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

Secretary
Jamie Darr
Treasurer
Lyn Rowell
Webmaster: Janice Winters

410-255-6802
410-987-0094
410-672-6983

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.

Were on the Web! www.annearundelostomy.com

Volume 42

Let no man
imagine he has
no influence.
Henry George

Number 1

October 2015

Thank you Anne Arundel Medical Center for printing our newsletter.

UPCOMING MEETINGS
October 1st, 2105 Dr. Carol Tweed, Oncologist
November 5th, 2105 Group Discussion

Note: The October and November 2015 meeting will be held at 7:30pm, on the
dates listed above 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.

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

2015-2016

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: ____ Crohns ____Ulcerative Colitis _____ Cancer _____ Other__________________________
Emergency contact if we are unable to reach you: ______________________________________________________________________
What type of surgery have you had?
Colostomy
Ileostomy

Urostomy
Parent of child with

Spouse/Family Member
Other (please specify)

I would like to help with the following committee(s) or activities:

Finance
Program

Membership
Sunshine

Newsletter
Visiting

How did you hear about us?

Internet Search
Hospital

Other

Hospitality
Refreshments
ET/WOCN Nurse
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.

If you think communication is all

talk, you have not been listening.
Unknown

OSTOMY ADVISORS FOR STOMA HELP
To consult with one of the ETs below, a physicians
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

Live Well Live Independent Live Active

Colleen Simpson
BSN, RN, CWON

Why all this talk of convexity? Convexity on an

ostomy pouch is used for multiple reasons. One
main reason surrounds the principle of needing a
flat plane surface for application of an ostomy
wafer or one piece pouch. When creases, folds,
scars, or other uneven terrain surround an ostomy,
the potential for leakage is greater.
Another need for convexity is due to stomal
shape on the abdomen. If the ostomy sits either
flush or slightly inverted on the abdomen, this
increases the risk for leakage.
Lastly, if there is a trend of material not draining
into the pouch itself, convexity may help. If you
feel you are in need, give your ostomy nurse or
Austin Pharmacy a call!

TOWSON

HUNT VALLEY

6729 York Road

Baltimore, MD 21212

Toll Free: 1-855-AUSTMED

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

M-F 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Sat 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

10757 York Road

Cockeysville, MD 21030
Phone: 410-773-0300
Fax: 410-773-0301

October 2015

The Rambling Rosebud

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Thank you for the membership renewals that have been coming in. We really appreciate it. The big news
for this month is we have a speaker (YAY!), Dr. Carol Tweed of Annapolis Oncology, AND well be in a
different location for the next two meetings. So dont go to the usual place because you wont find our
group there.
Dr. Tweed is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology and sees a broad
range of patients with diagnoses in oncology and hematology.
To hear Dr. Tweeds presentation, go to the Rotary Room (next to the Garden Cafeteria) in the Clatanoff
Pavilion. Park in GARAGE C. This is effective for October and November only.

Paul
KEEP A MEDICAL JOURNAL Via Ostomy News Review
Often a problem has been nagging at your body for weeks or months. Sometimes a piece of
equipment doesnt work properly. When you finally break down and go to the doctor, or consult an
ET nurse, you find that they ask questions about the history of the problem which you cant answer.
As a result of their diagnosis is not based on complete information. To avoid a faulty or inadequate
diagnosis, it is wise to write down the symptoms of problems as they occur. Often, you will find that
by writing down these symptoms and the events which precede them, you, yourself, can spot some
obvious solution: (or at least, causes). A medical journal can help you to avoid false assumptions
about your problems; it can also aid you when similar problems crop up in the future. Accurate
information is always welcomed by your doctor or ET.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until
you hear them speak.
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

physicians 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
4

THE MID-ATLANTICS 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

Weve 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:
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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
Northern Pharmacy and Medical Equipment
6701 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21234
Harford Rd & Northern Parkway
www.NorthernPharmacy.com

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

SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OUR OSTOMY SUPPLY

MANAGER: AARON SACCO
Phone: (410) 254 2055 x260 Fax: (443) 740 9297
woc@northernpharmacy.com

October 2015

The Rambling Rosebud

YOU CAN HIDE YOUR OSTOMY

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
Research Via the Visitor, Portland Maine, and Inside
Out Winnipeg, Manitoba

To you, the ostomy bag attached to you is

painfully obvious. When you look in the mirror,
you notice the bag under your clothes. You
might think every gurgle and noise coming from
your stoma is loud and heard by everyone in the
room.
Most people wont notice your ostomy unless
you tell them about it. As you get used to your
ostomy, youll figure out tips and tricks to keep
the bag hidden and the noises to a minimum.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

I can't choose how I feel, but I

can choose what I do about it
Head Off Headache Pain
Via FirstCare Connection, Summer 2002

The next time you have a splitting headache, try a

natural remedy. Medications may require taking
greater amounts to remain effective, but natural
methods can work as long as you use them and can
offer positive side effects as well. To treat and
prevent headaches:

Cool off. Cold restricts swollen blood vessels

and dulls sensitive nerve endings. If you feel
a headache coming on, try drinking three
glasses of cold water, apply a cold compress
to your head and lie down in a dark room.

Heat things up. Heat can reduce tension for

some people in the head and neck muscles by
increasing blood flow. Put a heating pad in
your neck, or try taking a hot shower or bath.

Get a massage. Have a professional, spouse,

or friend give you a massage to relieve
tension and improve circulation, or learn
techniques for giving yourself one.

Soothe your scalp. Rub your scalp in circles

with your fingertips, or brush your hair
starting from your temple backward in slow
circles.

Get enough sleep. Many tension headaches

that emerge later in the day are the result of
stress and poor sleeping habits. Get plenty of
rest.

Eat regular meals. Skipping meals leads to

low blood sugar, which can trigger
headaches. Ask your doctor for a glucosetolerance test if you think you may have
hypoglycemia.

Empty your ostomy bag when it gets to be onethird full. That way it wont bulge under clothes.
Work with your ostomy nurse to find the ostomy
pouching system that works best for you.
If youre worried about the odor when emptying
your ostomy bag, ask your ostomy nurse or visit
your medical supply store for pouch deodorants
or air sprays to minimize odor.
Ask a close friend or loved one whose opinion
you trust whether your ostomy bag is visible
under your clothes or if the sounds your ostomy
makes are as loud as you think they are.
Everyones body makes noises and produces
odors from time to time. Whiel it can be
embarrassing, dont let a fear of what could go
wrong keep you from going about your day.

October 2015

The Rambling Rosebud

TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL
Via mayoclinic.com/health

You Have Adjusted to Your Ostomy When...

via Hemet-San Jacinto (CA) Stoma-Life

You stop spending all of your spare time in

the bathroom waiting for your stoma to work
so you can empty the pouch right away.
You can move about freely, without holding
your appliance as though it might fall off any
minute.
You make that first trip to the mailbox without
taking along your ostomy supplies.
You stop grabbing your abdomen when the
grocery clerk asks if you need help to the car
with your bag.
You go out for the evening and realize too late
that you left your emergency kit at home.
You begin to think how lucky you are to be
alive instead of how unlucky you are to have
an ostomy.
You attend the monthly support group
meetings with an expectation of learning more
about your ostomy rather than staying at home
worrying about it all.

It's up to you to decide who to tell about your

ostomy surgery. It may make sense to tell the
people closest to you. These people may be
worried about your recovery, and explaining
your ostomy may ease their fears. Talking with
loved ones is also a healthy way to cope with
your emotions.
Acquaintances may be curious about why you've
been away from work or know that you were in
the hospital and ask about your illness.
Think ahead about what to say when questions
arise. You could say you've had abdominal
surgery or use another basic description without
going into details if you're uncomfortable
discussing your ostomy with people you don't
know well.
Other people will need to know about your
ostomy for practical purposes. If you don't have a
desk or locker at work to store extra ostomy
supplies, for instance, you might need to reveal
some details of your ostomy to someone at work
so that such arrangements can be made.
Some people keep their ostomy surgery private,
and others prefer to tell anyone who asks. Who
you tell is up to you, but you may find you're
more willing to discuss the details as you become
more comfortable caring for your ostomy.

Stock Market Advice

For anyone holding stocks in American Can,
Interstate Water, National Gas Company,
Northern Tissue Company, I advise you to sit
tight on your American Can, hold your Water,
and let go of your Gas. You may be interested to
know that Northern Tissue touched a new bottom
today, and millions were wiped clean. It's a tough
market out there. Be careful!

Happy Halloween
7

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