PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Happy New Year Everyone,

Let's make 2007 one of the best year's ever for the Triangle Ostomy Association. Our membership is stronger than ever and I hope to see it even better for this new year. We will have some of our same great programs plus are looking forward to offering more.

I would like to thank Teri Barber for her great presentation about Coloplast products. She showed some very innovative styles and designs that are coming out of their research programs.

I would also like to thank all you for the wonderful holiday treats you brought for the meeting. What a great addition to our party. Also, thanks to our new members and visitors. It's always great to see our faithful members as well as new faces each month.

This month’s meeting will be a round table discussion. It will be kicked off by our vice president and newsletter editor Jennifer Higdon. She will be posing questions and looking for feedback as to any particular issues you might be having with your ostomy. It will be a good time to discuss those nagging problems that you aren't quite sure how to handle.

So please mark Tuesday, January 2nd, at 7:30 to help kick off our new year.

Yours in service.................................................Dan

MEETING INFO:Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month (except July and August) at 7:30 PM in the Rex Surgical 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

6616 Rest Haven DriveRaleigh, NC 27612-2167

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at 7:30 pmSPEAKER: Round table discussions

Triangle Ostomy Association

Serving the Ostomy

and J-pouch Communities January 2007

MISSION: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.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

January 1: New Year’s Day

January 2: Ostomy meeting, 7:30

January 16: Martin Luther King Day

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 emailI 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 Mrs. Ruth Rhodes, 6616 Rest Haven Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612-2167. Dues cover membership in the local chapter, including a subscription to the local By-Pass publication.

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. 1

RALEIGH AREA OFFICERS AND CONTACT INFO:President: Dan Wiley 919-477-8363VP / Asst. Editor: Jennifer Higdon 919-553-4770Secretary: Bonnie Sessums 919-403-7804Treasurer Ruth Rhodes 919-782-3460Past President: Kathy Bong 919-303-6475Webmaster: Ed Withers 919-217-9218Member Support: Susie Peterson 919-851-8957

Alison Cleary 919-387-3367BOD/Member Support: Shirley Peeler 919-787-6036

Donald Meyers 919-781-0221

A Word About Ulcers

Just because you have an ileostomy or a colostomy does not make you

impervious to ulcers. About 20 million Americans will suffer from them in

their lifetime. Duodenal (beginning of the small intestine) ulcers often occur

between the ages of 30 and 50, and are twice as common among men.

Stomach ulcers occur more often after the age of 60 and are more commonly

seen in women.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

President’s Message page 1Meeting Minutes page 3Virtual Strip Search Page 5Digestive Disorders page 6,7WOCN List page 10Board Member List page 10Cold or Flu page 11

COLD OR THE FLU?Via www.fluFACTS.com

How to Tell the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu

The cold and flu are both respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different types of viruses. Flu symptoms usually come on quickly (within 3-6 hours) and consist of a fever, body aches, dry cough, and extreme tiredness. Cold symptoms are less severe and people experience a stuffy nose, productive cough, slight tiredness, and limited body aches.

Is it a Cold or the Flu?

Whether you need to know the answer now or you’re looking into it for future purposes, we can help. Use the interactive tool below as a quick reference to determine if what you have is just a cold — or if it’s the flu. Remember that if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, it is better to act fast and speak to your doctor within 12 to 48 hours.

Fever Rare Usually Present

Aches Slight Usual, often severe

Chills Uncommon Fairly common

Tiredness Mild Moderate to severe

Sudden Symptoms Appear gradually Can appear within 3-6 hours

Coughing Hacking, productive cough Dry, unproductive cough

Sneezing Common Uncommon

Stuffy nose Common Uncommon

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TIP OF THE MONTH from www.sgvmedical.como Lengthy sitting in one place can force the pouch

contents upward around the stoma and cause leakage. Getting up occasionally will help.

o Remember to allow 1/8" - 1/16" between the edge of the stoma and the opening in the wafer (skin barrier). Too large an opening may expose skin to stool or urine content. Too small an opening may cause lacerations due to rubbing of the pouch or skin barrier.

o Put toilet paper in the toilet bowl before emptying your pouch to prevent splashing.

WOC NURSE LISTWake Medical

Leigh Ammons 919-350-5171Melanie Johnson 919-350-5171Leanne Richbourg919-350-6462

UNC HospitalJane Malland 919-843-9234Barbara Koruda 919-843-9234

Durham RegionalTom Hobbs 919-470-4000

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

Duke Health Raleigh HospitalKrys Dixon 919-954-3446

Maria Parham Hosp.Kathy Thomas 919-431-3700

Durham VA CenterMary K. Wooten 919-286-0411

Rex HospitalAnn Woodruff 919-784-2048

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MINUTES OF THE December 5th, 2006MEETING OF THE TRIANGLE OSTOMY ASSOCIATION

We had such a great and energetic meeting, that we forgot to take the minutes. So, this will be a summary of the meeting to the best of my recollection.

We had about 30 members in attendance which includes 4 new comers.

Teri Barber from Coloplast gave an excellent presentation about the ostomy line of products. She mentioned that the products are constantly being adapted to the wants and needs of the ostomy consumers. Within the next year, Coloplast is launching a new line of product called SenSura that features a revolutionary double layer adhesive, which provides benefits that are unattainable in a traditional single-layer adhesive.

Thanks to the unique new double-layered adhesive, SenSura manages to combine features that appear incompatible. SenSura provide you with the ultimate Tack & Adhesion, Flexibility, Absorption, Erosion Resistance and Ease of removal. SenSura is already available overseas, but will be released in the US at a later date in 2007.

Teri also mentioned the innovative designs of the Coloplast Urostomy line. The pouches have chambers thereby allowing even weight distribution of the output and also leading to less “tugging” on the bottom of the pouch.

Teri handed out door prizes of a Coloplast welcome kit to our 4 new attendees.

Teri also mentioned that Coloplast wafers/adhesives are heat activated. This means that you have to “warm” up the wafer before applying it. This can be done by warming it with your body heat. Another recommendation for slightly warming the wafer is to peel off the plastic backing of the wafer, and hold it in your hand, use a hair dryer on low for a few seconds and the wafer will start to become less rigid. This heating process is what allows the Coloplast brand of wafers to adhere to the skin.

Teri stayed after the meeting to answer questions and concerns. She also took information to send members samples and products.

Submitted by: Jennifer Higdon 3

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

SUPPORT GROUP

Date: Third Monday of every month

Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Place: Rex Healthcare, surgical waiting room

Contact: Laura Bradford 919-233-0163

Printing of this newsletter is provided by

TIPS OF THE MONTH from SGVmedical.com

Drinking tomato juice will help eliminate odor and is a tool to retard dehydration and keep electrolytes in balance

If you use a Two-piece system, the pouch may not be totally secured when you snap it on and could fall off when half full. Make sure the pouch is snapped to the flange securely. Start snapping it together at the bottom and work your way to the top. Give a little tug on the pouch to test its lock, but make sure you hold the wafer so you don't break the seal.

When first applying a skin barrier (i.e. wafer), gently rub the barrier with a finger which will generate friction and thereby help the ostomy barrrier adhere more quicly to the skin by "melting" it onto the skin. 4

How to Age 30 Years in Three WeeksAviation Medical Bulletin via UOAA Newsletter

How can you age 30 years in the next three weeks? Easy! Just go to bed!

A number of years ago, a study was done by the Southwestern School of Medicine in Dallas, Texas. Five volunteers agreed to go to bed for 21 days. Here is what happened in those three weeks: cardiac output decreased by 26 percent; breathing capacity dropped by 30 percent; there were comparable declines in muscle mass and bone density.

Interestingly, the decrease was found to be almost identical to what occurs in a typical sedentary person in the three decades between 30 and 60.

The bed rest simply accelerated the deterioration process that most people experience as a result of decreasing physical activity. They literally “aged” thirty years in 21 days.

The lesson is obvious. Physical inactivity leads to a decline in all of the parameters associated with physical fitness. Regular exercise, on the other hand, is the only way to slow down the aging process.

Mall Walking for Fitness

According to the Mayo Clinic, over three million Americans are avid mall walkers. An indoor shopping mall offers a number of advantages, especially to middle age and older people. Malls are generally safe, the floor is usually level, stairs in malls can be used to raise the degree of difficulty, store displays provide visual stimulation, and the temperature is agreeable. 

Burning Calories: Do the MathLength and Frequency of WeeklyExercise Sessions

Average CaloriesConsumed

Minimum (for those justgetting started)

Four 30-minute sessions(moderate intensity)

600–840

CurrentRecommendations

Five-to-seven 30-minute sessions(moderate intensity)

750–1,470

Optimal Five 60-minute sessions(moderate intensity)

1,500–2,100

Exercising Your MindVia UOAA newsletter

According to a recent study, mental challenges as basic as puzzles can help some older people sharpen their wits, improve their memories, and regain lost mental abilities. Just as physical skills can get rusty without exercise, so can mental skills, say the researchers.

The study report identifies several factors that seem to be useful in maintaining mental sharpness. They include living an active lifestyle, being flexible in your attitudes and having a good support system of family and friends.

To exercise your mental skills, the researchers suggest that you regularly play board games, do crossword puzzles, take continuing education courses, and engage in other mentally stimulating activities that you enjoy.

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New Online Consumer Health Resources (via The Picture Frame, Orlando, Florida)

Common Misconceptions About Digestive System DisordersVia UOAA newsletter

Researchers have only recently begun to understand the many often-complex disorders that affect the digestive system. Accordingly, people are gradually replacing folklore, old wives’ tales, and rumors about the causes and treatment of these disorders with accurate, up-to-date information. Misunderstandings still exist, and while some folklore is harmless, some can be dangerous if it keeps a person from correctly preventing or treating an illness. Listed below are common misconceptions rebutted by the facts as professionals understand them today.

UlcersQuestion: Spicy foods and stress cause stomach ulcers.Answer: False!The truth is that almost all ulcers are caused by infection with a bacterium call Helicobacter pylon (H. pylon) or by use of pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, the so-called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Most H. pylon related ulcers could be cured with antibiotics. NSAID-induced ulcers can be cured with time, stomach-protective medications, antacids, and avoidance of NSAIDs. Spicy food and stress may aggravate ulcer symptoms in some people, but they do not cause ulcers.

HeartburnQuestion: Smoking a cigarette helps relieve heartburn.Answer: False!Actually, cigarette smoking contributes to heartburn. Heartburn occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)—a muscle between the esophagus and the stomach—relaxes, allowing acidic contents of the stomach to splash back into the esophagus. Cigarette smoking causes the LES to relax.

Celiac DiseaseQuestion: Celiac disease is a rare childhood disease.Answer: False!Celiac disease affects children and adults. More often, celiac disease causes symptoms during childhood—usually diarrhea, growth failure, and failure to thrive. But the disease can also first cause symptoms in adults. These symptoms may be vague and therefore often attributed to other conditions. Symptoms can include bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, skin rash, and thinning of the bones (osteoporosis). People with celiac disease should not eat any foods containing gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and oats. In celiac disease patients, gluten destroys part of the lining of the small intestine, thereby interfering with the absorption of nutrients.

Continued from page 6 Bowel RegularityQuestion: Bowel regularity means a bowel movement every day.Answer: False!The frequency of bowel movements among normal, healthy people varies from three-a-day to three-a-week, and perfectly normal people may fall outside both ends of this range.

ConstipationQuestion: Habitual use of enemas to treat constipation is harmless.Answer: False!The truth is that habitual use of enemas is not harmless. Over time, enemas can impair the natural muscle action of the intestines, leaving them unable to function normally. An ongoing need for enemas is not normal. You should see a doctor if you find yourself relying on them or any other medication to have a bowel movement.

Irritable Bowel SyndromeQuestion: Irritable bowel syndrome is a disease.Answer: False!It is not a disease. It is a functional disorder, which means there is a problem in how the muscles in the intestine work. It is characterized by gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation. Although the syndrome can cause considerable pain and discomfort, it does not damage the digestive tract as diseases do. Also, it does not lead to more serious digestive diseases.

DiverticulosisQuestion: Diverticulosis is an uncommon and serious problem.Answer: False!The vast majority of Americans over age sixty have it, but only a small percentage has symptoms or complications. It is a condition in which little sacs (diverticula) develop in the wall of the colon. They appear and increase in number with age. Most people never know they have diverticulosis. Less than 10 percent of people who have diverticulosis develop complications such as bleeding, perforation of the colon or diverticulosis (infection).

Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseQuestion: Inflammatory bowel disease is caused by psychological problems.Answer: False!It is the general name for two diseases, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis that cause inflammation in the intestines. The cause of the disease is unknown but researchers speculate that it may be a virus or bacteria interacting with the body’s immune system. There is no evidence to support the theory that inflammatory bowel disease is caused by tension, anxiety, or other psychological factors or disorders.

Stop virtual strip-searchEditorial By Barry Steinhardt December 13, 2006 USA Today

Body scanners are a virtual strip-search that Americans should not be subjected to. They offer very little security value in return for the cost to our dignity and privacy.

Let's be clear: The body scanners — known as "backscatter" — are X-ray devices that expose us to radiation. And the government has not carefully studied what long-term effects that radiation will have on frequent fliers, or even casual ones.

But of more immediate concern, they create incredibly graphic images of our naked bodies. Those images will reveal not only our private body parts, but also intimate medical details such as colostomy bags or the effects of a mastectomy.

The government is now touting its ability to hide these revealing images. The problem is that masking the revealing images is likely to degrade the very pictures of weapons and explosives that the X-rays are supposed to find. In other words, to have any potential security value, they are going to need to be graphic. How long will it be before the TSA succumbs to the pressure to go back to exposing the full image?

And the inconvenient truth is that the government has a very poor track record of keeping Americans' personal information private. It is sadly predictable that the body image of a famous person, or even ordinary people, will be sold for profit or perverse amusement. Even a few such incidents will make us all feel more exposed and could have a devastating effect on our very fragile airline industry.

I have no doubt we would be marginally safer if we were all forced to fly naked. But that's just not something that Americans would accept — and neither should they accept this machine.

There are less intrusive technologies for detecting explosives. One example is explosive detection portals, which blow air on passengers and look for molecules of explosives. That kind of a technology is where the government should be focusing its resources and public relations efforts.

We don't need to fly naked to be safe.Barry Steinhardt is director of the American Civil Liberties Union's technology and liberty project. 6 7

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