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ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

~~~,.-
MARYLAND
OSTOMY ASSOCIATION, INe.
P.O.BOX 847
GAMBRILLS, MD 21054
Rosebud
A Chapter of the United Ostomy Association, Inc.

OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS


President: Paul Rossi Dennis Fila Joan Gardner
Ginny Gross Lyn Rowell
Janice Winters

Vice President Stan Novack OSTOMY ADVISERS:


Secretary Irene Repka,RN, BS, CWOCN
Treasurer Stan Baker Michelle Perkins, RN, BS.
Youth Rally Coordinator Melissa Blood
Webmaster: Janice Winters

-DIRECTOR EMIRITUS - Mary Lou Thomas, RN, BA,CWQCN

Volume 37 Number 1
-
November 2010
Membership 110 Circulation: 325

CURRENT MEETIING
November 4, 2010 * To Be Announced

FUTURE MEETINGS

December 2, 2010 * HOLIDAY PARTY


Note: Regular meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, at 7:30pm in room A on the 7th
floor of the new Health Science Building. See page 5 for directions. If AA County Schools are closed
due to inclement weather, there will be no meeting.

0~..~

~-
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.

A WORD OF THANKS for their constant support of


onr Chapter to: The American Cancer Society, OSTOMY ADVISORS
especially the office in Gambrills, for essential help with FORSTOMAHELP
our newsletter; and Anne Arundel Medical Center for We are fortunateto haveavailablethe servicesof
prQviding rooms for our regular meetings and special
EnterostomalTherapyNursesservingourlocalarea:
events. We appreciate their support and assistance.

NOTICES To consultwithoneof them,a physician's


referralis
The display, description,demonstrationor distributionof necessaryand a fee will be charged. Call for an
productsat our meetings,or in the newsletter,or by the appointment.
recommendation of a memberof our Association,does not
constitute
anendors~ment ofthatproductbytheAACOA. BALTIMOREWASHINGTON HOSPITAL
CarolCanadaRN,BSN,CWOCN
CONSULTYOURDOCTORor ET Nurse beforeusinQany 410-787-4578
productsor methodspublishedin the AACO newsletteror
sUQgestedbya memberoftheAACOA.Yourowndoctoror ET ANNEARUNDELMEDICALCENTER
nurseprovidesmedicaladvicethatis bestforyou. IreneB.RepkaRN,BS,CWOCN
MichellePerkins,RN,BS
Directions to AA MedicalCenter
KellyHeffron,BSN,CWOCN
From Annapolis and the EasternShore: TakeRoute 443-481-5508
50 Westto JenniferRoadexit (Exit23A).Go throughthe -
trafficlight-onto-Medical
Parkway:~.- -- --
From Baltimore: Take1-97Southto Route50 East,to Joan M. Sullivan,MAS,RN,CNA,CWOCN
Paroleexit (Exit23).Turnrightonto WestStreetthen right -I~- - - - PrfvateConsultants
410-932-7312
onto JenniferRoad.Go approximatelyone mile,andturn
left at trafficlightontoMedicalParkway. MaryLouThomas,RN,BA,CWOCN
410-255-1149
From WashingtonDC:TakeRoute50 Eastto Parole
exit (Exit23).TurnrightontoWestStreetthen rightonto
JenniferRoad.Go approximatelyone mile,andturn left
at trafficlightontoMedicalParkway. ,",,:
-1"-,.
Alternate to 1.97from Crofton/Odentonarea - Take
178SouththroughCrownsville
towardsAnnapolis.Turn
leftonBestgateRoadandthenrightonMedicalParkway.
REMEMBER!!! Theentrancetothemedicalcenteris
FROMTHESECOND FLOOROFTHEPARKING
GARAGE.Onceinsidethebuildingyouwillbeonits
secondfloor- taketheelevatorsinsideup to the 7thfloor.
Whenleaving,taketheelevatorthesecondfloorandgo
throughthedoorsontothe2ndflooroftheparkinggarage.
:'J

Items from this newsletter may be reprinted in


other ostomy newsletters, provided proper credit
is Qivenas to source of materia1.

-
"

(WishIng-quou a OS#; c& "".

cYeappp(5fa//.OSeason
.. Autumn 5onus Special
..
1 0% Off AIl~ Furchase*
*Not applicable on items billed through insurance. Applicable to Out at F ocket purchases ani!:"

SERVING ALL OF YOUR OSTOMY AND MEDICAL SUPPLY NEEDS

Carrying Ostomy, Fistula and Wound Supplies By The Following Manufacturers


Bard * Blairex * BSN Jobst * Colo-Majic * Coloplast * Convatec * Cymed * Hollister
Marlen * Medline * Molnlycke Wound Care * Montreal Ostomy * Nu-Hope * Osto-Fresh
Penna Type * Smith & Nephew * Safe N'Simple * StomaCare Laboratories * Torbot * 3M

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November 2010 The Rambling Rosebud 37.1.4
, , ,-~--_.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Last month I gave a "thank you" to Lyn Rowell for all her hard work putting together this
newsletter, I also want to give a "thank you" to Stan Baker, who, in addition to keeping our
finances straight, copies, collates, addresses, and mails this newsletter. With help from other
members, Stan does this job every month, on time.

Ifyou can help Stan once a month for a few hours a day helping with the newsletter in --+.t ~
Millersville, please let Stan or me know. ~- .

I would like to give a very big thanks to Barbara Lupero, Guy Lupero's wife, who graciously
asked that donations made in Guy's name be given to our organization. Thank you, Barbara, and
we miss you, Guy.

Paul

ANNAPOLIS EMPIRE
l-Iealthcare Supplies
.Iimnerl,\' .It/allls Aledil'tll
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-Walkers- Mobility Devices
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Ostomy- Incontinence Supplies
Bathroom Safety Aids .:. 10% discount on ostomy supplies and
Nebulizers- Blood Pressure Equipment prescriptions for members of A.A. Co.
Hospital Beds Ostomy Association
.:. We bill Medicare and Blue Cross for you
: '.
..
~ WE BILL MEDICARE FOR YOU! .~
NATURAOSTOMYDEALER
....... ............ .......... ............ HOLLISTER. BARD
SWEENCREAM SKINBOND
Members of the Anne Arundel Co. Ostomy PERICARE SKINPREP
Association Receive 10% OFF! SURGI-KLEEN BANISHII
SHUR-CLEANS STOMASEAL
HIBICLENS HYPO-ALLERGENIC
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MondaythroughFriday8:30amto6pm
OpenSaturdays 9amto Noon
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BillingDepartment
MondaythroughFriday9amto 4:30p.m

Somecause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.

:.
November 2010 The Rambling Rosebud 37.1.5

A UROSTOMY EXPERIENCE TO SHARE was spurting from a severed artery next to the
By: Becky Redmond, Via: Belleville, Regina Ostomy News, stoma. He said that because the skin around the
& www.ostomy.evansville.net stoma had such severe erosion, it caused the
breakdown by the artery and it broke loose. He
I had an unusual and frightening experience had to put in several stitches to close the artery.
concerning my urostomy last week that I I had lost quite a bit of blood, but not enough to
thought might be of interest to your readers. I keep me in the hospital, so I was released and
have had my stoma for four years now and went home. I was told my urine would clear up
have had no complications or problems. by later that evening, which it did. It took
several days for me to get over the panic of
For the past six months, I had noticed that the what had happened.
skin around my stoma was white and irritated.
I tried several different things to clear it up, Because of this ordeal, I made an appointment
changing different brands of flanges, changing w:ith an ostomy nurse. She told me that she
the flanges more often, drinking more water recommends people with urostomies wear a
and cranberry juice, and using different convex flange. It keeps the urine from pooling
powders but nothing seemed to clear it up. I around the stoma area. And, she showed me
knew I should get in to see the doctor, but with how to use Stomahesive Powder and paste on
starting a new job this summer, I couldn't the white, moist areas surrounding my stoma. I
afford to take time off. So I just put up with it, have also scheduled an appointment with my
hoping that once I had enough time saved up at doctor to have him check what the emergency
work, I could get in for an appointment. Last room urologist did. I was told that in twenty-
Thursday, while at work, I went to empty my five years of practice, this was only the second
pouch and it was full of bright red blood. I time the urologist had ever seen this happen.
noticed two small blood clots. This really got
my attention and I went directly to the phone
and called the doctor who had performed my
surgery four years ago. The nurse said she
would get hold of him and have him call me
back at work. LQ{J~
-:.
...
. . . . f/
/
\_.:

Meanwhile, I continued to work. I started


drinking a lot of water and drank a bottle of
cranberry juice, thinking this would clear REDUCING YOUR RISK OF PNEUMONIA
things up. After lunch in the early afternoon, I Via: Sherman Area & Golden Spread Ostomy Association,
again went in to empty my pouch and this time, Amarilla, TX
it was not only full of bright, red blood but so
full of huge blood clots that my pouch wouldn't Although certain organisms are more
even drain! I was so scared that I went
contagious than others, it is unusual to "catch"
immediately to the phone and told the nurse pneumonia from someone else. You usually
that I had an emergency situation and needed develop pneumonia because your own
to talk to the doctor. I ended up at the immunity is weakened. To fortify your natural
emergency room and had a urologist come in to resistance to pneumonia; get :vaccinated.
look at it. When I took off the pouch, the blood Because pneumonia can be a complication of
had coagulated so thick, the doctor couldn't see
the flu, getting a yearly flu shot is a good way to
the stoma. He peeled off the flange and blood prevent pneumonia. In addition, get a
November 2010 The Rambling Rosebud 37.1.6
------.-
vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia unnecessarily than to risk damaging that precious
at least once after age 65 or if your doctor stoma. You have to live with it for a long, long
recommends it sooner for your condition. time

Wash your hands. Your hands come in daily


contact with germs that can cause pneumonia.
The correct way to weigh yourself:
Wash your hands frequently to decrease your
exposure. Do not smoke. Smoking damages
your lungs' natural defenses against
respiratory infections. Take care of yourself.
Proper rest, diet, and moderate exercise can
help keep your immune system strong.
Although most cases of pneumonia do not
prove fatal, you do not want to mistake
pneumonia for a cold or flu and leave it
untreated.

***************

REMEMBER TO GET YOUR


FLU SHOT! I can't believe I was doing it wrong all these
-~ Y~Frs. ~WE~U~S:[~PREAD TtiE WORD.
***************

CENTERING YOUR POUCH Never take life seriously; nobody


Via: The Indianapolis Chapter gets out alive anyway.
A well-fitted pouch does not allow for much
margin of error. Consider this: the correct opening Time
size is determined by measuring your stoma's Viaan Email
diameter with a measuring card and adding 1/8 of
Too many people put off something that brings
an inch. This means your pouch must be centered
exactly and carefully each time. How do you do them joy just because they haven't thought about
this? Good lighting is important, preferably from it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it
above and from the side. Stand sideways to a light was coming or are too rigid to depart from their
routine.
source for better visibility. A wall mirror is a great
help to see that the appliance hangs straight. A I got to thinking one day about all those people
crooked pouch exerts pressure on the skin and on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner
stoma and can only lead to trouble. Don't rush! that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From
Take time to check the placement carefully before then on, J've tried to be a little more flexible.
allowing your skin barrier to make contact. No
How many women out there will eat at home
time is saved if you have to do the whole thing
over again because the pouch is crooked or because their, husband didn't suggest going out to
uncomfortable. Remember, if your pouch feels out dinner until after something had been thawed?
of place or uncomfortable, TAKE IT OFF! Don't Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to
wait for injury to occur. It is better to change you?
I
November 2010 The Rambling Rosebud 37.1.7

Howoften haveyour kidsdropped in to talk and DO list. If you were going to die soon and had
sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on only one phone call you could make, who would
television? you call and what would you say? ;And why are
I cannot count the times I called my sister and you waiting? When you ask 'How are you?' Do
said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' you hear the reply?
Shewould gasup and stammer, "can't. 'have When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with
clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had the next hundred chores running through your
known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it
like rain' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' tomorrow.' And in your haste, not see her
Shedied a few years ago. We never did have sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship
lunch together. die? When you worry and hurry through your
Because people cram so much into their lives, we day, it is like an unopened gift Thrown away.....
tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a Ufe is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music
sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves
before the song is over.
when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back The real art of conversation is not only to
and visit the grandparents when we get Steve
say the right thing at the right time,
toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace
the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second
but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing
honeymoon when we get two more kids out of at the tempting moment.
college.
SOOOO-HOW DO I CLEAN THIS POUCH?
Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. Via: Hemet-San Jacinto, CA
The days get shorter, and the list of promises to If you are cleaning a drainable two~piece pouch
ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, for reuse, use warm, rather than hot or cold
and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of water. Cold water doesn't lift stool or urine as
'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when readily from the plastic and the pouch is less
things are settled down a bit.' When anyone pliable. Hot water will cause the pouch to wear
calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to out faster and may increase the likelihood of
adventure and available for trips. She keeps an odor. If you want to rinse the pouch while you're
open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life still wearing it, use a small squirt bottle to get the
is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, water in it, slosh' it around by holding the end
and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair and let things empty into the toilet. Unlessyou
of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee have no option, it's best to remove the pouch
cord.
entirely for cleaning. A bit of ordinary dish
My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I detergent with warm water, or, if bacteria is a
love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply concern, a bit of white vinegar mixed with water
it directly to my stomach with a spatula and will do the trick. Fill the pouch with the warm
eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I water/soap/vinegar solution and slosh it by hand
stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my over the toilet, drain and repeat as nec~ssary.It's
car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would not recommended that you wash these things in
have died happy. the sink- - the, drains are usually too small to
handle this sort of waste and the result will not
Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something
be hygienic. Once you have things reasonably
you WANT to...not something on your SHOULD
Northern Pharmacy is your OSTOMY SUPPLY SPECIALIST!

Northern Pharmacy & Medical Equipment


is a full service pharmacy that is family owned
and operated.

Our Ostomy Department provides a full range of


comprehensive services and quality products from
trusted brands you can rely on.

PRODUCTS: SERVICES: TRUSTED BRANDS INCLUDE:


. Incontinence Pants . Medicare and insurance
andDeyicE;!s c()rnpanybilling
. Cathetet.-? " .~ tT;r~~.bt3EQ.¥"g.~Ii.~~y..~ 95:1',!J~t
. Intermittent Catheters d?Y<:lelivery .

Male External CatheterS . .fy1~j.lillg ?nywh~re

. IrrigptionTrpys ~. IT..rEJe "hole cutting" .


. ..

. Drainag~Bags . \t.J~.accept Mas~er<::i3td,


ana.American.Express
. Insertion Trays
. 100% Satisfaction
. Disposable Undergarrnents Guaranteed! . Dansac
. Urinaw Leg Bags . Bard
. And much, much more! . ConvaTec
. Mason

H! 1+'+k NORTHERN
'. PHARMACY
. & Medical Equipment.
November 2010 The Rambling Rosebud 37.1.9
-
clean, you can hold the pouch under the bathtub FUTURE MEETINGS
faucet and let it rinse. Tub drains are larger and Monthly Meetings are held on the 7th floor of
so long as you let a good flush of water follow, the Health Science Building.
and scrub the bathtub on a regular basis (which Parking is available behind the Health
you do anyway, right?) your bathroom will not Science building and can be accessed via
smell. Baking soda in the wash water and down Jennifer Road or Medical Parkway. T~
the drain is an excellent deodorizer. You can hang Building is right next door to the Sajak
the wet pouch by the ring on a hook to dry or just Building.
leave it flat on a towel and it will be ready for Use
the next day. The inside doesn't have to be bone November 4,
I dry for use, but the outside and ring should be. A
L 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..
*********************************************
Join the Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Ostomy Association, Inc.
The Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Ostomy Association, Inc. (AACOA) is a volunteer-based
association dedicated to providing education, information, support, and advocacy to people who have
had or will have intestinal or urinary diversions. Members receive The Rambling Rosebud monthly.

Complete the form and send it with your check for $15.00 made paya1Jleto
AACOA
c/o Stan Baker
958 Fall Ridge Way
Gambrills, MD 21054-1454
Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Ostomy Association - Membership - Please Print
Lastname First name Initial
Address

f City State ZIP


ii'
i'
Telephone Age Gender
r
E-mail

Kind of ostomy: - colostomy - ileostomy - urostomy - other (please identify)

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

( ) finance () hospitality () library ( ) membership ( ) newsletter


( ) program
'. . () refreshments ( ) sunshine ( ) visiting
f,.. .
-~- .

Jkcz. JJ.t,tlA.t'Q. i~ TWt ou,1'~ -4:0 )(JtO'/J


coul it ~ Wl.Ver be... ~-r
60 'Cl.t~ li"e
eutr.l B;"~
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~~~~~~:~~~ -~--

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