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DID YOU KNOW By Rick Chillot - via Convatec Health and Vitality Think you know everything there is to know about life with an ostomy? Think again! Like love, baseball, and the behavior of house cats, when it comes to ostomy care, there’s always more to learn. Do you know... ....how to turn off the gas? It’s not just beans: there are plenty of
other foods that can contribute, including Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, onions,
and carbonated drinks. And since everyone’s different, there may be foods that
make you gassy even through they don’t bother most folks. That doesn’t mean you
have to give up a favorite food just because it’s a gasser’ just cutting back
can help. And sometimes it’s just a matter of timing says Joyce Wilson, RN,
MSN, CWOCN, who practices at ....that your stoma should be pain-free? If you’re having pain or discomfort at or near your stoma don’t consider it to be business as usual. “Pain is always an indicator that there is a problem or potential problem, says Janice C. Colwell, RN,MSN,CWOCN, an advanced practice nurse/CSN for the University of Chicago Hospitals. “There is no usual cause and once a person encounters pain, they should seek medical attention.” ....if you’re at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency? Vitamin B12, found in protein-rich foods like meat, fish, and eggs, helps keep your nerve and blood cells healthy. Since it’s mainly absorbed in the ileum- the far end of the small intestine - some folks who’ve had part of their ileum removed don’t get enough of the vitamin. Symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, weakness, and lack of appetite. Not everyone who has had an ileostomy will become low in B12. If you experience symptoms, however, see you doctor who may recommend B12 injections if there is a deficiency. ....how to use a solid skin barrier? Not matching your solid skin barrier to your situation is probably the most common cause of a bad pouching fit, says Colwell. “The skin barrier should protect the skin around the stoma, so the barrier has to be cut for a close fit,” she says. “And it’s important to use a solid skin barrier that’s durable enough to handle the stoma’s output.” Be sure to spot-check the barrier at different times throughout the day. “The shape of the solid skin barrier should always mirror the area around the stoma,” says Colwell. “If your skin.. becomes flat when you sit, the barrier should be flat. If the area becomes convex or curved, so should the barrier.” ....how much air you’re swallowing? “Gas production can be related to ingested air, especially for people with a and ileostomy,” says Colwell, The more air you swallow, the more gas your body produces and then must eliminate. Smoking, chewing gum, drinking through a straw, or sucking on hard candy all bring air into your GI tract. “Some people with an ileostomy find a lot of gas in their pouch in the morning because they breathe through their mouth while they sleep,” says Colwell. If that seems to be the case, switching to a gas-filtered pouch will keep the pouch flat. ....why to take vitamin C? If you’ve had a urostomy,
a daily dose of vitamin C should be a part of your game plan, says ....the size of your stoma? If your pouch doesn’t seem to fit as well as
it used to, have you measured the size of your stoma lately? “The contour of your abdomen can change,
which can cause the stoma to stretch or change,” says Jan Clark, RN,CWOCN, who also practices at 56 |