Triangle Area

Ostomy

Association

Since 2011 began, I have seen 120 smiles when I get the

girls up in the morning, changed about 1,000 diapers, made over 700 bottles, and lost out on 180 hours of sleep. Oh the

wonders of being a mom! The girls are growing so fast and

are on a great schedule. Unfortunately, the schedule means bedtime is at

8:30, so it is hard for me to make it to the meetings. I definitely have

intentions of attending, but if I‟m not there, then you‟ll know why. I

know that in my absence Jeff will do a great job!

This month the meeting will be break out sessions among the ostomy types. If you are an existing member, please come out and share your

knowledge with new ostomates and offer them your support.

The weather seems to be warming up, so hopefully snowy, cold weather

will not be an issue. See you on Tuesday!

Jennifer Higdon, President

President’s Message:

Triangle Ostomy Association Membership Application Name __________________________________ Today‟s Date: ___________ Spouse‟s Name _______________________________________________________

Mailing Address _____________________________________________________ Phone Number: ______________________________________________________

Email: ______________________________________________________________

[ ] I would like to receive the newsletter by email

I have a Colostomy _____ Ileostomy _____ Urostomy (Ileal conduit) _____

Other _____ Year of Surgery __________

I am not an Ostomate, but would like to be a member and support the organization ____

I cannot afford the dues but would like to be a member ____ (Confidential)

We welcome for membership ostomates and other persons interested in the in this group and its activities and appreciate the help they can provide as members. To join, complete

the above form and send it with a check or money order for $20.00 made out to Raleigh

Chapter of UOA and mail to Mrs. Ruth Rhodes, 8703 Cypress Club Drive, Raleigh, NC

27615. Dues cover membership in the local chapter, including a subscription to the local

By-Pass publication and help support the mission of our organization.

March 2011

8703 Cypress Club Drive

Raleigh, NC 27615

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, March 1, 7:30 pm Rex

SPEAKER: Break out sessions

MEETING INFO:

Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month

(except July and August) at 7:30 PM in the Rex Sur-

gical Center Waiting Room, 4420 Lake Boone

Trail, Raleigh, NC. Enter through the Rex Hospital

Main Entrance, which is near the Parking Garage.

REMINDER:

In the event of inclement weather on the day of a

scheduled meeting, please contact Rex Healthcare at

919-784-3100. If Wake County schools are closed

due to weather, then we will not meet.

GROUP OFFICERS AND CONTACT INFO:

President/Editor: Jennifer Higdon 919-333-4923

VP: Jeff Burcham 919-847-9669

Secretary: Bonnie Sessums 919-403-7804

Treasurer Ruth Rhodes 919-782-3460

Past President: Dan Wiley 919-477-8363

Webmaster: Ed Withers 919-553-9083

Member Support: Susie Peterson 919-851-8957

Alison Cleary 919-387-3367

Member Support: Shirley Peeler 919-787-6036

Donald Meyers 919-781-0221

Website: www.RaleighUOA.org

Email: TriangleUOAA@EmbarqMail.com

IN THIS ISSUE:

Reno, NV 2011 Conference Page 3

Electrolytes Page 4

How to Save a Penny or Two Page 5

Temporary Ostomies Page 6, 7

Flush or Retracted Stoma Page 8

Kidney Stones Page 9

Inner Peace Page 10

Minutes Page 11

DISCLAIMER

Articles and information printed in this

newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by the

Triangle Ostomy Association and may not be

applicable to everybody. Please consult your physician or WOC Nurse for medical advice

that is best for you.

MISSION of the Triangle Area Ostomy Association:

The mission of our organization is to assist people who have or will have intestinal or urinary diversions: including a colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, and continent diversions including j-pouches. We provide

psychological support, educational services, family support, advocacy and promote our services to the

public and professional communities.

2

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

March 1 UOAA Meeting, 7:30 Rex

March 8 Mardi Gras

March 17 St. Patrick’s Day

March 20 Spring Begins

March 21 CCFA Meeting, 7:30 Rex

CCFA SUPPORT GROUP

Date: Third Monday of every month

Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Place: Rex Healthcare

Contact: Reuben Gradsky

reuben513@yahoo.com

MINUTES OF THE February 1, 2011

MEETING OF THE TRIANGLE AREA OSTOMY ASSOCIATION

11

Wake Med Leigh Ammons 919-350-5171

Melanie Johnson 919-350-5171

Wake Med, Cary Joanna Burgess 919-350-5231

UNC Hospital

Jane Maland 919-843-9234

Barbara Koruda 919-843-9234 John Worsham 919-843-9234

Durham Regional

Tom Hobbs 919-470-4000 Felicia Street 919-471-4561

Duke

Jane Fellows 919-681-7743 Michelle Rice 919-681-2436

Leanne Richbourg 919-681-6694

Duke Health Raleigh Hospital

Krys Dixon 919-954-3446 Maria Parham Hosp.

Kathy Thomas 919-431-3700

Durham VA Center Mary Garrett 919-286-0411

Rex Hospital

Ann Woodruff 919-784-2048 Carolyn Kucich 919-784-2048

WOC Nurses

INNER PEACE 2/2011 UOAA UPDATE

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then You Are Probably The Family Dog! 10

Mark your calendars now for the upcoming UOAA conference. These are held

every two years, so if you don‟t go now, you won‟t get to go until 2013. The 3rd

National UOAA Conference will be held in Reno, Nevada on Aug 7-11, 2011.

Attendees will be staying at the John Ascuaga‟s Nugget Hotel where the conference

is held. Stay tuned to future newsletter for more information about events, topics,

and tours.

Some previous topics are as follows:

Free WOCNurse consultation

First Timers reception

CoCo (the Colossal Colon) returned, sponsored by Edgepark.

workshops of interest to all

special programming for those attending their first conference, children and their

parents, teens, young adults, 30+, and those with continent diversions

Exhibition Hall featuring all of the major ostomy product manufacturers and

distributors

2011 UOAA Conference

3

Kidney Stones and the Ileostomate

By Jill Conwell, RNET, Corpus Christi, TX, Edited by

B. Brewer, 2/2011 UOAA UPDATE

Kidney stones are fairly common medical problems. They occur

in about 5 percent of the population. They are more common in men with a seden-

tary lifestyle and in families with a history of kidney stones. The average age of

first occurrence is about 40, but they can occur at any age. For ulcerative colitis

patients, the incidence of developing kidney stones is about double that of the rest

of the population. For ileostomates, the incidence is 20 times greater. There are

two basic types of kidney stones; uric acid and calcium. Both may occur in ileo-

stomates since the underlying cause is dehydration. Uric acid stones are more fre-

quent.

One reason for this is the chronic loss of electrolytes, producing acid urine. The

stones may vary in size and shape, some being as small as grains of sand, while

others entirely fill the renal pelvis. They also vary in color, texture and composi-

tion.

Symptoms during the passage of a kidney stone include bleeding due to irritation,

cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting and frequent cessation of ileostomy flow. When

ileostomy flow stops, distinguishing between an obstruction versus a kidney stone

may be difficult since the symptoms are similar.

Treatment of most kidney stones is symptomatic and in most cases the stone

passes spontaneously through the urinary tract. Medication for the spasms is usually

administered. The urine should be strained in order to collect the stone for analysis.

Once the composition of the stone is determined, steps should be taken to prevent re-

currence of an attack. The physician will prescribe medication or dietary modifica-

tions depending on the type of stone. The best preventative measure is to drink

plenty of fluids (8 glasses) every day. If the urine appears to be concentrated, increase

fluids and use a sport drink that is rich in electrolytes to replaces losses.

Electrolytes and Why We Need Them

Edited by B. Brewer, 2/2011 UOAA UPDATE

Everyone needs to be aware of the fact that they need electrolytes in their life. If you have

ever noticed football players slugging down Gatorade or some other concoction when they

return to the bench, it„s because they need to replace the electrolytes they lost with their

perspiration.

For the ostomate, particularly those with an ileostomy, replacing electrolytes is very

important. The purpose of your colon is to store food waste and to return the liquid portion of

the stool to the body. When you no longer have a colon, that liquid is lost directly into your

pouch and is gone forever from your body. With that liquid, you lose a good portion of your

electrolytes. But, what are electrolytes, and what specifically do they do for us?

According to Tabor„s Encyclopedia Medical Dictionary; electrolytes are: 1) A solution

which is a conductor of electricity or; 2) A substance which, in a solution, conducts an electric

current and is decomposed by a passage of any electric current. Every muscle we move is

activated by our nervous system. And throughout our nervous system, each of our nerve cells

(neurons) is connected to each other by

means of electrical impulse, or synapse.

Electrolytes, largely made up of

sodium and potassium, are what give the

synapse the spark to function. Each time we

move a muscle, we use up a small portion of

our sodium and potassium – ergo, our

electrolytes. When we lose those

electrolytes, we also lose our zip and vigor.

For everyone, after excessive perspiration

in the summer or prolonged exercise, we

can become dehydrated and lose our

electrolytes in the process. For the

ileostomate though, just doing what comes

naturally will cost them their capacity to

spark. You can tell when you are becoming

dehydrated by a decrease in urine volume,

dark orange urine, overly dry skin, marked

thirst, abdominal cramps, exhaustion,

weakness and/or shortness of breath. The

answer? Drink a lot of fruit juice, Gatorade,

Gastrolyte, soda pop, water, bouillon or

tomato juice.

4 9

Management of a Flush or Retracted Stoma

By Gloria Johnson, RN, BSN, CWOCN, Edited by B. Brewer, 2/2011 UOAA UPDATE

The ideal stoma is one that protrudes above the skin, but this not always possible

and a flush (or skin level) or retracted (below the skin level) may result. The

surgeon may be unable to mobilize the bowel and mesentery adequately or be able

to strip the mesentery enough without causing necrosis or death to the stoma. (Note:

mesentery is a membrane in the cavity of the abdomen to retain the intestines and

their appendages in a proper position.)

Some causes of stoma retraction after surgery may be weight gain, infection,

malnutrition, steroids or scar tissue formation. Stomas that are flush or retracted

can lead to undermining of the pouch by the effluent (drainage). This continued

exposure can lead to irritated and denuded skin as well as frequent pouch changes.

These problems can be very stressful and expensive.

The inability to maintain a pouch seal for an acceptable length of time is the more

common indication for a product with convexity.

Shallow Convexity may be indicated for minor skin irritations and occasional

leakage

Medium Convexity may be indicated for a stoma in a deep fold, with severe

undermining and frequent leakage

Deep Convexity is used when medium convexity is not sufficient, stoma

retracted, in deep folds or leakage is frequent and the skin is denuded.

Pouches designed with convexity are available in both one and two-piece systems.

These can be shallow, medium, or deep and can be purchased as either pre-cut or

cut-to-fit. Addition of skin barrier gaskets (seals) around the stoma can be cut or

purchased pre-cut. You can use one layer or several layers. Products like the

Eakin Wafer or Coloplast Strip Paste, can be pressed into shape around the stoma

to protect and seal.

8

HOW TO SAVE A PENNY OR TWO By Jennifer Higdon,

President Triangle Area Ostomy Assn.

With rising gas prices and fluctuating

markets, saving money on anything is a

plus. The following websites have

great money saving deals which I have

actually purchased from, so I‟ve seen

the benefits.

1. Buy gift cards to places like Target,

WalMart, restaurants, or movie thea-

tres at discounts up to 30%.

www.plasticjungle.com

www.cardwoo.com

2. Deals emailed daily averaging 50%

off services or products at various

merchants such as hair salons,

house cleaning, and restaurants. On

some of these sites, if three or more

friends “buy” the daily deal, then

you get it for free.

www.groupon.com

www.livingsocial.com

www.twongo.com

3. Buy $25 restaurant certificates for

$10, other increments available.

www.restaurant.com

5

7

Temporary Ostomies continued from page 6

Persons with temporary ostomies face many of the same problems permanent

ostomates may have. It„s just as important for them to have support, reassurance, and

teaching as it is for persons with permanent ostomies. They must learn proper skin

care, stoma care, and pouching techniques. Often, stomas are not ideally situated on

the abdomen, because of the urgency of the surgery. Thus, pouching and skin care can

pose difficult problems.

Following temporary surgery, measures need to be taken to improve the patient„s

health. He or she must be in the best condition physically to undergo the major

surgery for reconnection. There is also a time for the patient to deal psychologically

with past surgery, upcoming surgery, and possibly a newly diagnosed disease. It may

be a difficult time with all the changes and new challenges. Often, there are many

fears and unanswered questions. Other people with ostomies and WOC Nurses

(ostomy nurses) may provide reassurance and the answers to many questions.

For more information contact our Customer Interaction Center at

1-800-422-8811 Monday – Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., ET

Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., ET

www.ConvaTec.com 6

TEMPORARY OSTOMIES by Nancy Brede, RNET, Edited by B. Brewer, 2/2011 UOAA UPDATE

Temporary ostomies are surgically created with the intent of reconnecting in the

future. The anatomy of the gastrointestinal system or urinary system is left intact.

Permanent ostomies are created with the intent that the ostomy surgery will not be

reversed and usually the anatomy in the gastrointestinal or urinary system has

been removed. Permanent ostomy surgery is usually performed when disease or

injury prevents maintaining the anatomical structures needed for reversal.

A large number of temporary ostomies involving the colon are done on an

emergency basis. The colon becomes obstructed or blocked, and stool cannot pass

through. Because of the emergency nature of the surgery, the bowel cannot be

cleaned and prepped ahead of time. Reversals, or reanastamosis (hooking the

normal anatomy back up), then can be done later, when infection is not as likely

and proper healing can take place.

The most common situations and diseases requiring a temporary ostomy are:

Cancer of the colon with obstruction (or other abdominal cancer affecting

the colon).

Hirschsprung’s Disease, a disorder/malfunction in infants that prevents

passage of stool. Due to lack of nerve cells in certain areas of the large

intestine, stool is not moved through, and an ostomy is necessary.

Diverticulitis, small out-pouchings in the wall of the intestine, called

Diverticula, becomes infected. The Diverticula may rupture or cause

obstruction.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Crohn's Disease may necessitate a

temporary ostomy to allow the diseased bowel to heal.

Continued on page 7