, and the lower portion of the exterior pouch cleansed with toilet tissue and alcohol.
STOMA SHAPE AND LEAKAGE via Abilene (TX) Hendrick Ostomy Support Group, North Central OK Ostomy Outlook & The Mail Pouch
Are you aware that stomas sometimes change shape? This can happen when you change from a standing to a sitting position. Mirrors are handy gadgets—take a look! The stoma that is round when you are lying down or standing may be oval when you sit down. This may be a source of a leaking problem and merits thought. Remember, the stoma is a portion of the intestines brought to the surface of the abdomen. The healthy red color of the stoma means there is a good blood supply. The natural lubricant of the intestines is mucus. No adhesive will stick to the stoma because of the mucous lining.
Therefore, any part of the faceplate/wafer that comes in contact with the mucus on the stoma will automatically refuse to stick. Thus the seal around the stoma does not change even though the stoma shape changes. This means that if the stoma is oval in a sitting position, perhaps the opening on the faceplate should be oval. This particularly applies to people who are sedentary most of the day. This is not an absolute rule, but a consideration if you find leakage a problem.
“Cheerfulness and content are great beautifiers and are famous preservers of youthful looks”
