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

 
Contents:

YOUR BODY IS A BUSY MACHINE
NUTRITION AND THE OSTOMATE
URINARY DISCHARGE CAN AFFECT SKIN AND KIDNEYS
QUICK TIPS FOR THE WORK PLACE
POUCH PROCEDURES
CARTOONSVILLE

Re-Route Archive

Volume 27, Number 10  July, 2000

YOUR BODY IS A BUSY MACHINE
Via: Town Karaya, Las Vegas, NV 
You probably pay little attention to the working of your body and take it for granted like most people do, as it keeps ticking away day after day. For an adult of average weight, these accomplishments of the human body have been estimated over a 24 hour period: Your heart beats about 103,690 times. Your blood travels 168 million miles. You breathe 23,240 times. You inhale 438 cubic feet of air. You eat at least 3.25 pounds of food. You drink 3 quarts of liquid. You activate 7 million brain cells. You speak 7,800 words (not all of them necessary of course). You use 750 muscles (many of them unconsciously). You turn in your sleep 25-30 times a night. Did you ever consider how perfectly your body is tuned and controlled - how your blood pressure is normally regulated at just the right level? How a normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees is maintained? Why you breathe 12 times and the heart beats 72 times a minute? How the food you eat is digested chemically and the nutritive part transformed into body tissue, bone, muscle and fat, hair and nails, blood and skin, and properly distributed while wastes and poisons are eliminated with no ill effects? THINK ABOUT IT and keep your body healthy and fit. 

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NUTRITION AND THE OSTOMATE
Excerpted from a presentation by Julie Moul RD, LD.
First, some general considerations for the ostomate. Basically, those ostomates, who eat a regular, balanced diet, don't really have to restrict their food intake too much so long as they include the necessary vitamins, minerals and calories needed for good health. Usually, after surgery, you start out with a low-fiber diet. After about six weeks, a regular diet can be resumed, adding specific foods one at a time, to judge their effects. If you find you seem to be unable to assimilate a particular food, discontinue it, but go back to it after a few weeks, to be certain that some other cause was the basis for rejection. We do give some basic recommendations, but like other persons undergoing surgery, all ostomates are different. It's wise to eat foods at a regular time each day, eating smaller amounts more frequently during the day. This should help to establish a regular bowel pattern. Always include adequate amounts of fluid to prevent dehydration. Barring health conditions that require caution, its not necessary to restrict salt intake. Don't forget that if a particular type of food caused you problems before surgery, the chances are that it will continue to upset you after surgery. Finally, try to keep an ideal body weight, as determined by your physician. Don't forget that increased abdominal fat is going to cause problems with your stoma. 

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URINARY DISCHARGE CAN AFFECT SKIN AND KIDNEYS
Via: So NV's Town Karaya 
Urostomates have to be especially careful about cleanliness. Bacteria from stale urine can cause white, gritty deposits on the skin and stoma which can be irritating, abrading the skin like sand paper. Fresh urine doesn't usually hurt the skin unless it is trapped in contact with it. If urine collects under the appliance, the bacteria multiply rapidly. This skin should be completely cleansed and dried before applying tapes, barriers, faceplates, etc. Empty the pouch frequently. Keep the urine acid to prevent gritty deposits. A quarter cup of half water and half white vinegar sloshed in the pouch around the stoma will dissolve any deposits. Solutions for cleaning and disinfecting urostomy equipment can be obtained at your appliance dealer. 

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QUICK TIPS FOR THE WORKPLACE
Via: Better Together Newsletter & 0stomatic News, Dallas, TX 
Back to work having a stoma has little bearing on your employment. Most people with ostomies return to their jobs after surgery Though absence of work can be frustrating and isolating, you must allow sufficient time (usually 3-6 months) to recover fully from your operation. Deciding when to return to work should be determined by you, your doctor, surgeon, and ET nurse. You may tire more easily upon returning to work. If so, ask your employer if you can work part-time for the first few weeks back on the job. On the Job You will need good toilet and washing facilities at your work site, with privacy available for changing your appliance. Keep spare wafers, pouches and accessory products - plus another set of clothing - at work, just in case. If using closed-end pouches, put the used appliance in a plastic re-sealable baggie before disposing of it. After draining an open-end pouch in the toilet, spray some air freshener. Job Performance People with ostomies perform nearly every kind of job. However, some occupations, in which the work is physically uncomfortable or inconvenient, may require some precautions. If your occupation involves strenuous or repetitive physical work such as stooping, bending, or heavy lifting, be extra careful as you move about. If your work involves handling food, there is no reason why you cannot continue to do so, providing you exercise good personal hygiene. The risk of spreading germs is the same for those with ostomies as for those without. Work Rights and Responsibilities Under the Americans With Disabilities Act, some employers may be required to make certain accommodations for you. Inquire about this with your human resources specialist. Individuals may, however, be required to undergo a pre-employment physical. Before accepting a position with a new employer, find out the name of their health insurance company and contact it directly to find out whether the plan covers your ostomy-related needs. 

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POUCH PROCEDURES
Excerpted from an article by Mike Mahoney, RNET La Grange, OR 
There are times when we think we are doing the right thing or taking a "logical" shortcut but inadvertently get ourselves into trouble. Here are some instances to think about. Using alcohol to clean the skin surrounding the stoma. Alcohol is a powerful drying agent. Prolonged contact with the skin can have serious consequences. Wrapping the drainable pouch tail around the clamp before closing It. That will not make the clamp work better. All it will do is spring the clamp out of shape which will insure that the clamp will not work for future applications and will make the releasing of excess gas more difficult. Wearing the appliance for as long as you can until it leaks The object is to change the appliance before leakage occurs. This way your skin gets the best protection and care. Five to seven days wearing time is good. Washing pouches in the washing machine and using the same pouch for months. Eventually the plastic of the pouches is saturated with the odor of the chemicals and no amount of washing will get rid of it. Throw away the pouch when you throw away the face plate. Letting the pouch get full before emptying It. Excess weight will separate a 2-piece system and will put excess weight on the face plate, resulting in early failures. Empty the pouch when it is one-third to one-half full.

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