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Volume 32, Number 2 November, 2004
CORRECT YOUR STINKING THINKING!
Via The New Outlook & Hemet San-Jacinto
In its most simplistic form, the theory of mind-body medicine is this: “Wherever a thought goes, a chemical follows.” Negative (stinking) thoughts trigger a cascade of chemical reactions in the brain and they release a myriad of negative chemicals. This, in turn, creates a negative and unhealthy internal body environment. Negative thoughts can lead to disease.
For example, a depressed person projects sadness throughout his or her entire body. The brain’s output of neurotransmitters becomes depleted...hormone levels drop…the sleep cycle is interrupted, neuropeptide receptors on the platelets in the blood become stickier and more prone to clump (heart-attack/stroke!)...Even the tears of a depressed person have been found to contain different chemical traces than tears of joy.– But as thought processes shift from negative to positive, this biochemical profile tends to change dramatically.
The moral of the story is that it is of vital importance to watch the color and context of our thought processes and our self-talk. This can have a dramatic impact on your focus and awareness. Counseling can go a long way to help, but here is what you can do on your own:
Begin by writing out a list of words that have special meaning for you. (Shoot for not more than five letters to keep it simple.) Think of words that give you peace or joy, that make you feel good or just bring a smile to your face.
EYE INFLAMMATION AND BOWEL DISEASE
Via: The Pouch, Northern VA
A specific type of eye inflammation can sometimes be associated with Crohn’s disease and, to a lesser extent, ulcerative colitis. The connection between collagen diseases and eye inflammation is well known, particularly with rheumatoid arthritis. This would suggest a relationship between eye inflammation, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Episcleritis — With this condition, there is a localized, red, raised area in the conjunctiva, the transparent covering of the front of the eye. The deeper vessels are engorged in the episclera, which is the layer above the sclera (the white of the eye). Pain is often severe and aching in nature. This disease can be recurrent but is easily treated and not threatening to sight.
Scleritis — This is a deeper, localized inflammation. Pathologically, it consists of a central mass of necrotic collagen with elongated cells. This picture is identical to rheumatoid arthritis. This more severe condition can be threatening to sight. Episcleritis is often treated with topical steroids and can be easily controlled. Scleritis usually requires systemic steroids and recently the use of nonsteroidal and anti-inflammation (NSAIDS) has been found helpful. Side effects of steroids are well known. In the eye, they can cause pressure, so NSAID using is increasing. Salicylates (aspirin) have been around for a long time, but new uses have been found for their anti-inflammatory properties. Other groups in this category are phenylalkanoic acids such as Naprosyn, acetic acids such as Indocid or Voltaren. Other groups used are fenamic acids and enolic acids such as Butazolidin and Feldene.
Punctual Occlusion — Patients using corticosteroid drugs can prevent a loss of systemic absorption and limit side effects by pressing on the lacrimal sac, between the inner corner of the eye and the bridge of the nose after instilling the drops. This prevents the drop from passing down the tear duct where it would be readily absorbsorbed. The trick is also very useful for patients using glaucoma drops such as beta blockers.
Iritis—This is an eye inflammation that can be acute or sub-acute. It involves the iris, which is the pigmented tract of the eye. One variety, HKAB27, can be present in arthritis and gastrointestinal disease. In some patients with ulcerative colitis, an ostomy resolves the ocular disease. However, it may not prevent recurrences of ocular inflammation.
CHOICE OF CLOTHING AFFECT HOW SECURELY THE POUCHING SYSTEM WILL STAY
Via: Ostomy Village.com & Cleveland Ostomy News
Yes, so use common sense when you choose your clothing. Most people agree that snug clothing, especially underwear, helps support the pouching system against the abdomen.
Underwear should be snug, but not so tight that stool or urine can’t drop down to the bottom of the pouch. Girdles, abdominal binders and poorly fitting support pantyhose can be so tight that stool or urine is unable to exit the stoma into the pouch. The result? Leakage. One thing is for sure: Urine and stool will find a way out of the stoma! If the pouch is squeezed too flat by clothing or a belt and is unable to expand and contain stomal output, the urine or stool will leak under the pouching system. If your stoma and pouching system is at your belt line, belts worn tightly across the pouch can do the same thing—seal off the top of the pouch from the bottom—interfering with the waste dropping to the bottom of the pouch. Suspenders can help solve this problem.
Be sure to empty your pouch regularly or when it is 1/3 full or less. Stool and urine are heavy and if pouches are allowed to become over full, the chances of leakage are greater, no matter what type of belt you use.
The type of clothing you wear and how you wear it can affect the security of your pouching system. Mostly, you must use common sense when selecting clothing. If clothes are too tight, the pouch is squeezed so tightly that stool and urine simply can’t exit into the pouch and will find another exit route; usually underneath the pouching system! Snug clothing, on the other hand, can actually provide additional support to the weight of the pouching system.
LIFE ISN’T THE SAME WITH A POUCH
Via: Lee Co. FL. & Hemet-San Jacinto, CA
While the pouch is nice and handy to collect whatever comes out (what would we do without the pouch?) It can come loose as a result of certain body movements (and leave us with a big mess.) Thus abruptly sitting up straight from a flat on-your-back- position or bending over to pick something up, or stretching to reach something high can cause the pouch to pop loose.
Learn to get in and out of bed on your side. Get in bed by sitting far onto the bed and going down on you
on your elbow while holding on to the mattress with the other hand and swing your legs up. To get up, roll over on your side and use your elbow to push up, while holding the mattress with your other hand and swinging your legs sideways off the bed.
Learn to use tools to help you with some of the chores requiring bending over. Don’t for instance, bend over to clean the bathtub. Use a broom and a cleaner. To pick something up, or to reach high shelves, get a clamp-type “reacher”.
Learn to lift and carry on the side of your leg or hip, carry things high on your shoulders, or drag it or get some help. Not only do you prevent the pouch from loosing, you might also prevent a hernia. (Ostomates get hernias easier than anyone else).
LIFE WITH A PULL-THROUGH
Via: Metro Maryland & Rose City Ostomy News
I was asked to share with you what my life is like living with a pull-through. Ironically, I was asked right after a program where the pull-through surgery was explained and the advantages and disadvantages discussed. Unfortunately, in my opinion, very few advantages and numerous disadvantages of living with this procedure were highlighted. Well, I guess, I am here to share the advantages.
I was diagnosed as having ulcerative colitis in 1970 at the age of 9. I lived with the disease for 16 years before deciding that I was simply tired of being sick. I had been fortunate that during those 16 years, flare-ups were infrequent and with medication I was able to put up with my problem. In other words, I guess I got used to being tired and always knowing where the nearest bathroom was. After graduating from college, I married and it was then that my priorities as far as living with my colitis began to change. I did not want to put up with being sick anymore. I wanted to start a family and get on with a healthy life. I discussed surgical options with my surgeon and made the decision to have the pull-through procedure.
My pull-through was accomplished in two operations, eight weeks apart. In the first operation, my colon was removed and the small bowel was reconstructed. I received a temporary ileostomy. Eight weeks later, after the reconstructed areas had healed, my stoma was “dropped” and a small opening was cut in the newly formed pouch allowing me use of the rectum again.
That was two years ago. Today, I live a very healthy, very active lifestyle. I do things daily that were never an option to me before. I was running two miles a day within six weeks of the second procedure. (As a child, I was medically excused from gym class.) I went tubing down the Guadelupe River with my family in the summer, whereas before I would never have trusted myself to be away from a restroom for that long. Today and every day I chase after our eleven month old son. To sum it up, my life is normal now. I have a great asset, my health.
The advantagesof the pull-through procedure in my case have been overwhelming. Most importantly, I do not have ulcerative colitis anymore. It was totally removed. I do not wear an external appliance nor do I have a permanent ileostomy. I have never had a terrible leakage problem, not even at the beginning. My trips to the bathroom have reduced drastically to 3-5 times a day. I now have the option to eat whatever foods I choose with no or very little repercussions. I do not take any medications and consequently very few people know I was ever sick. I can not say that I have ever had any problems, I have. But overall, this procedure has worked beautifully in my case. To have the option of not having a permanent ileostomy is exciting to me. I am very happy I chose this method and would encourage others to try this route to a healthy life.
PAIN: WIDESPREAD & UNDERTREATED
Via: S. Brevard (FL) Ostomy Newsletter
Pain, both chronic and acute is prevalent and undertreated and is the most common reason people seek health care. With the aging population, the number of people who will need treatment for pain is expected to rise tremendously. The world-renowned pain expert, Margo McCaffrey, RN, has defined pain as “whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever he or she says it does.”
Pain is complex and a subjective experience making management complicated. When untreated, undertreated, or inappropriately treated, it can result in significant adverse consequences, such as decreased function and quality of life, depression, and suicide. It is a major cause of work absenteeism and unemployment, increasing health care costs and disability compensation. Congress has declared the decade beginning 2001 as the Decade of Pain Control and Research. Their goal is to raise awareness that most pain can be relieved. Websites such as: American Pain Foundation; American Society of Pain Management Nurses; American Chronic Pain Assoc. & The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality are great sources to get
started with.
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