OFFICERS President:

Webmaster: Janice Winters Paul Rossi 410-647-6171 268 Shakespeare Drive Severna Park, MD 21146 410-255-6802 410-987-0094 410-672-6983 Melissa Blood BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dennis Fila Joan Gardner Ginny Gross Stan Baker Allyn Mellits

Vice President Stan Novack Secretary Jamie Darr Treasurer Lyn Rowell Youth Rally Coordinator

OSTOMY ADVISERS: Irene Repka, RN, BS, CWOCN Michelle Perkins, RN, BS. DIRECTOR EMIRITUS - Mary Lou Thomas, RN, BA, CWOCN

Were on the Web! www.annearundelostomy.com

Volume 39 Number 1 CURRENT MEETIING November 1, 2012 * Presentation by Dr. Proshan November 2012

FUTURE MEETINGS December 6, 2012 * Holiday Party

Note: Regular meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, at 7:30pm on the 7th floor of the new Health Science Building. Check with the 7th floor desk for the room number. See overleaf for directions. If AA County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, there will be no meeting. What is the difference between the death of a barber and the death of a sculptor? One curls up and dies; the other makes faces and busts.

A WORD OF THANKS for their constant support of our Chapter to: The American Cancer Society, especially the office in Gambrills, for essential help with our newsletter; and Anne Arundel Medical Center for providing rooms for our regular meetings and special events. We appreciate their support and assistance. NOTICES The display, description, demonstration or distribution of products at our meetings, or in the newsletter, or by the recommendation of a member of our Association, does not constitute an endorsement of that product by the AACOA. CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR or ET Nurse before using any products or methods published in the AACO newsletter or suggested by a member of the AACOA. Your own doctor or ET nurse provides medical advice that is best for you. 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 We are fortunate to have available the services of Enterostomal Therapy Nurses serving our local area: To consult with one of them, a physicians referral is necessary and a fee will be charged. Call for an appointment. BALTIMORE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL Carol Canada RN, BSN, CWOCN 410-787-4578 ANNE ARUNDEL MEDICAL CENTER Michelle Perkins, RN, BS Kelly Heffron, BSN, CWOCN 443-481-5508

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

Directions to Health Science Building Anne Arundel Medical Center

From Annapolis and the Eastern Shore: Take Route 50 West to Jennifer Road exit (Exit 23A). Go through the traffic light onto Medical Parkway. From Baltimore: Take I-97 South to Route 50 East, to Parole exit (Exit 23). Turn right onto West Street then right onto Jennifer Road. Go approximately one mile, and turn left at traffic light onto Medical Parkway. From Washington DC: Take Route 50 East to Parole exit (Exit 23). Turn right onto West Street then right onto Jennifer Road. Go approximately one mile, and turn left at traffic light onto Medical Parkway. Alternate to I-97 from Crofton/Odenton area Take 178 South through Crownsville towards Annapolis. Turn left on Bestgate Road and then right on Medical Parkway. REMEMBER!!! The entrance to the medical center 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.

For those serving on the board, the next board meeting is November 19th at 7:30pm

TRANSPORTATION TO MONTHLY MEETINGS Some are not able to attend the monthly meetings because of transportation issues. Others may be able to give someone a ride. SO if you need help with transportation OR if you can help with transportation, please let us know by emailing us at webmaster@annearundelostomy.com. Please put MEETING TRANSPORTATION in the subject line. Please include your street address and city in your email we are trying to match up individuals with others in the same area. We cannot promise to be able to get you a ride, but we will try.

November 2012

The Rambling Rosebud

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE Thanks to everyone who attended our meeting last month. Our speaker was Dr. Dean Hoover who addressed us one last time before he retires at the end of the year. We really enjoyed his presentation and thank him for all his support to our group in the past. Well it doesnt seem possible but we are almost at the end of the year. In December we will have our holiday party look for more details about that in our next newsletter but plan on bringing something to share some cookies or an appetizer type dish and on having a good time!

Paul

EMPIRE
PROFESSIONAL PHARMACY
EMPIRE MEDICAL BUILDING 200 Hospital Drive Glen Burnie, MD 21061

410-787-0030
v 10% discount on ostomy supplies and prescriptions for members of A.A. Co. Ostomy Association v We bill Medicare and Blue Cross for you

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A man walked into a lawyers office and inquired about the lawyers rates $500 for three questions, replied the lawyer. Isnt that awfully steep? asked the man. Yes, the lawyer said, and what is your third question.

November 2012 DEPRESSION

The Rambling Rosebud

5 combination of medications may be needed. It also may take time to find the right medication so someone shouldnt give up be patient and keep talking and meeting with your doctor. There is so much help available now but in order to get that help, someone with depression needs to take the first step and see medical advice. Often that is the most difficult part family members can be supportive in their encouragement, but ultimately the individual must take the steps to see a doctor. The good news is that the medical profession understands so much more about depression and there are more treatment options available than ever before. CONTINUING YOUR SOCIAL LIFE WITH AN OSTOMY
via Tacoma (WA) and Green Bay (WI) News Review

Lyn Rowell based on Dr. Hoovers presentation

Depression is a term that we are probably all familiar with and there is greater public awareness and understanding of those who have chronic depression. Dr. Hoover described three usual meanings when we talk about depression or being depressed. Firstly, its used when we mean I feel sad and is a normal response to misfortune or disappointment. As such it is a common experience that usually lasts for a short period of time. Since we all face disappointment at one time or other, it is good to realize that our feelings during such times are short term and that the period of sadness (depression) will pass. Someone adapting to ostomy surgery may have this kind of sadness/depression due to the change in their circumstances. It may be more intense during the initial healing and adapting stages but eventually passes as life begins a new normal. The second use of the word is associated with a stage of deep grief or mourning due to a significant, personal loss. It is important to note that while time heals, some loss will still be felt years later. As Dr. Hoover noted, while time heals and we move on in our lives, loss of a parent, spouse or child is often something that will continue to evoke temporary feelings of sadness. This is not only normal, it is a compliment to the person who is gone that we they were so important to us that we still miss them. For some ostomates, this mourning may be for the life they had before surgery. However, if someone becomes so depressed that they are unable to function with daily life for extended periods of time, then the depressive condition they have is caused not by an event but by a chemical imbalance. This kind of depression requires medical treatment. This treatment may include talking with a therapist and usually will include medication to address the chemical imbalance. However, Dr. Hoover had previously talked about the challenge of getting the right medication and sometimes a

Your social life can be as active as it was before surgery. You can enjoy all activities: meeting people, attending concerts, sporting events, civic and social club meetings, parties, religious occasions or whatever you enjoyed before. The first time you go out of the house after surgery, you may feel as if everyone is staring at your appliance, even though it is not visible under your clothing. You can feel your appliance on your body, but no one can see it. Keep these questions in mind: Did you know what an ostomy was or where a stoma was located, or what it looked like before you had surgery? You may also worry about your pouch filling with gas and sticking out under your clothing. A quick trip to the restroom can take care of this problem. If you are worried about your pouch filling up immediately after eating at a social event, remember, people without ostomies often need to go to the restroom after eating and nobody will think it is unusual if you do the same! You will probably find that you need to empty your pouch less often than you need to urinate.

November 2012

The Rambling Rosebud

6 TIPS FOR EXERCISING IN COLD WEATHER

Lyn Rowell

Friendship and Love: You may be wondering about your relationships with others. Now that you have an ostomy, you may feel that it will change your present relationships and decrease new opportunities for friendship and love. True friendships and deep relationships on any level are built on trust and mutual understanding. These qualities depend on you and other persons. You have the same qualities you had before surgery and your ability to develop friendships is unchanged. If you care about yourself, others will feel your strength and will not be deterred. If your ostomy does cause a break in friendship, a sexual alliance or even marriage, this relationship was not built upon trust and mutual respect and probably would have crumbled some time in the future anyway. DID YOU KNOW? Beer may blow up your pouch with gas. This may be helpful when you need a flotation device! Soda will also have a similar effect. Some drinks with artificial coloring (like Gatorade Blue Bolt) will give you an interesting colored output. All food dye turns stool the color of the dye, temporarily. It will surprise you the first time it happens. This includes Blue Hawaiians or red beets. Beets make you look like you are bleeding to death. Dont panic! People cant tell you have an ostomy a new ostomate is always sure everyone can tell but they cant. Some medications wont be properly absorbed depending on how much of the intestine was removed. You should check with your doctor and pharmacist to ensure your medications are being properly absorbed. *****************

The autumn weather gives us plenty of opportunities to be outside in pleasant temperatures and seasonal yard work is a great way to exercise. However, as the winter weather approaches, it is time to begin planning how to stay fit when those colder temperatures come. Our best intentions to go out and walk can quickly fade in the face of a bitter cold wind! But exercise is a vital part of overall health, so what do you do? There are options and among them are: Walk at the mall many malls open early to allow individuals or groups to walk before the stores open. This allows you to exercise at your own pace in a comfortable and safe environment. And best of all, its free! However, do it before the stores open! Firstly because when there are patrons at the mall you cant keep up a good pace, but secondly, it can be more expensive if the stores are open!! Another option is to join a health club some even have a pool, and many now have classes (like Zumba) that are more fun than just using exercise equipment alone. Working out at home you dont need expensive bulky exercise equipment to stay fit. There are smaller pieces of exercise equipment that are inexpensive and easy to use. Using a video game system (like the Wii) for a work out can be a lot of fun and they have many different games so you dont get bored by the same routine. Many fitness programs, like Zumba, are also available for game consoles.
DID YOU KNOW?? Most of the artwork used in our newsletter was created by one of our founding members, Claire LeCompte who is still missed.

Did you hear about the man who went to see his doctor because he saw spots in front of his eyes? The eye doctor gave him glasses, and now he can see the spots much better.