Sensible Eating

via Magnolia Ostomy News

It is several months since you had your surgery, and you have adapted to your new plumbing. You have a beautiful stoma, changing your appliance is almost routine, your skin has now accepted the patch you apply, and you can wear your appliance four or five days without changing.

Then you accept an invitation to a party for the first time in two years and really enjoy being out again with your friends. You drink with freedom and down handfuls of peanuts; you wander to the table set with raw vegetables and dip; and the dinner is delicious, including the corn. This has been a truly good night, just like old times. But at two o’clock in the morning you realize that you haven’t been asleep yet. In fact, there has been a persistent pain around your stoma that wouldn’t let you sleep. Now it is increasing. You recall that you haven’t had much effluent in your pouch, and that what you’ve had was almost plain water.

By three the pain is much worse. By four you consider calling your doctor, but you decide to tough it out.

Remedies mentioned by others come to mind. You drink some warm tea, pull your knees to your chest, and rock back and forth. You drink some more and get on your hands and knees and knees and rock. You eat a few crackers while drinking and kneading your stomach; you drink still more, eat a piece of bread, get into the shower, and let the warm water roll down your back. About the time you are ready for the emergency room, things seem to ease up a bit, and then you notice that your pouch is no longer empty. When you finally empty your pouch, it’s like pouring a bag of peanuts into the toilet.

You have indeed learned a valuable lesson! You may be able to eat nuts, popcorn, raw vegetables, or even corn on the cob; but common sense will tell you, in the future not to eat them all at the same time....

Leak is a 4-Letter Word! What to Do About it!

via UOA & Ostonoma News - CA

Almost every ostomate has an experience with leakage at one time or another. The crux of the matter, is how one handles the leakage.

As an ostomate you should be prepared. It is usually recommended that you carry simple post-operative pouches that can easily be applied and will hold until you can eventually get home. Keep a spare pouch in your desk at work or in your purse or suit pocket. If you feel more secure with your re-usable equipment, fix a small kit with all the necessities.

If and when disaster strikes, try to be calm (sometimes easier said than done), grab your emergency kit, and head for the nearest bathroom. You may have to use wet and dry paper towels, Kleenex, or toilet paper. They all help in an emergency.

If leakage occurs with any frequency, something is wrong. You may need a change in your pouching system. An increase or decrease in weight since surgery can create folds and valleys around your stoma, particularly while sitting. This problem may require a different convexity or a small outside diameter on the faceplate. The stoma size may have shrunk. The faceplate should be 1/16 to 1/8 inch larger than the stoma. If the pouch is the correct one for you, the problem may be with the application.

There are several products on the market which are good. One may work better for you than another. One rule of thumb; the skin must be bone dry before you apply anything. A hair dryer on cool or a hand fan may prove useful. Skin breakdown and irritation, particularly if it is wet and moist, can affect wearing time and cause leakage. If the leakage problem persists despite your attempts to correct it, make an appointment to see one of the Enterostomal Therapists. Don’t be discouraged. Help is available. Leakage should be a rarity and not a common occurrence.

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