United Ostomy Association, Inc.
Evansville, Indiana Chapter
Re-Route

 
Contents:

FACTS ABOUT UROSTOMIES
MAN ON THE STREET INTERVIEWS
EMERGENCY ROOM INFORMATION FOR OSTOMATES
PROTECTING PILL POTENCY
CARTOONSVILLE

Re-Route Archive

Volume 25, Number 5  February, 1998

FACTS ABOUT UROSTOMIES
Via: K. Jeter, Ed. D, E.T., A.C.S.
The normal urinary tract consists of two kidneys, two ureters, one bladder and one urethra. Urine is made in the kidneys, transported by squeezing movements called peristalsis through the ureters to the bladder. Not many people realize that we can live without a bladder or the use of it, but we must have a amount of kidney function if we to grow and be healthy. If a child is born with a defect in the urinary tract which causes the urine to back up into the kidneys, causing chronic kidney infection, a urostomy may be a lifesaver. The surgical construction of a pathway through which the urine may travel rapidly, without interference, will allow the kidneys to function at their optimum efficiency. Should there be a malignancy in the bladder, the entire bladder may be removed and the urine detoured through an abdominal stoma and patients cured of their disease. Some patients have said they prefer a urostomy for social reasons, because it is easier to manage than a defective bladder caused by birth, injury, surgery, or spinal injury. In these conditions, patients cannot control the flow of urine, causing them embarrassment as well as the annoyance of skin problems from constant wetting. Some young people, who have heard about urostomy surgery, have requested this operation when they feel they can no longer tolerate the miseries of incontinence. This leads us to say to our patients who at first think this operation is the end of the world, that it may be just the beginning of a new life - one full of hope.

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MAN ON THE STREET INTERVIEWS
Via: Reno Truckee Meadows Informer
Ephriam, Lazarus did a survey during which he asked if people knew what an ostomy was. Here are some of the answers he got to this question. "I think it has to do with people who have trouble with their feet."  "I don't know what it is, but I understand those people don't have to go to the bathroom and they do it in a bag and throw it away." "I think the Pope was one for a while when he got shot." "My aunt is one, but we don't talk about it." "They are members of some political party." "These are people who have had some kind of operation and they wear a bag under there clothes. They take it off when they have to go to a party" "I saw one of them on television recently, and they were all happy about something." "I wouldn't want to be one, for it's bad." "My neighbor is one, I think. She goes to a party at Sinai Hospital every month. She meets a lot of people there and they drink cranberry juice." "I think it has something to do with farming. I heard two of them. talking about irrigation." Ephraim, says we've got a lot of education to do - and he's right! 

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EMERGENCY ROOM INFORMATION FOR OSTOMATES
Via: Metro MD 
Ostomates have special information which is very important to their well-being, The following list of information may save your life if you are taken to a hospital emergency room. What kind of surgery did you have and how long ago? What is your doctor's name, phone number, and the name of the hospitals he/she works out of? What kind of medication and what dosage are you taking? Are you allergic to any medications? Is your skin sensitive to any of the preparations usually used by ostomates? What is your stoma size? Where can your next-of-kin be located? What type of medical insurance do you have? Tell someone that this information is available and where it can be found. Take a little time and write a brief medical history about your surgery and other important medical information about yourself. Make a few copies and be sure to take a copy along with you when you travel or have to go to the hospital. Since emergency rooms are not advised as well about ostomies as we would like them to be, this information could be very helpful and may even save your life. 

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PROTECTING PILL POTENCY
Via: University of California Berkley Wellness Letter
Toss away the cotton after you open a bottle of medicine or vitamin pills or tablets, advise the experts who publish the letter. Medications are stuffed with cotton to prevent pills from rattling around and breaking. But once you've broken the seal and handled the cotton, it can become contaminated with germs. In addition, the fluff may attract moisture, which can accelerate deterioration of the medicine or decrease the potency of vitamins.

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