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

 
Contents:

NEED TO SEE AN ET?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THE NEW OSTOMATE
NICOTINE PATCHES FOR ULCERATIVE COLITIS
MISMANAGEMENT OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
CONCERNS FOR COLOSTOMIES
SITTING DOWN
OSTOMY TIPS
CARTOONSVILLE

Re-Route Archive

Volume 28, Number 2  November, 2000

NEED TO SEE AN ET?
Here’s your chance to see an ET nurse for free. That’s right. Jenny Robertson, RNET, will be at the Ostomy Centre at 1655 Lincoln Avenue on Wednesday, November 8 and she presently has two appointment openings that afternoon. Here’s your chance to have your stoma examined and ask her questions. To set up an appointment, call 812-473-7000 or toll free at 1-800-347-3394. Don’t delay! 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THE NEW OSTOMATE
Via: Okawasa Satellite Chapter
Will you be a captive of the toilet? At first, you might find yourself spending lots of time in the bathroom until you become efficient with the management of your stoma. But then, your routine will not involve any more time than normal visits to the bathroom, except for changing the appliance or irrigating. And, there are a great many manufacturers inventing and selling better and better equipment every year for your use, so shop around. Will you starve? Follow doctor’s orders at each stage of your adjustment. Some ostomates will be able to eat and tolerate anything; others may find difficulty with some foods. Each person is an individual and must determine by trial, what is best for him. A good practice for all ostomates is to drink plenty of fluids. Will you be a social outcast? If you haven’t met any outcast ostomates lately, why should you be the first one? If you don’t smell bad, bulge, make noises and dwell in the toilet, what is to make you obvious and repulsive? Only your own attitude – your morale – will affect your companions. No cheerful, brave, and triumphant person will be an outcast!

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NICOTINE PATCHES FOR ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Via: The Houston Chapter, TX 
For years, doctors have noticed that some people with chronic inflammation of the colon who take up smoking often stop suffering cramps and bloody diarrhea. In fact, the condition, known as ulcerative colitis, rarely develops in smokers in the first place. Because of this connection, scientists have suspected that nicotine patches might reduce symptoms of ulcerative colitis without exposing wearers to the risk of lung cancer and other hazards of smoking. The latest research from the Mayo Clinic suggests that indeed, patches do the trick. Researchers divided 64 nonsmokers with mild to moderate symptoms of ulcerative colitis into two groups; one wore nicotine patches daily and the other used empty placebo patches. After four weeks, 39% of the nicotine group reported significant decreases in stool frequency, and rectal bleeding. In contrast, only 9% of those with the placebo patches described comparable reduction in symptoms. The Mayo researcher’s findings underscore the results of two previous studies showing that patches containing the highest available dose of medicine helps relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Scientists aren’t sure whether nicotine acts independently or bolsters the effects of other drugs used to treat colitis. Most patients in the studies were taking medications for their condition. Until further research is done, it is not clear whether patches result in greater relief or remission of symptoms. 

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MISMANAGEMENT OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Excerpted from Professional’s Guide to Patient Drug Facts , Via: S. NV’s Town Karaya 
Drugs are truly two-edged swords. They have the potential to save lives if used properly, but can be deadly if used inappropriately. Proof? About 30% to 50% of the 1.8 billion prescriptions dispensed annually are taken incorrectly by the patient. Approximately 125,000 Americans die each year from failure to take their medicines properly. About 3% to 5% of all hospital admissions are due to drug-induced toxicity. Approximately 23% of nursing home admissions result from inability to manage medication use in the home environment. Approximately 15% of patients do not take a full course of their prescribed drug therapy. Approximately 25% of all prescriptions are written for a patient 65 years of age or older, who receives an average of 13 prescription drugs per year. Approximately 32% of patients do not have their prescriptions refilled, even though they need to do so. 

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CONCERNS FOR COLOSTOMIES
Via: Metro MD & S. Brevard FL Ostomy Newsletter 
The most common problem after colostomy surgery is skin irritation. Herniation around the stoma may also occur. This is manifested as a bulge in the skin around the stoma, with difficulty irrigating; partial obstruction; and occasionally prolapse (the bowel pushing itself outward through the stoma). Many of these problems can be avoided if the stoma site is marked before the surgery at a place that lies within the rectus abdominis muscle near the body midline. The ET nurse can be of great help in this. The ET nurse is also helpful in managing complications should they arise. You should call the doctor when you have cramps lasting more than 2 or 3 hours; severe unusual change in the stoma size or appearance; obstruction at the stoma, or prolapse; excessive bleeding from the stoma opening; or a moderate amount in the pouch in several emptyings; injury to the stoma; a cut in the stoma; continuous bleeding at the junction between stoma and skin; severe watery discharge lasting more than 5 to 6 hours; and any other unusual occurrence involving the ostomy. With the introduction of irrigation cones, rupture or perforation of the colon is rarely seen. This may happen, however, when an irrigation catheter is used, if care is not taken when introducing the catheter into the stoma. 

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SITTING DOWN
By: Rosemary Watt, RNET, Stanford University 
“Sitting down” doesn’t seem like an important topic of discussion, but many ostomates have problems because their lifestyle involves “sitting down” much of the time. They may be secretaries or business executives, salesmen who spend a lot of time driving cars, and ostomates who are paraplegics who spend their working hours in wheelchairs. Going to a movie involves sitting for several hours. An appliance capacity may be decreased by 50% or even more when the sitting position is assumed. The pouch must be straightened out when seated. Men can do this by putting a hand in the trouser pocket. Women have a somewhat more difficult time, but can straighten the leg on the appliance side and adjust the pouch while they appear to be smoothing a skirt or straightening the leg of a pant suit. An appliance belt that fits correctly may be too tight when seated, since we increase our girth when sitting. The belt may need to be loosened slightly before sitting for a long period of time. Trouser belts may fit too tightly over an appliance when seated and prevent stool or urine from entering the pouch. The belt tightness can be tested when seated by inserting a finger under the belt or trouser. 

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OSTOMY TIPS
Itching under an appliance can be a sign of dehydration. Drink several glasses of water within a short time. It may prevent an appliance change and keep you healthy to boot. Tomato juice is good for dehydration and helps restore electrolytes. Read the label...it has a lot of potassium and sodium. Be sure your skin is dry and clean before applying cement.

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