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Volume 29, Number 6 March, 2002
SKIN CARE
Via: Re-Route, Huntsville, Alabama
Soap and water do not hurt the stoma, so you can bathe and shower just as you always have. However, it’s a good idea to choose a soap that is residue free. Soaps containing moisturizers and oils such as cream soaps, liquid wipes and baby wipes leave a residue that can interfere with how well the skin barrier adheres to your skin. Remember: It’s important to avoid adhesive buildup. Adhesive removers can help you wash away adhesive residue easily, without traumatizing sensitive skin. Skin irritations, including changes, rashes or breakdown of the skin around the stoma, may be caused by leakage from around the skin barrier or pouch, or by irritation from an improperly fitting pouching systems. Skin infections can also be caused by a combination of events, such as moisture accumulation and buildup of normal fungi on the skin, leading to a yeast infection called Candida albicans.
Cutting the wafer to the correct size, correctly applying your pouch, and
carefully cleaning and drying the skin around the stoma with every pouch change
are the best ways of preventing skin irritation. If redness, swelling or a rash
persists, call your healthcare professional.
OSTOMY OUTPUT
Via: S. NV Town Karaya & GB News Review
What to do if your ostomy output becomes thin, watery, or greatly increases in volume:
Never limit your food intake in order to thicken the drainage, since this can lead to dehydration.
Avoid food which you know from experience makes drainage too loose and too frequent.
Begin a low-residue diet, avoiding especially green beans, broccoli, spinach, highly spiced foods, raw fruits and beer.
Add strained bananas, applesauce, boiled rice, tapioca, boiled milk and peanut butter to your diet.
Pretzels help in thickening and add bulk to the drainage. The salt, also, helps stimulate thirst.
Many people take an enzyme which is responsible for the metabolism of milk and sugar (lactose). This condition can cause diarrhea, gas bloating, nausea and cramping. The elimination of milk products may cause a dramatic improvement in the symptoms.
THE SWOLLEN STOMA
Via: MAOG, Memphis & Loraine Co. Chapter
It can be pretty scary to have your stoma swell for any reason, and not be able to get your appliance off over it for fear of doing damage. An appliance that hugs the stoma too tightly may cause it (stoma) to swell. A fall or a hard blow or slipping appliance may cause the stoma to swell.
Rather than risk further damage to the stoma by pulling the appliance off over it, try filling your pouch with ice water and letting it swirl around the stoma to decrease the swelling. Ease the appliance off carefully. Replace it with an appliance that has a larger opening until all swelling is gone. It is a good idea to keep a couple of appliances with larger openings around for such emergencies.
HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ALLERGIC REACTION & A YEAST INFECTION
Via: Loraine County OH Ostomy Assoc.
Allergic Reaction: The skin around the stoma or under the pouch becomes reddened with tiny blisters. The skin may weep, making adherence of the pouching system impossible. Itchiness is common in the areas that are in contact with whatever is causing the sensitivity. Any product can set up this reaction—for example, soaps, protective wipes, adhesive removers, wafers, paste, or tape.
*Yeast Infections: The skin around the stoma or under the pouch becomes reddened with a rash—both flat and raised— along with yellow heads (pustules), there are satellite areas or smaller areas with the characteristic rash, and itching can be quite bothersome. Warm, moist areas contribute to the development of yeast rash, along with some antibiotic therapies.
COLON CANCER SCREENING
From Mayo Clinic Health Letter, Via: Orange Oasis
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. This year alone, more than 131,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer of the rectum. The good news is that the odds of beating colorectal cancer go up significantly with early detection.
The American Cancer Society has thus recently updated its screening guidelines for early detection and Medicare has expanded its coverage of screening tests.
About 90% of colorectal cancers occur in people over age 50. About 6 percent of the people age 75 to 80 have had colorectal cancer in some point of their life. In addition to age, other factors may increase the risk: A personal history of colorectal polyps or cancer; a low fiber diet; excess weight, an inactive life style; longstanding inflammatory diseases involving the colon and certain hereditary conditions.
Colorectal cancers generally are slow growing. They may occur anywhere along the lengthy wall of the large intestine. Most have their beginning as a tiny polyp that develops in the inner lining of the colon wall. The smaller the polyp, the less likely it is to be cancerous. Once the polyp grows beyond the size of a pencil eraser, there is an increasing chance that it will be cancerous. For a person at average risk-basically anyone over age 50– it may take a polyp seven to ten years to become cancerous.
Unfortunately, polyps rarely produce any symptoms, so it is important to check for problems via screening tests instead of waiting for symptoms to appear.
The occurrence of colorectal cancer is distributed over the colon/rectum area as follows: cecum—22%; ascending colon—12%; transverse colon—10%; descending colon—7%; sigmoid colon—35% and rectum—14%. It is important, therefore, that screening tests cover the entire colon.
DEALING WITH GRIEF
Via: The Opened Closet, Tidewater Tidings & GB News Review
Grief is defined as “normal subjective response to loss of a loved person through death or separation”. The feelings of grief are universal. They can be so intense that they bring normal daily activities to a standstill. Often the symptoms are indistinguishable from depression. Pain, stress, suffering and impairment of function can last for days, weeks or months but eventually are resolved through the mourning process.
At the beginning of mourning, denial and disorientation or confusion are normal. This helps to “cushion the blow” while one comes to terms with the reality of death. Eventually the person will face the grief in order to recover. When denial or numbness wears off, a range of emotions will be experienced. These can be sadness, guilt, anger and sometimes hatred. These are all normal and should be shared with a friend, family member, clergyman or counsel. Some people who cannot easily express how they feel may find it helpful to record their feelings in a journal.
The person who has lost a spouse may need extra help dealing with legal and financial issues as well as assume duties which may have been carried out exclusively by their mate. Community agencies and support organizations may provide guidance and temporary assistance.
Keep in mind that grief can continue and easily degenerate into depression. If a person continues to feel sad or hopeless or experiences difficulty eating, sleeping, experiences poor esteem or has thoughts of suicide, they should seek professional counseling.
GRAPEFRUIT CAN SOCK IT TO YOU!
Via: Orange Oasis, Loraine County Ostomy Association
For some people, certain kinds of medication become more powerful if taken with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. The increase in potency could be especially dangerous with drugs that affect blood pressure or heart rate, lower the sugar of calcium levels in blood, with sleeping pills and with drugs that become toxic at high dosages. This increase in potency is not just imaginary; researchers have found that something in grapefruit inhibits intestinal enzymes from breaking down certain medications, leading to possible overdose. As you have heard a thousand times before, when you get your medications, read the instructions!!
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