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A picture of my more usual foundations to compare to last weeks little experiment. This is so much better for hiding my ostomy bag and 'that' area feel much more feminine.
We all do it, she just chose to be public about it!
My wife NIccy (who is a certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse of which there are approximately 9,700 in the United States) teaches a class where she shows the basics of wound care for the new nurses they hire and anyone else that's interested in the subject.
This means that every so often she has to clean up her butts which are models that show the most likely places you'll find a long term care wound on a patient. The dressings they use in practice can sometimes leave a sticky residue and no one wants to have sticky buns!
I was lucky enough to catch her during one of her cleaning sessions and thought I would present it here for you. If you ever need this kind of care you'll certainly appreciate the diligence and care these nurses show!
Now this might be offensive to some since they don't believe in selective colorization, considering it a cheap tool to sell shots. Sorry if you felt that way but this picture cried out to me for selective coloring. The shadows on her face contrasted with the subject at hand, which are definitely colorful. Don't like it, don't fave it!
Father & son. About year ago one got life, one got cancer diagnosis, just at the same time. This have been very harsh year with all radiotherapy, cytostatic treatment and 3 operation including ostomy. I have lost my hope and get it back, hundred times. Today doctor said he -my husband- is healthy!! So after a year I can finally breathe and smile, genuinely.
Take care!
„The worst thing was explaining my children about the ostomy. As it turned out, they didn't have much of a problem with it, they just accepted it. Women, now that's different. When they see the ostomy, they run.
But I'm doing fine with the ostomy, and I'm feeling well. Sure, the fear of metastases is always present. It creeps into your mind. But I fight it. I concentrate on the good things. I mean, I can take a stroll, I got enough to eat – I'm better off than many other people on this world.“
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After finishing my 100 Strangers Project, I continue to photograph strangers based on the principles of the Project. Find out more about the project at the group page 100 Strangers.
Rexall Drugs, 109 West 3rd, Yankton, South Dakota. From their website:
Yankton Rexall's history dates back to 1923 when pharmacists George Paulsen and Leon Farrell opened their pharmacy at 111 West Third Street (presently Fish & Stuff) to serve the healthcare needs of the growing Yankton community. Although the store has moved, remodeled a number of times, and later incorporated, it has always been owned by pharmacists and supported by a dedicated staff of employees. The store has been located in historic downtown Yankton since its inception.
In 1927 the business was sold to Henry and Leo Heitgen and named Heitgen Pharmacy. Henry was the pharmacist and Leo was the business manager and bookkeeper. The Heitgens owned the business until they sold to two pharmacist partners, Charles Clancey and Harold Tisher, on April 1, 1945. These partners incorporated and renamed the business Yankton Drug Company, Inc. doing business as Yankton Rexall Drug. They also started the Yankton Clinic pharmacy under this corporation. This partnership continued until Ken Jones purchased Clancey's interest in the business in July of 1958.
Under the guidance of Harold Tisher and Ken Jones the company expanded by purchasing the former American State Bank building next to the pharmacy and later purchasing the Collins hotel located to the south of this building. The bank building was remodeled into a modern pharmacy (109 W. 3rd St.) and with the removal of the hotel, a new gift shop, drive-up prescription area and customer parking lot were added to the store. Tisher and Jones managed the successful business until the end of 1972 when Tisher sold his controlling interest to Ken Jones.
In 1973 Ken Jones acquired two partners, Conley Stanage and Philip Dohn, who continued the success of the pharmacy business, enhanced the gift shop, added a bookstore in the basement and expanded the liquor department to include more spirits, wines, beer and cordials*. The Rexall franchising program ended in 1978 but the owners maintained the Rexall name due to its reputation for quality products and service. In 1980 Yankton Rexall was the first Yankton pharmacy to install computer technology to manage prescription processing. The computer allowed for more efficient prescription labeling, more accurate record maintenance and improved patient education. many things we take for granted today. The Clinic Pharmacy was incorporated and removed from Yankton Drug Co. Inc. in the mid-1980's but still owned by the stockholders. The gift shop was designated a Gold Crown Hallmark Shop in 1987. With this designation the gift shop was able to increase its Hallmark greeting card selection and expand its collectible gift offerings making it one of the premier gift shops of the area.
Ken Jones sold his shares of the business in January of 1988. Phil and Conley removed the bookstore and remodeled the entire store, including new carpet, flooring and modern fixtures during the fall of 1988. The Pharmacy department was also remodeled by moving the liquor department to a different part of the store, creating space for new programs such as unit dose for nursing homes and durable medical products including ostomy supplies, walkers, wheelchairs, canes, braces, bathroom benches and diabetic supplies. Timothy Gallagher joined Phil and Conley in January of 1989 as a minor partner.
The 1990's saw many changes for the corporation with none of them being more important than the advancement of computer technology. Computer generated patient profiles, drug monitoring programs, insurance billing interfaces, electronic wholesale ordering and the world wide web revolutionized the pharmacy industry by providing critical information with a keystroke. Conley Stanage left the business at the end of 1992 and Tim Gallagher retired his ownership in April of 1994 leaving Phil Dohn as sole owner until Dan Somsen became a partner in April of 1995. Phil and Dan managed the business until January of 2008 when Phil retired and Dan became sole stockholder of the corporation.
Yankton Rexall continues to look to the future. Michael Kuchta, PharmD, joined the staff in June of 2008 to supervise the pharmacy and be the pharmacist consultant for Ability Building Services, Cedar Village Assisted Living and Walnut Village Assisted Living facilities. Medicare certification, immunization certification, development of a point of sale program and launching a website have highlighted the last few years.
Yankton Rexall has survived the many economic challenges of the last century through the determination, foresight and strong work ethic of its past owners and staff. It is the goal of the present ownership and staff to continue the tradition of providing patients and customers with quality medications and products without sacrificing the hometown customer service. You are always welcome at Yankton Rexall!
* The store has held a liquor license since the end of prohibition
*takes a deep breath*
When I read that today's prompt was "brave", I knew what photo I WANTED to use. I just didn't know if I was THAT brave. As it is, I cropped one of my photos heavily. It's scary to show this, and I also didn't want it to seem like I was looking for sympathy. This IS the bravest thing I could share, so here it is.
On the left is a picture of my stomach (too big! scary!!) and my ostomy bag. That bag has been a part of me since New Year's Eve 2009, when I lost most of my colon to ulcerative colitis; the rest of my colon was removed in June 2011, making my ileostomy irreversibly permanent. There's just a tiny bit of my scar showing there - it's about ten inches long. That bag will be with me as long as I live - I cannot exist or even leave my bathroom without it. I am grateful because it saved my life, but I also hate it.
On the right: I decided to try dancing a bit, since I'm self-conscious about that and don't like doing it in front of people. The blur of the background also reminds me that so much of my life (especially my health) is uncertain and out of my control - more scary stuff.
So . . . this is me, trying to be brave today, and trying not to feel guilty about sharing so much.
Full surgery documentation now located at: www.jpouch.net/photos/surgery-1/
Here is a shot of the belly and stoma on Day 8. You can see he has a bit of irration from the adhesive of the bag wafer (not sure how to treat that, any suggestions are welcome :)
Oh, the question we asked was how much does the large intestine and rectum weigh? Only a few pounds is the answer, it is about 5 feet long but light weight. And no, after the colon is removed the stomach does not collapse and fall in, a person without their colon does not look like they have no colon!
Again, these are his 5 incisions, and his stoma will change size b/c it is swollen right now. Apparently stomas change size as your weight fluctuates. Stomas bleed some when you clean them or touch them, but it doesn't hurt since it has no nerve endings.
At the south incision in the pelvic region there is some swelling on the left side around the incision, that is fluid left over that was once draining from the drain tube. It makes a funny hollow sound when he taps on it. The doctors said if the incision becomes red or painful to come in and have it drained, so far not red or painful.
When you need to take care of your ostomy and address any issue that arise after the ostomy surgery, your first point of contact is the ostomy care nurse who is well equipped with the knowledge of ostomy care. These nurses are also referred to as “WOC” (wound, #ostomy, and continence) nurses. Their main job is to help you make a smooth transition after the surgery. They train you to care for your ostomy at home.
It would be worth talking about the role ostomy care nurses play in your ostomy care.
When should you contact your ostomy care nurse?
You do not need to contact your ostomy care #nurse in every ostomy related issue. There is a lot that you can do without any help. But there are many issues which have the tendency to get worsened. Those issues need to be taken care of with the help of an ostomy care nurse. You need to call an ostomy care nurse as soon as you see the following issues with your colostomy or ileostomy.
•Skin irritation
•Leakage under the skin barrier
•Excessive bleeding of your stoma
•Blood in the stool
•Bulge in the skin around your stoma
•Persistent diarrhea
•Diarrhea with pain and vomiting
•Stoma appearing to be getting longer
In case you have urostomy, you need to call your nurse as soon as you notice the following issues.
•Any sign of #infection in urinary tract
•Skin #irritation
•Urine crystals appearing on or around the #stoma
•Blood in urine
•Leakage under the skin barrier
•Discolored skin around your stoma
•Bulge in the skin around your stoma
•Stoma appearing to be getting longer
Finding a stoma care nurse
You will receive contact information of an ostomy care nurse before leaving the hospital after your ostomy surgery. But if you don’t receive this information for whatever reasons, there are some ways you can find a nurse in your area through the WOCN Society website. You will have to enter your state or zip code to get information about the nurses available in your area. Another free digital tool “Peristomal Skin Assessment Guide for Consumers” allows you to access information about the nurses available in your area under the “Resources” icon. The good thing about this tool is that it helps you identify the problems, prompting you to call for the ostomy care if needed.
Many people have to go through a urostomy surgery. Everyone’s reason is different from another. In this article, you will learn some essential causes of urostomy surgery. Well, I am discussing some common causes for a urostomy. Let’s see why your doctor has recommended the #urostomy.
The Main Reason for Urostomy Surgery
There is no one reason for urostomy surgery. There are various causes of it. Some of the common reasons are illness, a chronic condition, or trauma. Well, in any case, when your bladder does not work accurately, or it gets damaged due to long sickness or any other reason, you have to go through the urostomy surgery. When your bladder gets defective, you need another tube or path, for urine or excretion, then you need the urostomy. Urostomy is a medicated way to let the urine out of a human body.
Thousand Successful Urostomy Surgeries
For the outflow of urine, an artificial opening created in the abdomen of the patient. The hole is used for excretion purposes and called a stoma. When you need to pee through a new path, it will create some problems in the start. With time, you will get used to the new system of urination. The urostomy will be a life-changing procedure for you. As from now on you have to adjust your life with the urostomy supplies. Well, for your ease, let me tell you that urostomy surgery is a successful procedure. Every year, round about ten thousand people go through the successful urostomy #operation. You will get comfortable after 2 to 3 months of the surgery. Therefore, there are no worries regarding the success rate of the urostomy. It can be any kind of urostomy surgery. After having a stoma, you need to be careful about your routine. However, you do not need to change your previous activities. You can continue your swimming, parenthood, professional life, married life, hobbies, shopping, traveling, and anything you were like to do before.
Important Urostomy Surgery Reasons
The following are a few essential causes of urostomy.
Bladder Cancer
Urostomy surgery usually recommended to the people who have bladder cancer. In the bladder cancer patient, the full bladder or a small part of it has removed. Therefore, you need urostomy surgery to urinate. Bladder cancer is usually common in men.
Blunt Force Trauma
Blunt Force Trauma is Physical Trauma. It can happen because of a physical injury to the abdomen or any other part of the human body. After having an injury on the belly due to the trauma, you need to go through the urostomy surgery. As after having an injury on the abdomen, your bladder cannot function accurately. Therefore, you need a stoma on your belly for the urine excretion.
Congenital Disease
Congenital is a by birth disease usually present in the newborns. In this condition, there is a defect in the urinary tract of a baby. The inherited disease does not allow urine to come out through the urinary tract. In this disease, the urine of a newborn goes back to the kidney instead of excretion. Congenital disease can lead to chronic infections. For those newborns, urostomy is a necessary surgery and a life-saving operation.
Incontinence Infection
Sometimes, there is an inner disease in your bladder. And that causes incontinence or chronic infection in the urinary tract. In that case, doctors recommend a urostomy surgery. When you have any bladder issue or defect, you need to undergo the urostomy. After having a urostomy operation, your life will change; apart from that, you will get relief from the bladder and urinary tract pain.
ostomy care : ConvaTec is a worldwide restorative items and advances organization, with driving business sector positions in wound therapeutics, ostomy care, self control and basic care, and mixture gadgets.
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Here is a fairly graphic photo of Stumpy in action. The bag is located towards the inside of his leg so you can empty the bag in the toilet without hassle. This bag is really full, normally you don't leave it so full b/c it would be heavy and run the risks of 'blow out'. Mark's hand is by the bag to give you an idea of scale.
Here is the bag prior to being put over his stoma. You can see it is a two piece (there is an option of 1 or 2 piece). Mark's is two piece b/c his stoma is smallish and so this helps pop it out more. Here you can see the scale as well. Bags come in all different varietis and some are not clear, etc..... The clip on the end (long tan thing at end of bag, he uses this to drain throughout the day, he is draining every 2 hours or so. He only changes the appliance (i.e. the full bag set up) twice a week). There are tons of different bags for different types of stomas, Mark's stoma is loop ileostomy which means it is smallish since it is temporary.
We've recently learned from another jpoucher that there are bag options where there isn't a clip at the bottom but velcro. If you aren't happy with your hospital register bag and equipment, do some searching because there are MANY bag options.
A surgical procedure to disconnect the lower part of the small bowel from the bowel and pulling it through an incision in the abdominal wall is known as ileostomy surgery. There can be various reasons that your doctor may choose to give you an ileostomy. Those reasons mainly include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, cancer, and familial polyposis.
The main aim of an #ileostomy is to divert the passage of wastes away from the colon and towards an opening in the #abdomen. This opening is known as a stoma. The surgeon does it after removing or resting the diseased part of the bowel. It allows bodily wastes to leave the body through the stoma. This surgical procedure is generally a lifesaving operation.
Another type of #intestinal #ostomy is the #colostomy, which involves pulling out of a part of the colon. The surgeon, during colostomy surgery, dissects the colon to separate the healthy section of the colon from the diseased part. He then pulls the healthy end out of a cut in the abdomen to create a stoma after removing or resting the diseased section. The surgical technique to create an ileostomy is the same as that of a colostomy.
Ileostomy surgery
The surgeon puts the patient to sleep by administering general #anesthesia. The place of the stoma will depend on the site of the illness and the patient’s preferences or needs. The incision to start the procedure is usually 8 inches long down the midline on the patient’s abdomen. This incision dissects the abdominal skin, muscles, and subcutaneous tissues. The procedure may involve the removal of the #colon alongside or excluding the colon and rectum, depending on how much the disease has spread. The surgeon also closes the anal canal with the help of stitches.
An ileostomy can be temporary or permanent, based on the type or severity of the disorder. The two basic types of permanent ileostomy are a convention and continent ileostomy. The convention or Brooke ileostomy necessitates the patient to wear an ostomy bag the entire time. The stoma drains all the fecal materials into the ostomy bag. With this ileostomy, you are going to have no control over when you move your bowels, as a stoma doesn’t have any #sphincter #muscles. A continent ileostomy consists of an internal reservoir inside the abdomen. There will be a stoma on the belly, but it will not need an ostomy bag to cover it. You will be able to draw waste materials out of your internal pouch through a flexible catheter. The two types of continent ileostomy include a Kock pouch and BCIR.
Contrary you what you may have been thinking, an ileostomy gives you a chance to start a healthy and happy life after getting rid of the life-threatening condition. Some people acknowledge that their ileostomies have helped them to be even more active and healthier after the procedure because their quality of life was not that good before surgery due to illness. It all comes down to the mindset.
If you have a bowel condition so severe that your doctor recommends an ileostomy, be sure to discuss everything and clear your doubts instead of being stressed about the prospects of losing a body function.
Mark started creating output from Stumpy the Stoma the following day after surgery. It was pure liquid and green (b/c he was on a liquid diet, not sure why it was green though - I know the drs. explained why but can't recall now). I put my finger in the picture so you can have an idea of scale.
Infermeres ostomaterapeuta irriguen la ferida d'una ostomia per rentar o desinfectar-la a la Unitat d'Ostomies de l'Universitari Vall d'Hebrón. Enfermeras ostomaterapéutas irrigan la herida de una ostomía para lavarla o desinfectarla en la Unidad de Ostomía del Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron.
Autoria: Ariadna Creus i Àngel García
Infermer ostomaterapeuta realitza el marcatge per a una ostomia absominal a la Unitat d'Ostomies de l'Universitari Vall d'Hebrón. Enfermero ostomaterapéuta realiza el marcaje para una ostomía abdominal en la Unidad de Ostomía del Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron.
Autoria: Ariadna Creus i Àngel García
Infermer ostomaterapeuta neteja i canvia un dispositiu de bossa d'ostomia abdominal a la Unitat d'Ostomies de l'Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebrón. Enfermero ostomaterapeuta limpia y cambia un dispositivo de bolsa de ostomia abdominal en la Unidad de Ostomías del Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron.
Autoria: Ariadna Creus i Àngel García
Infermer ostomaterapeuta mostra a una persona amb una ostomia com fer el manteniment i canvi de la bossa d'ostomia a la Unitat d'Ostomies de l'Universitari Vall d'Hebrón. Enfermero ostomaterapéuta muestra a una persona con una ostomia como realizar el mantenimiento y cambio de la bolsa de ostomía en la Unidad de Ostomía del Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron.
Autoria: Ariadna Creus i Àngel García
Infermer ostomaterapeuta irriga la ferida d'una ostomia per rentar o desinfectar-la a la Unitat d'Ostomies de l'Universitari Vall d'Hebrón. Enfermero ostomaterapéuta irriga la herida de una ostomía para lavarla o desinfectarla en la Unidad de Ostomía del Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron.
Autoria: Ariadna Creus i Àngel García
Ostomy is a tried and tested way to manage your waste excretion in case you are unable to do it through the natural bodily mechanism. But for many years, #ostomates remained worried about what would follow the ostomy surgery. I am talking about carrying the bag which collects urine or stool. Concealing that bag under the clothes is not something very difficult, but leakage and odor had really been the real concerns.
An ostomy mainly involves collection of bodily wastes through a #stoma which appears through the opening made in the abdominal wall. This stoma has to be exposed to the bag’s inner chamber where the stool or urine has to go. Leakage, which can also result odor emanating from the person with ostomy, can be quite a concern here. Aside from the odor, this leakage can cause irritation in the peristomal skin, skin around the stoma. The immediate disadvantage of this irritation is continuous pain and the ostomate’s overall inability to ensure better adhesion between the pouching system and the skin where pouching system has to be attached.
Thankfully, modern technology has been able to address this issue in quite an effective manner. If you talk about the supplies that were available a decade ago, you may argue their about inability to help you with the better ostomy management in a post-surgery scenario. But it is not the case anymore. You can manage your ostomy in much better way today. Modern technology has surely been very helpful but it has only a partly contribution to make in a case of successful ostomy management. The other half that you are going to have to work on is to make sure that you stay in contact with your ostomy care nurses. They are people who are equipped with every bit of information which you can use not only to prevent any issues with your ostomy but also to bring back things to normal in case you have got affected by any problem that tends to make the ostomy management a difficult affair.
The big reason why you need to consult your ostomy care nurse to get your #ostomy related issues addresses is that there are too many supplies available out there; and you don’t really have an idea what works best for you. For instance, there can be different pouching systems available for colostomy management; and each of those systems works in a specific way to benefit a specific type of colostomy case. Surely you don’t want to get confused here. All you have to do is to call your nurse for an appointment and ask them what solution will be the most suitable for you.
A very important part of your ostomy management is to have good knowledge about the suppliers from whom you can get your supplies shipped at your doorstep. That’d be great if there is a physical store nearby your residence. You can walk into the store and look through different options to pick one that is suitable for you. But adequate information about the suppliers can be more useful for you because it can give you the peace of mind while traveling away from your home.
#health
Peristomal skin complications can be more than irritating. That is the reason that #ostomates need to take care of #peristomal skin to keep it from getting infected due to the contact of #stomal output. But that doesn’t mean that caring for this part fo the skin should be a full time job.
In this article, we are going to talk about the ways you can ensure better ostomy skin care without consuming too much of your time on this practice.
Keep it simple
No other cleaning agent is as effective as water when it comes to peristomal skin cleaning. Make sure that you wash your hands before and after the pouch change. If you must use soap, make sure that it is without any lotions or cream because such ingredient-rich soaps can leave residue on the skin. This residue can turn out to be counterproductive for your skin because it makes adhesion almost impossible.
Ostomy skin barrier with ceramide
Ceramide for the skin is just like mortar is for brick wall. The main purpose of ceramide is to keep the cells in outer layer of the skin together. In other words, ceramide is an effective product that can help you ensure better health of your skin. A layer of ceramide on the ostomy pouch barrier’s side that has to go against peristomal skin can help you make sure that your peristomal skin remains safe and healthy while the ostomy pouch is attached.
Be proactive about persitomal skin complications (PSCs)
It is quite unfortunate that most of the people do not consider peristomal skin complications something worth paying attention to. They consider it a part of the #ostomy they have. Well, the simply suggestion that we can state here is that no matter how meager the PSCs may look, you are going to have to take them seriously. These complications can cause longer hospital stays because they can impact the quality of life in the same way the severe health conditions like cancer and heart problems do.
Replace the bag when you feel itching
An itching sensation in the peristomal skin area might now show any visual signs of irritation in the area, but it can be really bad idea to let this itching turn into something painful. This itching may be a sign of minor leakage. The immediate action to resolve this problem is to quickly change your pouch. But before you put on a new pouch, ensure proper cleaning of the area.
The surgical procedure in which the surgeon brings an end of the small #intestine out through the belly is known as ileostomy surgery. The end of the small intestine sticks out on the abdominal wall to form a stoma. An ileostomy can be temporary or permanent.
You may require a temporary #ileostomy if your lower bowel needs to rest for a specific duration to heal. Ileostomy surgery is generally a part of colorectal cancer surgery, diverticulitis surgery, or J-pouch surgery to treat familial polyposis or ulcerative colitis. The surgeon will most likely construct a loop stoma to give you a temporary ileostomy.
You may need a permanent ileostomy if your large intestine needs to be removed, or your anus stops functioning due to a severe condition. Reasons you may need a permanent ileostomy may include Crohn’s disease, #colonic dysmotility, ulcerative colitis, familial #polyposis, and some #cancers. You will probably need an end stoma for the permanent ileostomy.
Caring for ileostomy
Caring for your ileostomy almost entirely involves the use of the ostomy pouch. For this purpose, you may be looking at a wide range of options to pick the one that fits your requirements and lifestyle. You will be able to purchase ostomy supplies from local medical supply stores or by ordering online.
Living with an ileostomy
All you need is to remain motivated to get back to your healthy self after ileostomy #surgery. Once your bowel recovers, you will be able to live normally. A few aspects of living with an ileostomy are worth mentioning here.
• Unless your job requires you to lift heavy objects, you should be able to return to your workplace. There will undoubtedly be some changed in your routine due to pouching requirements, but effective management won’t let these interruptions affect your work. You may also talk to your employer and coworkers about your ileostomy.
• Having an ileostomy doesn’t mean that you are going to have to say goodbye to your social life. You may be concerned about the leakage and odor, but the good news is that modern-day ostomy supplies prevent leakages and odors in the best possible way.
• The location of the ileostomy is just above the beltline, meaning that you can wear anything you want. Ostomy appliances remain flat with the belly. You can also wear an ostomy belt to keep your ostomy appliance snugly in place.
• You can resume your physical training regimen after ileostomy surgery. You are going to have to allow your bowel to recovery, though. You can play all sports, but make sure that they do not involve lifting too heavy objects because it can cause harmful stress on your stoma. You can talk about it with your doctor or ET.
• You may have to commit to a selected diet plan right after surgery, and continue with it until your bowel fully recovers. Once your bowel heals, you can start introducing your favorite foods back into your diet.
It is best to remain in touch with your #ostomy care nurse and doctor. Managing an ileostomy is not hard. You just have to have the right information. Your doctor and ET are the authentic sources that can provide you the accurate information about how to live with an ileostomy or any other kind of ostomy.
Infermer ostomaterapeuta mostra a una persona amb una ostomia com fer el manteniment i canvi de la bossa d'ostomia a la Unitat d'Ostomies de l'Universitari Vall d'Hebrón. Enfermero ostomaterapéuta muestra a una persona con una ostomia como realizar el mantenimiento y cambio de la bolsa de ostomía en la Unidad de Ostomía del Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron.
Autoria: Ariadna Creus i Àngel García
Full surgery documentation now located at: www.jpouch.net/photos/surgery-1/
Spending some time recovering, he is clean out of the shower and doing well on Day 8. He has lost 7 pounds since he entered the hospital, so he is a bit thinner than what he was in the first picture. In the hospital his first poop output was green, now it is brownin' up, but seems to change color with the food. And the smell when he empties the bag is something special, it has to do with the waste coming straight from the small intenstine and the digestive enzymes. Now, you must understand that the stoma is a living thing, it is his insides now on the outside, and this sucker breathes, moves around and really has its own identity. This is a unique experience gettting to see how our bodies constantly our creating waste, but also the meaning of 'alive on the inside' has new meaning when you see our insides working.
If you are so curious we do have a live action photo of the poop machine in action that I recorded on the cell phone. Low resolution but if you gotta see how the things moves and works before you are proud owner of your own, just send us a flickr email.
Update day 9: I feel exhausted still, today was the first day I took a short drive in the car (someone else drove) and was exhausted and uncomfortable. My lower back hurts from laying down since my sleeping positions are limited still. I've been walking and walking but still get tired. My poop is thickening up, but it is really a reflection of what I eat. I changed from a 2 piece bag to a 1 piece bag and that is working better for me now.
Update day 16: No complications, and I am so thankful, and I attribute this to my awesome surgeon and his possee. I'm not needing to nap, and I'm interested in going and being busy. It is a new concept to leave the house without worrying about 'bathroom' needs. And I did my first drain of the bag while out running errands, it wasn't too bad, only took 2 minutes or so, I'm sorry to have unleased the stench on the general public. I do feel like I'm in 'recovery' where I don't feel UC anymore but I do get worn out, and the reality of living with my stoma has kicked in. At first, I was free of the disease which is/was incredible, but now, there is the stoma. And as thankful as I am for my new renewed health, this will take some getting used to, I mean, my small instetine is hanging OUTSIDE my body and I'm pooping off my belly. Takes some getting used to, but UC was much much worse.
Next step in recovery process:
Step 2 surgery is pending until his jpouch heals, the doctors will decide around week 10 in recovery if he is ready for Step 2 or not. Once he has step 2, the stoma will be pulled back into his body (so no more external bag) and he will begin using his jpouch (small intestine reconstructed and connected to anus for draining of waste).
Here is the belly the day after surgery. Let us explain what you see here. His incisions were glued closed, so he doesn't have to go in for suture removal. There were 5 lapro incisions made:
2 North incisions (one is hidden under stoma bag by belly button).
1 South incision near the pelvic region where the colon and rectum were removed.
1 East where you can see the Jackson Pratt drain tube coming out of his belly with fluid mixed with leftover blood is where his temporary drain was. What you see in this photos is right after surgery and draining lots of fluid out, his isn't actively bleeding and the fluid in the belly cavity has a name that we can't remember, he was told this fluid was totally normal and it became much less as the days went on. He had the drain removed on day 5 (not painful to remove and there was a lot of tube in his belly. A resident surgeon just removed it right there in his hospital room bed).
1 West where the temporary stoma is located. The stoma looks like a peeled cherry tomato and it has no feeling since there are no nerve endings in the small intenstine. The stoma is the small intestine that has a slit in it to allow waste to flow into his ostomy bag. We just keep staring at the stoma, it is fascinating.
Full surgery documentation now located at www.jpouch.net/photos/surgery-1/
Rexall Drugs, 109 West 3rd, Yankton, South Dakota. From their website:
Yankton Rexall's history dates back to 1923 when pharmacists George Paulsen and Leon Farrell opened their pharmacy at 111 West Third Street (presently Fish & Stuff) to serve the healthcare needs of the growing Yankton community. Although the store has moved, remodeled a number of times, and later incorporated, it has always been owned by pharmacists and supported by a dedicated staff of employees. The store has been located in historic downtown Yankton since its inception.
In 1927 the business was sold to Henry and Leo Heitgen and named Heitgen Pharmacy. Henry was the pharmacist and Leo was the business manager and bookkeeper. The Heitgens owned the business until they sold to two pharmacist partners, Charles Clancey and Harold Tisher, on April 1, 1945. These partners incorporated and renamed the business Yankton Drug Company, Inc. doing business as Yankton Rexall Drug. They also started the Yankton Clinic pharmacy under this corporation. This partnership continued until Ken Jones purchased Clancey's interest in the business in July of 1958.
Under the guidance of Harold Tisher and Ken Jones the company expanded by purchasing the former American State Bank building next to the pharmacy and later purchasing the Collins hotel located to the south of this building. The bank building was remodeled into a modern pharmacy (109 W. 3rd St.) and with the removal of the hotel, a new gift shop, drive-up prescription area and customer parking lot were added to the store. Tisher and Jones managed the successful business until the end of 1972 when Tisher sold his controlling interest to Ken Jones.
In 1973 Ken Jones acquired two partners, Conley Stanage and Philip Dohn, who continued the success of the pharmacy business, enhanced the gift shop, added a bookstore in the basement and expanded the liquor department to include more spirits, wines, beer and cordials*. The Rexall franchising program ended in 1978 but the owners maintained the Rexall name due to its reputation for quality products and service. In 1980 Yankton Rexall was the first Yankton pharmacy to install computer technology to manage prescription processing. The computer allowed for more efficient prescription labeling, more accurate record maintenance and improved patient education. many things we take for granted today. The Clinic Pharmacy was incorporated and removed from Yankton Drug Co. Inc. in the mid-1980's but still owned by the stockholders. The gift shop was designated a Gold Crown Hallmark Shop in 1987. With this designation the gift shop was able to increase its Hallmark greeting card selection and expand its collectible gift offerings making it one of the premier gift shops of the area.
Ken Jones sold his shares of the business in January of 1988. Phil and Conley removed the bookstore and remodeled the entire store, including new carpet, flooring and modern fixtures during the fall of 1988. The Pharmacy department was also remodeled by moving the liquor department to a different part of the store, creating space for new programs such as unit dose for nursing homes and durable medical products including ostomy supplies, walkers, wheelchairs, canes, braces, bathroom benches and diabetic supplies. Timothy Gallagher joined Phil and Conley in January of 1989 as a minor partner.
The 1990's saw many changes for the corporation with none of them being more important than the advancement of computer technology. Computer generated patient profiles, drug monitoring programs, insurance billing interfaces, electronic wholesale ordering and the world wide web revolutionized the pharmacy industry by providing critical information with a keystroke. Conley Stanage left the business at the end of 1992 and Tim Gallagher retired his ownership in April of 1994 leaving Phil Dohn as sole owner until Dan Somsen became a partner in April of 1995. Phil and Dan managed the business until January of 2008 when Phil retired and Dan became sole stockholder of the corporation.
Yankton Rexall continues to look to the future. Michael Kuchta, PharmD, joined the staff in June of 2008 to supervise the pharmacy and be the pharmacist consultant for Ability Building Services, Cedar Village Assisted Living and Walnut Village Assisted Living facilities. Medicare certification, immunization certification, development of a point of sale program and launching a website have highlighted the last few years.
Yankton Rexall has survived the many economic challenges of the last century through the determination, foresight and strong work ethic of its past owners and staff. It is the goal of the present ownership and staff to continue the tradition of providing patients and customers with quality medications and products without sacrificing the hometown customer service. You are always welcome at Yankton Rexall!
* The store has held a liquor license since the end of prohibition
Home health care assists a person in their recovery from an illness, accident, surgery, or change in their medical condition. Professional health care and rehabilitation services are delivered in a person’s home environment under the direction of their personal physician.
Why you may need home health care?
•Frequent hospitalizations.
•Frequent falls or near falls.
•Problems with medication regimen.
•Recent surgery or hospitalization.
•Multiple health problems and/or new condition.
•Multiple or no caregivers.
Services offered include:
•Skilled Nursing 24/7 Availability
•Physical Therapy Wound/Ostomy Care
•Occupational Therapy Infusion Therapy
•Speech Therapy PT/TNR results in home
•Home Care Aides Pain Management
•Medical Social Workers Rehabilitation
Full services licensed by the State of Texas and is locally owned and operated.
Now serving the following counties;
COLLIN ,COOKE,DALLAS,DENTON,ELLIS,ERATH,FANNIN,GRAYSON,HOOD,HUNT , JOHNSON,KAUFMAN,NAVARRO,PALO PINTO,PARKER, ROCKWALL,SOMERVELL,TARRANT, and WISE
A homebound criterion is usually required.
•The patient is under the care of a physician who manages and authorizes the need for services.
•The patient requires the skilled services of a Registered Nurse, Physical
•Therapist, and/or Speech Therapist.
Who pays for home health care?
If you are Medicare eligible and qualified for care, there is no out of pocket cost to you. Home care can also be paid for by many private insurances or a variety of public programs.
To qualify for Medicare home health services, there are five basic requirements:
1.Your physician must determine that you need home health care services
2.Your own physician must write the orders for home health services, and oversee your care
3.You must need skilled services that are provided by a nurse or therapist
4.Your physician must determine that you are homebound, requiring considerable effort and help to leave home
5.The services you need are only required on a part-time, or intermittent, basis.
Because benefits and requirements can vary, we can help you check with payors about your specific benefits, even before beginning services, so you can have this information at the start of care.
•Medicare pays 100% of the cost for home health care for individuals 65 years of age or over or permanently disabled.
•Private insurance will pay for home health care. Benefits vary per policy and verification of benefits is required.
•Medicaid pays 100%. Pre-authorization is required.
•Workers Compensation Insurance.
•Private Pay.
Non Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of Paloma Home Health Agency to treat all individuals in need of care without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, physical handicap, or national origin.
Paloma Home Health Agency offers the finest professional care and services on an individual basis, providing care for patients going home from the hospital or recovering from an extended illness. We accept referrals from physicians, family, friends, hospitals, or from you personally.
Our Staff can put the "Pieces" of the home health puzzle together for you in a number of ways.
•Patient specific health data with observations by a professional nurse are reported to the physician.
•Helping patients and their families to understand and follow physician's orders regarding nutrition, special diets, medications, and general nursing care:
•Assisting with home management of catheters and feeding tubes.
•Giving injections ordered by the physician and teaching patients and family the proper techniques for doing so.
•Teaching patients and caregivers at home the proper techniques of how to use a wheelchair, walker, crutches.
•Helping patients restore strength and independence through physical therapy exercises,
•Educating diabetic patients on how to manage diet, insulin, and other health related measures.
•Enabling the patient with ostomy how to resume a full, active life.
•Assisting patients with bathing and personal grooming (ADLS).
•Assisting patients in the proper use of oxygen and respiratory equipment.
you may contact our home health agency at PALOMA HOME HEALTH AGENCY INC.
2611 Westgrove Drive Suite 113 Carrollton TX 75006
Tel.972.346.2013
Fax.972-853-7085
palomahomehealth@hotmail.com
Home health care assists a person in their recovery from an illness, accident, surgery, or change in their medical condition. Professional health care and rehabilitation services are delivered in a person’s home environment under the direction of their personal physician.
Why you may need home health care?
•Frequent hospitalizations.
•Frequent falls or near falls.
•Problems with medication regimen.
•Recent surgery or hospitalization.
•Multiple health problems and/or new condition.
•Multiple or no caregivers.
Services offered include:
•Skilled Nursing 24/7 Availability
•Physical Therapy Wound/Ostomy Care
•Occupational Therapy Infusion Therapy
•Speech Therapy PT/TNR results in home
•Home Care Aides Pain Management
•Medical Social Workers Rehabilitation
Full services licensed by the State of Texas and is locally owned and operated.
Now serving the following counties;
COLLIN ,COOKE,DALLAS,DENTON,ELLIS,ERATH,FANNIN,GRAYSON,HOOD,HUNT , JOHNSON,KAUFMAN,NAVARRO,PALO PINTO,PARKER, ROCKWALL,SOMERVELL,TARRANT, and WISE
A homebound criterion is usually required.
•The patient is under the care of a physician who manages and authorizes the need for services.
•The patient requires the skilled services of a Registered Nurse, Physical
•Therapist, and/or Speech Therapist.
Who pays for home health care?
If you are Medicare eligible and qualified for care, there is no out of pocket cost to you. Home care can also be paid for by many private insurances or a variety of public programs.
To qualify for Medicare home health services, there are five basic requirements:
1.Your physician must determine that you need home health care services
2.Your own physician must write the orders for home health services, and oversee your care
3.You must need skilled services that are provided by a nurse or therapist
4.Your physician must determine that you are homebound, requiring considerable effort and help to leave home
5.The services you need are only required on a part-time, or intermittent, basis.
Because benefits and requirements can vary, we can help you check with payors about your specific benefits, even before beginning services, so you can have this information at the start of care.
•Medicare pays 100% of the cost for home health care for individuals 65 years of age or over or permanently disabled.
•Private insurance will pay for home health care. Benefits vary per policy and verification of benefits is required.
•Medicaid pays 100%. Pre-authorization is required.
•Workers Compensation Insurance.
•Private Pay.
Non Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of Paloma Home Health Agency to treat all individuals in need of care without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, physical handicap, or national origin.
Paloma Home Health Agency offers the finest professional care and services on an individual basis, providing care for patients going home from the hospital or recovering from an extended illness. We accept referrals from physicians, family, friends, hospitals, or from you personally.
Our Staff can put the "Pieces" of the home health puzzle together for you in a number of ways.
•Patient specific health data with observations by a professional nurse are reported to the physician.
•Helping patients and their families to understand and follow physician's orders regarding nutrition, special diets, medications, and general nursing care:
•Assisting with home management of catheters and feeding tubes.
•Giving injections ordered by the physician and teaching patients and family the proper techniques for doing so.
•Teaching patients and caregivers at home the proper techniques of how to use a wheelchair, walker, crutches.
•Helping patients restore strength and independence through physical therapy exercises,
•Educating diabetic patients on how to manage diet, insulin, and other health related measures.
•Enabling the patient with ostomy how to resume a full, active life.
•Assisting patients with bathing and personal grooming (ADLS).
•Assisting patients in the proper use of oxygen and respiratory equipment.
you may contact us at PALOMA HOME HEALTH AGENCY INC.
2611 Westgrove Drive Suite 113 Carrollton TX 75006
Tel.972.346.2013
Fax.972-853-7085
palomahomehealth@hotmail.com
That's why Elexamed has continued to offer the best prices, the top brands and lots of product choices for Surgical Equipment and Medical Equipment like wheelchairs (electric, lightweight or standard), commodes, walkers, mobility ramps, bath benches, along with medical supplies like catheters, adult diapers, latex gloves, wound care supplies, ostomy supplies, dietary supplements, personal protection equipment and so much more. For more details visit:
elexamed.com/product-category/surgical_equipment/ or contact on: 0845 6801265
Rexall Drugs, 109 West 3rd, Yankton, South Dakota. From their website:
Yankton Rexall's history dates back to 1923 when pharmacists George Paulsen and Leon Farrell opened their pharmacy at 111 West Third Street (presently Fish & Stuff) to serve the healthcare needs of the growing Yankton community. Although the store has moved, remodeled a number of times, and later incorporated, it has always been owned by pharmacists and supported by a dedicated staff of employees. The store has been located in historic downtown Yankton since its inception.
In 1927 the business was sold to Henry and Leo Heitgen and named Heitgen Pharmacy. Henry was the pharmacist and Leo was the business manager and bookkeeper. The Heitgens owned the business until they sold to two pharmacist partners, Charles Clancey and Harold Tisher, on April 1, 1945. These partners incorporated and renamed the business Yankton Drug Company, Inc. doing business as Yankton Rexall Drug. They also started the Yankton Clinic pharmacy under this corporation. This partnership continued until Ken Jones purchased Clancey's interest in the business in July of 1958.
Under the guidance of Harold Tisher and Ken Jones the company expanded by purchasing the former American State Bank building next to the pharmacy and later purchasing the Collins hotel located to the south of this building. The bank building was remodeled into a modern pharmacy (109 W. 3rd St.) and with the removal of the hotel, a new gift shop, drive-up prescription area and customer parking lot were added to the store. Tisher and Jones managed the successful business until the end of 1972 when Tisher sold his controlling interest to Ken Jones.
In 1973 Ken Jones acquired two partners, Conley Stanage and Philip Dohn, who continued the success of the pharmacy business, enhanced the gift shop, added a bookstore in the basement and expanded the liquor department to include more spirits, wines, beer and cordials*. The Rexall franchising program ended in 1978 but the owners maintained the Rexall name due to its reputation for quality products and service. In 1980 Yankton Rexall was the first Yankton pharmacy to install computer technology to manage prescription processing. The computer allowed for more efficient prescription labeling, more accurate record maintenance and improved patient education. many things we take for granted today. The Clinic Pharmacy was incorporated and removed from Yankton Drug Co. Inc. in the mid-1980's but still owned by the stockholders. The gift shop was designated a Gold Crown Hallmark Shop in 1987. With this designation the gift shop was able to increase its Hallmark greeting card selection and expand its collectible gift offerings making it one of the premier gift shops of the area.
Ken Jones sold his shares of the business in January of 1988. Phil and Conley removed the bookstore and remodeled the entire store, including new carpet, flooring and modern fixtures during the fall of 1988. The Pharmacy department was also remodeled by moving the liquor department to a different part of the store, creating space for new programs such as unit dose for nursing homes and durable medical products including ostomy supplies, walkers, wheelchairs, canes, braces, bathroom benches and diabetic supplies. Timothy Gallagher joined Phil and Conley in January of 1989 as a minor partner.
The 1990's saw many changes for the corporation with none of them being more important than the advancement of computer technology. Computer generated patient profiles, drug monitoring programs, insurance billing interfaces, electronic wholesale ordering and the world wide web revolutionized the pharmacy industry by providing critical information with a keystroke. Conley Stanage left the business at the end of 1992 and Tim Gallagher retired his ownership in April of 1994 leaving Phil Dohn as sole owner until Dan Somsen became a partner in April of 1995. Phil and Dan managed the business until January of 2008 when Phil retired and Dan became sole stockholder of the corporation.
Yankton Rexall continues to look to the future. Michael Kuchta, PharmD, joined the staff in June of 2008 to supervise the pharmacy and be the pharmacist consultant for Ability Building Services, Cedar Village Assisted Living and Walnut Village Assisted Living facilities. Medicare certification, immunization certification, development of a point of sale program and launching a website have highlighted the last few years.
Yankton Rexall has survived the many economic challenges of the last century through the determination, foresight and strong work ethic of its past owners and staff. It is the goal of the present ownership and staff to continue the tradition of providing patients and customers with quality medications and products without sacrificing the hometown customer service. You are always welcome at Yankton Rexall!
* The store has held a liquor license since the end of prohibition
Q: What is home health care?
A: Home health care is a service that permits patients to receive personalized health care, maintaining their quality of life in the privacy and comfort of their homes.
Q: Why home health care?
A: Home health care is a cost-effective option for receiving health care services. Returning to one’s home and family can quicken recovery and improve the quality of life for both patient and family or caregiver.
Q: Who pays for home health care?
A: Most health insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs and Workers Compensation cover home health care. In addition, Medicare and Medicaid pay for home care services. Some insurance providers do not cover all home health services. Our staff will verify health coverage for the patient.
Q: What criteria are required for Medicare to approve services?
A: The following criteria are used to meet Medicare requirements:
• The patient is a Medicare recipient.
• The patient must be homebound. This is defined by Medicare as “normal inability to leave the home and that leaving the home requires considerable and taxing effort.”
• The skilled care must be medically necessary as determined by the physician.
Q: What if I have a problem at night or on the weekend?
A: We have registered nurses on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Q: Do I need a physician’s order for home health care?
A: Yes, all health care provided in the home occurs under direct order and supervision of the patient’s physician.
Q: What types of services can be provided at home?
A: Many medical conditions that previously required hospitalization can safely be treated in the home. Home care services may include but are not limited to:
Skilled Nursing:
• Observation and assessment of condition
• Patient and family education of disease process
• Management and evaluation of patient care plan
• Medication education and management
• Dressing changes
• Home safety education
• Wound care
• Catheter care
• Injections
• IV therapy
• Ostomy care
• Pain management
• Diabetic care
• Nutritional support
Assistance with Daily Living:
• Bathing/dressing
• Transfer/ambulation
• Light meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Grocery shopping
• Medication reminder
• Laundry
• Companionship/Conversation
• Reading/writing
• Pet sitting/walking
• Escort to appointments
• Live-ins
• Respite
• Exercise therapy assistance
Q: How does Paloma Home Health Care, Inc. ensure quality care in the home?
A: Providing continuous quality care to patients is paramount to all we do. All patients are given a patient satisfaction survey that is incorporated into our ongoing evaluation process to continually increase our patient satisfaction. New programs and processes are developed through our quality improvement team to promote favorable outcomes.
Q: How do I find out more about home health care?
A: Please call our office to learn more about how you can benefit more about the service, at 972 346 2013
Q: What services can Paloma Home Health Care, Inc. offer?
A: Our services include but are not limited to:
• Supportive Care Education of Disease Process
• Individual and Family Counseling
• Management and Evaluation of Patient Care
• Observation and Assessment
• Home Safety and Emergency Education
• Medication Education
• Assistance with ADLs
• Nutrition Education
• Restorative Therapy (Physical, Occupational and Speech)
He had his first total blockage of the stoma, for 16 hours he created NO output! He became ill and vomitted 4 times in 4 hours. We tried the blockage remedies of hot compress, walking, shaking hips back and forth, grape juice, hot tea.
It was the ostomy nurse who said for him to take off his bag, take a long hot shower to see if the stoma was swollen and to see if the hot shower would help it settle down. After the shower he drank hot tea/water, we massaged around the stoma, and he finally pooped. He was exhausted and a getting a bit nervous, I sat with him the bathroom and just massaged above the stoma (almost like milking a cow style) to try to gently move whatever along. Whatever was the problem was gone now. He was exhausted all day afterward since he nothing in his system and was only on a soft foods for the rest of day. We were about to take him to the ER to get fluids since that is the biggest concern, but we were saved by the bell so to speak. We were scared some because his surgeon was now eight hours away because by now we had gone back home. The stoma nurse said "YOU DO NOT LET ANYONE ELSE COME NEAR YOU WITH A KNIFE - If this is serious we will fly you down here and get you to your surgeon." This made us feel better to know there are ways to have surgery in places far from home and get back to the care you had if an emergency happens.
4 days later and Mark is still drained from the effects of the blockage. His body is exhausted and he quickly has reverted back to his UC ways of 'hating' food. The lesson in the story is to really be cognizant of the foods you introduce. (Update after takedown - we learned that it was likely not food causing this and his other later blockages, but that he had some scar tissue that the surgeon later found during the "takedown").
*I have to admit this was a really long, and scary night. It left both of drained emotionally because of the unknown again of what might be happening. Just be prepared to be gentle with yourself and your loved ones helping you through this process -- it can be really emotionally draining and you need to give yourself and your family time and room to heal both physically and emotionally.
**As we understand having stoma blockages is not hugely common (but not uncommon either), some people do have them, we think that maybe his blockages were scar tissue (surgeon said he found some scar tissue during his takedown).
***Ostomy bags come in other styles, and they are not all clear so you don't have to see your output. I'm not sure why but Mark likes the clear ones, he is always checking out his output. I guess it is a good way to learn what foods will do when he starts using his jpouch in a 8 weeks. Also, if you have a stoma, you really need to watch this thing work, it moves around, breathes, sputters, and if you watch Family Guy and you know Chris's talking pimple Hank you'll understand the stoma.
Just an upclose of the stoma. The stoma is slit underneath and that is where waste directly coming from his small intenstine comes from. Oh yeah, the stoma passes gas and makes noises whenever it wants so it is hard to ignore 'him', for us and his family we have welcomed the noisy stoma as part of family :)
After a couple weeks the stoma noise really settled down and we realy heard his stoma when in action.
There are two types of bowel #ostomies: colostomy and ileostomy. An ileostomy refers to an intestinal diversion, which results in the part of the #ileum being pulled out of an incision in the belly. Resultantly, the feces pass out without proceeding to the colon. A colostomy, on the other hand, is when the surgeon pulls out a part of the colon through a cut in the belly. Both ostomies result in an opening in the abdomen. This opening is known as the stoma.
Both the colostomy and ileostomy can be permanent or temporary, depending on the underlying condition.
Why may you need a colostomy or ileostomy?
Your surgeon may want to give a colostomy or ileostomy when you need the removal or bypassing of a part of your bowel. An ileostomy or colostomy may be a part of the treatment for following health conditions or reasons.
• Cancer in the rectum, anus, or colon
• Inflammatory bowel #disease
• Familial adenomatous #polyposis (FAP)
• Bowel obstruction
• Injury
• Diverticulitis
Locations of a colostomy or ileostomy
The location of a #bowel ostomy depends on the site of the infection. A colostomy is divided into four subtypes, and each subtype gets its name from the location of the ostomy.
• A colostomy in the sigmoid colon is known as a sigmoid colostomy. This one is the most common colostomy type.
• A colostomy in the descending part of the #colon is called a descending colostomy. It is located on the left side of the abdomen.
• A colostomy in the transverse portion of the colon is known as a transverse colostomy. It is located somewhere in the upper abdomen.
• A colostomy in the ascending part of the large intestine is known as the ascending colostomy. It is the part of the colon that connects with the ileum. It is the least common type of colostomy.
• An ileostomy, as the name suggests, is created on the ileum, which is the end of the small intestine.
The location of the bowel ostomy determines the consistency of the stool passing out of the stoma. The primary function of the colon is to absorb water from the stool as it proceeds towards the rectum and anus. There will be more watery stool passing out of the stoma if the surgeon removes more length of the colon. That said, an ileostomy results in more water consistency of the stool, as it bypasses the entire colon.
What happens after surgery?
After surgery, you will need to stay in the hospital for 5-10 days, depending on the duration of the initial recovery. The doctors will give you pain medication to help you remain comfortable. You will need to limit your diet to liquids for a couple of days after surgery. You can introduce solid foods into your diet gradually.
Right after surgery, the stoma will be swollen. Its color and overall appearance will be much like the inside of your mouth. The stoma has a lot of blood vessels that can cause it to bleed when you rub it, but the absence of nerve endings in it means that you won’t feel any pain.
The overall recovery after ostomy surgery can last up to six or eight weeks. During this time, your doctor will instruct you to limit your physical activities, and stick to a more restricted diet. You will be able to introduce your favorite foods back into your diet gradually after the recovery phase is over.
One of the bigger concerns of #ostomates is the passing of gas or emission of bad odors in public. But the good thing is that the bags available now days prevent the emission of odors thanks to the modern technology. The only time an individual notices an odor is when the pouch is emptied.
Living with ostomy is nothing less than a challenge but then challenges are made to be overcome. All you have to do is to know what to expect and be prepared. In this article, we are going to share a few tips that will help you deal with the bad odor emitting out of the #ostomy bags.
Empty the bag more often
It’s a no brainer. You need to empty the bad when it is one-third to half full. Waiting for the bag to get completely filled with the wastes results in the extra pressure on your stoma and the skin around it. And this pressure can lead to the loosening of seal, making way for the leakage of odor as well as wastes.
You can get help from your ET nurse in learning about the way to change and empty the pouching system. It is worth mentioning that location of your stoma also dictates how often you need to empty the ostomy bag.
Avoid certain foods and beverages
Your diet is another factor that plays an important role in the emission of odors from your ostomy bag. Therefore, you are going to have to keep track of what you are eating or drinking.
One of the most important things to ensure is avoiding the consumption of #foods and #beverages that can result in the emission of odor. The foods that can result in the production of smelly gases in digestive tract are usually the ones that contain soluble fiber and sugars.
Another very important thing that you have to take into consideration here is the proper avoidance of swallowing air. Certain actions such as chewing gum, drinking through straw, drinking carbonated beverages, eating or drinking too quickly, and smoking can result in bad odors coming out of the ostomy pouches.
Use of filer in/on the ostomy pouches
Since stoma is going to be the point of waste excretion, it also becomes the point from where the gases are released. So you can expect your ostomy bag to get filled with the gases which can cause the bag to inflate. It can result in the leakage of gas, causing an odor to be noticed around the ostomate. You can use odor-reduction filter with the ostomy bag to get the gas released in safer and more convenient way.
Measuring your stoma is one of the most crucial skills to know. Not only will it help you prevent leaks, but it will also allow you to extend the appliance wear time. It will ultimately help you save your #skin.
In this article, we will discuss how to measure your stoma.
Note that this guide is for people who have a round-shaped and adequately protruded #stoma. This guide will help people with colostomies, ileostomies, and urostomies. You may not get perfect results if your stoma is flush or overly protruded.
Similarly, if you have a loop ostomy, it will not be possible for you to benefit from a circular guide. You are going to have to be creative while measuring the stoma to create a perfect flange’s opening. One way to use a circular guide for a loop stoma is to use a half-circle. This way, you will be able to get the required shape of the opening.
Every skin wafer is different from the others. All wafers are made to swell when they come in contact with the stomal output, but the degree at which they swell may vary from brand to #brand. That said, you may want to create an opening slightly larger than your stoma. It will allow the flange to expand without strangling your stoma. It is crucial to get a flange that gives your stoma enough space to expand when waste contents pass out of it. You will, of course, need to make sure that the flange sticks well to your skin.
Change in the stoma size
The change in the size of the stoma is inevitable in the first few weeks after #surgery. There will be swelling in the stoma right after surgery. Over time, this swelling subsides, and the stoma settles to an almost permanent shape 6-8 weeks after surgery. It is the normal process to anticipate.
A stoma can also change its size due to certain changes in the body. For instance, there may be a change in the shape and size of the stoma when you gain or lose weight. Some conditions that may result in the change of the size of the stoma include a prolapsing and parastomal hernia. You can make an accurate opening to make the #flange fitting the shape and size of your stoma.
You may want to use the following supplies while measuring your stoma.
• A measuring guide. It will be particularly beneficial if you are using cut-to-fit #ostomy barriers.
• Ostomy barrier #scissors. These scissors help you create an opening that will not have sharp edges.
• A marker for tracing.
• Gauze to keep your stoma dry. You are going to need it when you are not wearing anything over your stoma. It is typically more beneficial if you have a #urostomy.
• Mirror. It will be helpful if your stoma is away from the scope of vision due to any reason.
Most cut-to-fit wafers come with markers that allow you to create an opening of the exact shape and size of your choice. You may want to learn about creating an opening from your ostomy care nurse.
First day of having an #ostomy shares resemblance with the first day at school from the learning point of view. You enter into a new phase of life where you need to learn many different things. Most of the people think of having an ostomy as nothing more than a liability that bounds you to carry a pouch that collects your waste. And so, they literally consider consider it an end to the healthy and active life.
But the matter of fact is that an ostomy doesn’t restrict you from what you normally do in your life. You can even go for the intense training if you have that passion. But yes, there is a challenge of managing your ostomy; and you are going to need to rely on your ostomy supplies to ensure perfection in this management.
Talking about the supplies, the pouching system is the first that needs to be discussed. In this article, we are going to talk about the one-piece and two-piece ostomy bags.
One-piece ostomy bags
A one-piece ostomy bag is a complete pouching system which includes combines the bag which has to collect the wastes and the base plate, also called a skin barrier or flange, with an adhesive layer. This bag is fitted on the skin around your stoma.
There are some advantages that you get with a one-piece ostomy bag.
• The first advantage is that it is a low-profile bag which can be concealed well under the clothes.
• Since the flange or skin barrier part of this #pouching system is inseparable from the bag, you get a peace of mind after ensuring proper adhesion between the bag and your peristomal skin.
• This pouching system is more cost effective as compared to two-piece ostomy pouching system.
And there are some disadvantages of this pouching system too.
• You are going to need to change the bag frequently because that’s how an ostomy can be managed. This frequent change can make the skin around your stoma more vulnerable to developing irritation.
• You get to clean and prepare your skin every time you attach the bag. And so, you have to spend a little more time in adjusting the bag in right position to make sure that the barrier’s borders are not causing any irritation on the stoma.
Two-piece ostomy bags
A two-piece ostomy bag is a pouching system that includes a bag or pouch and a skin barrier as two different elements. It means that you first have to attach a barrier on the peristomal skin and then attach the bag with this barrier. There are several other supplies that work only with the two-piece ostomy bag, making it a versatile ostomy management option.
A few advantages that you get with a two-piece ostomy bag include the following.
• You can let the barrier to remain attached with the skin for 3 to 4 days. It means that you will be able to keep your skin healthy more easily.
• Whether you want to use a small sized bag or a large sized one, it is entirely up to you.
• You will not need to spend a lot of time to change the bag. All you have to do is to remove the bag after it is filled and attach a new one or use the same one after emptying it.
There are some disadvantages of this bag too.
• This bag is bulkier than a one-piece ostomy bag.
• Leakage can occur at the point where bag and flange meet.
• Since you will not be changing the flange more often, you might not be able to notice if there is a leakage of stomal output happening behind the flange.
• This pouching system is more expensive as compared to one-piece ostomy pouch.
Here is the stoma (temporary loop ileostomy) after 6 weeks. We put a quarter there so you could see scale. His scars look good, and he has a shaving rash under his belly button. Overall his skin is doing well under the ostomy wafer, but there is some redness, not too bad though.
The south scar is flat and healing well. Look at the scar above in his belly button, it looks pretty good, eh?
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