Via: Green Bay Area Ostomy Support Group, Rambling Rosebud & Indian River, Florida

I think the biggest mistake is giving up. Adversity is an experience, not a final act. Some people look on any setback as the end. They are always looking for a benediction rather than an invocation.

Most of us have had enough problems so that almost any day we could fold up and say, "I’ve had it!" But you can’t quit. Life is a struggle. If anything is easy, it’s not likely to be worthwhile. The important thing in any setback is whether you can pick yourself up. That helps me with my illness. I keep thinking, "Well, tomorrow’s another day."

There are many people who say," "It’s all right for you to talk about tomorrow being another day, but if you knew how much pain I suffer….." I do know. Let me tell you something. When you give, you receive back a thousand-fold. If you have a well and draw water from it, it fills. If you don’t draw water from it, it gets stagnant. You have to learn to give yourself. I hope that I can demonstrate for others…that you don’t have to throw in the towel when you have something like cancer. Be grateful for every day of your life. Be buoyant about it, and do the best you can with what you have."

You should start strength training now. Do not wait to start losing weight first. The average 25-year-old woman has 25% body fat. The average 65-year-old woman is 43% body fat. As we start to lose muscle over the years—everyone losses muscle as they get older—our body fat increases. The good news is that we do not need to be average. We can build muscle and burn fat, while gaining strength, balance and confidence, and lose weight in the process.

A Dieter’s Dream

Cutting calories can help us lose fat, but unless we exercise, we will also lose muscle. In fact, when we lose weight, we lose muscle first. That is one of the reasons why we feel a bit weak after ostomy surgery. It is not unusual to lose 25 to 35 pounds that week in the hospital, but it was mostly muscle.

Strength training exercises, done three or four times every week, dramatically alter the ratio of bulky body fat-to-fat-burning muscle tissue. The more muscle you possess, the more calories and fat you burn, even when sitting down because exercising increases your metabolism.

Strength training has several benefits for the body, but it produces different results than aerobic exercise. Do not consider skipping your daily walk—it is a great cardiovascular workout. Do regular stretching exercises also. You need to combine these different types of exercise for optimal fitness and weight loss.

More Than Muscles

Besides building strength and aiding weight control, weight lifting also improves the ratio of LDL (bad cholesterol) to HDL (good cholesterol), relieves arthritic symptoms and helps prevent diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Studies show a direct link between resistance training and increased bone density. Strength training to prevent weight gain as we age can also help lower cancer risk.

Let us repeat strength-building exercise benefits:

· Helps lower cholesterol

· Reduces joint pain and swelling

· Better controls your blood sugars

· Lowers your blood pressure

· Builds stronger bones

· Helps prevent osteoporosis

· Lowers cancer risk

Dumbbell Basics

Before getting started, consult your doctor and perhaps a strength-training instructor. Always let them know that you have an ostomy and require special body building workouts. Strength training exercises must be done properly to prevent injury and effectively to build muscle strength.

Once you learn proper technique, exercises can be done on your own. If you cannot meet with an expert, a good introductory video or guidebook can teach you basic movements. Do exercises in front of a mirror at first to be sure your form matches that of the images you are learning to perform.

If you cannot lift a weight at least 20 times without straining, it is too heavy for you. You need to build up slowly. Let me repeat . . . I mean very slowly. Never strain yourself and obtain adequate rest in between sets. For a person with an ostomy, it is better to lift light weights 20 to 40 times instead of lifting heavier weights 8 to 12 times. Lifting lighter weights builds well-defined muscle shape, while lifting heavier weights builds strength and bulk. Guess if Angelina Jolie lifts heavy weights or light ones?

If you keep up your regular weight-training regimen, you will be able to increase the weights you lift. The key is consistency, month after month, year after year, and you will be lifting more than you ever thought possible. Just so you know, the American College of Sports Medicine says that single sets are just as effective as multiple sets for beginners. So begin weight training this week. We will see you at the club.

In response to a query about the possible effects of ileostomy surgery on the immune system, the surgery by itself should have no long-term effect on the immune system. Although there is some transient reduction in a patient’s immune response right after major surgery, this usually returns to normal in a couple of days.

However, the diseases that cause patients to need a stoma, such as inflammatory bowel disease, and the medications used to treat the diseases, such as steroids, or malnutrition associated with the disease may all affect the immune system. If you are concerned, there are several tests that a doctor can perform to test your immune system. One of these involves placing chemicals or allergens into the skin to see how the body responds. Others involve blood tests.

We are continually learning more about the human immune system from our experience with HIV infections. Most efforts are directed towards identifying and then treating the cause of the immune dysfunction. Although good nutrition and some supplements, such as vitamins, are necessary for the immune system to work, little has been proven to improve immune function.

Here are some simple pointers for ostomy care. They may not be new, but sometimes it is good to be reminded of them. Good ostomy care habits can catch and nip problems in the bud—the rosebud that is.

Inspect your stoma and skin each time you change your skin barrier. Your stoma should be bright red, smooth and shiny. Inspect the lower edge especially well. Use a mirror if necessary. Look for any signs of irritation or bleeding.

These signs may mean your skin barrier is rubbing there. Your skin should not be pink, purple or gray, even right next to the stoma. Although when you first remove your skin barrier you will notice some pink skin under pressure points, this is the same as when you take off your watch or a pair of stockings. This is normal.

Inspect your skin in a sitting position to see if creases or low areas form around the stoma. This will tell you where to take special steps to even out the area when you put on your skin barrier. Stretching the skin to make it smooth may be all you need to do, or you may need a dab of ostomy paste or a skin barrier seal.

Remember, a new stoma changes size for up to a year. Remeasure your stoma every time you change the skin barrier for the first six months after surgery and every month thereafter. Always remeasure if you are having a leak. Measure the stoma at the base from side to side and from top to bottom.

Many stomas are oval. If you are cutting a skin barrier or a one-piece pouching system, no skin should show when it is in place. However, make sure the barrier is never touching the stoma, unless it is an extended-wear barrier manufactured to be able to touch the stoma. This is a bit tricky to do; thus, manufacturers developed skin barrier seals and ostomy paste to fill in any openings when the skin barrier is cut.

If your stoma is not perfectly round, do not trace and cut a round circle. Instead, make the barrier fit exactly. Your ostomy nurse can show you how. It should just miss the stoma, sealing down on the skin right next to it. Your skin barrier should not go over any red, wet mucosal tissue, the kind that forms the stoma. If you wear a pouch with a karaya ring on it, the ring should gently touch the stoma all around.

Even an "old" stoma can change size temporarily. It can change from round to oval if you are experiencing some abdominal distention or if you have gained weight.

Be sure you know the steps involved in treating sore skin. Many people use too much powder. This may interfere with the adhesion of the skin barrier and cause skin problems to worsen.

A tiny amount of powder should be placed on the sore area and then wiped off with a dry tissue. It will stick where you need it; i.e., if you have wet, irritated skin, powder will protect it so the skin barrier will stick to it. A skin barrier will not stick to a wet surface. The skin barrier will then protect the skin against the output, and the skin will heal better under the skin barrier. Skin heals better under a bandage than when left open exposed to the air.

If you use a liquid skin barrier—never with extended wear barriers, like ConvaTec's Durahesive or Hollister's Flextend—it should be applied over the powder until you can no long see any powder. Quickly, fan the liquid dry quickly and then put on your skin barrier as usual.

When treating any skin problem, always change your skin barrier more frequently than you usually do until the problem is solved. This is so you may examine the progress of the healing, and prevent any additional damage from occurring.

Be sure you are not over-cleaning either your skin or the pouch. The skin around your stoma is best washed with plain water. A mild soap may be used for particular circumstances, but is not recommended for regular use for most people.

When rinsing out a pouch—like a one-piece—while it is on your body, do not use too much agitation or you may loosen the skin barrier. Being too aggressive may loosen the skin barrier by making the inner seal wet. The skin barrier may pick up too much moisture too soon, and wearing a moist barrier may cause a yeast—fungus infection—rash under the skin barrier

Do not try to set record for wearing-time.

Change your skin barrier before the part next to your skin is washed away or gets soft and mushy. It usually is not wise to wear any type of pouching system more than seven days. Most people change two or three times a week. The Wound, Ostomy Nursing Association (WOCN) recommends changing the skin barrier no less than twice a week.

When you inspect your stoma and skin; you have a question about what you are seeing and what you should do about it, you may want to call your WOC nurse and arrange an appointment.

If you can describe the situation well, the WOC nurse may be able to advise you immediately right over the phone. If not, have the WOC nurse look at it before it becomes a bigger problem. You should have an ostomy nurse examine your stoma and peristomal skin every few years.

Any food that has a laxative effect should be eliminated or, at best, kept to a minimum. People with lactose intolerance will have a high output if they use any kind of milk product, including powdered milk, which is found in many prepared goods.

Excessive drinking of fluids will also increase the ileostomy output. An ostomate who has had a gall bladder removed may have increased output. Medicines to counteract bile salts can be used if the problem is related to gall bladder removal. Many prescriptions and OTC drugs list diarrhea as a side effect.

The ostomate should work with his physician to evaluation the problem. Once disease can be ruled out, therapeutic emphasis can be placed on diet, utilizing foods that decrease output. Bulk laxatives can be used with each meal to absorb and solidify some of the liquid output.

Sure, you were shocked. You were depressed. Who wasn't? You thought, "How am I going to get accustomed to this thing?" "What will my life be like?" Did we not all have similar thoughts?

Monopolize the bathroom when changing our ostomy system, use up too much valuable time primping, feel embarrassed, worry about our diet, be overly concerned about how we smell and odors and what other people would think, etc. Did not we all have some of these challenges?

Sure, we resent what happened to us, but we cannot be resentful and grateful at the same time. We cannot change what already happened, but we certainly can do something about the future.

Living is like playing poker—it is not the cards you hold, but how you play them that make the difference between winning and losing. We are not invalids. We do not need pity, sympathy, special considerations or concessions. We are normal, capable people.

The ostomy is yours to do with as you wish. You have a choice to take either of two paths, and the decision is yours alone. You can refuse to accept it; feel sorry for yourself; be bitter; be resentful; withdraw from society; suffer the loss of many of the fine things life holds for you; or you can accept it.

You can develop a good attitude and go on to live a happy and productive life. You can enjoy the extra time God has granted you to continue doing the things you did before surgery.

The proper training of the mind and body is not an easy job. Nature has not endowed all of us with the same ability to make correct decisions. Some people find it easy to look at a situation from all angles and decide what to do. Others, because of a lack of knowledge or because of emotions, resentments, habits, etc., find it difficult to make a correct decision.

Ostomy surgery—thank you modern medical science—has provided us with a rare gift . . . the gift of a second chance, a chance to live, a chance not given to everyone. An ostomy—any type—is not a handicap, it is a new method of elimination—a life-saving device. Be encouraged. Accept your ostomy. Prove to yourself that you can adjust better than anyone else can. To find happiness, we must think about what we owe to others, the world and God rather than what life owes us.

Let us give thanks for every precious moment; be thankful that we have been helped. Be thankful that we now have the opportunity to help others. Let us count our blessings. Let us thank God we are alive.

This article will be most valuable to someone with a lower colostomy or a urostomy. It will also serve someone with an ileostomy who is having leakage issues. We will discuss a revolutionary product that uses a completely different philosophy in addressing ostomy care.

At a recent WOCN conference in Chicago, we had the opportunity to talk at length to a marketing executive from Cymed. Now, we always looked at the Micro Skin product as being one with an excellent tape, but one that needed attachment to a hydrocolloid skin barrier in order to protect the peristomal skin. They told us of an alternative application that you need to know about.

Urine from a urostomy is sterile and not very irritating to the skin. If urine sits on the skin, it will not burn it. However, it is never advisable to allow urine to pool around the stoma because of many other maladies that may result. Therefore, an ostomy system that never leaks is vital for good skin care.

Stool from a lower colostomy is about half bacteria, and it does not burn the skin. Otherwise, all regular people would have burning butts. Nobody advises people actually to have stool ever sitting on the skin because it leads to disease, odor and other problems. The peristomal skin must be protected and stool completely contained to prevent these issues from occurring.

Effluent from an ileostomy is in part composed of liver bile and pancreatic fluids, digestive enzymes that can dissolve a steak. It will do the same to one’s delicate skin. A strong barrier is required to protect the peristomal skin so it is not eaten away. This is the reason, people who have a j-pouch’s experience terrible burning in the rectum. The effluent comes in physical contact with the anal area and the patient is miserable.

Cymed makes a one-piece ostomy system, in which the entire skin barrier is made out of Micro Skin. There is no other barrier attached. This means that one can cut the barrier opening—made up of only Micro Skin—right up to the stoma so that it will be actually touching it—and then apply this flat, thin and very flexible ostomy system over the stoma. This means no barrier rings, no convexity, no rigid wafers, no belts . . . and no leaks. Micro Skin “breathes”, that is air moves through it and the skin underneath is healthier. Urine does not melt the Micro Skin. People with urostomies that have had issues with leaking in the past have said that this system works for them.

People with lower colostomies may use this same technique, although they would use a two-piece closed system. This would be especially useful for people with flush or recessed stomas because this product will generally work without convexity. Just cut a Micro Skin barrier right up to the stoma, it may even touch it. It is so thin that no matter what contours or folds one has on ones tummy, it molds around them. This is also an excellent management method for people with large oval stomas not easily serviced with hydrocolloid barriers. People have told us that this technique has provided better system performance.

A little information for someone with an ileostomy: Although, Cymed sells a Micro Skin barrier with a washer attached, most of us obtain only mediocre results from it, no matter what the advertising claims may be. However, there is a masterful new application that can benefit us. ConvaTec and Hollister, Inc both make true extended wear barrier rings using the brands Durahesive and Flextend respectively. These are two of the best hydrocolloid barriers ever made and have proven and effective results. A Micro Skin barrier may be cut right up to a stoma and then have one of these barrier rings attached right to it. Then one would put the attached ring and barrier right over the stoma. This would provide the skin protection from the effluent needed, yet yield the benefits of Micro Skin tape. This application could also be implemented when convexity is truly needed because the barrier ring provides convexity.

We are so happy to be able to inform our ostomy community of a brand new alternative in ostomy care through use of a Cymed Micro skin barrier without a washer . . . a barrier of only Micro Skin. This is especially useful for people with urostomies that currently have a leaking issue. Half of the total sales of Cymed Corp. are to people with urostomies that previously used other brands but had leaks that were difficult to stop. Note well, we are not suggesting you stop using your current ostomy system. We only want to present a new alternative to people who have had less than satisfactory performance with the options they currently use. We repeatedly tell our members never to accept less than satisfactory results from one’s ostomy system. There are many resources for assistance including your WOC nurse, manufacturers, suppliers, our local ostomy association, etc. An ostomy provides us the opportunity to continue our lives in a wonderful way. Sometimes we just need information on a new way of ostomy management.

This article is especially for those ostomates who haven’t yet attended an Ostomy meeting.

Can you see yourself being happy again due to your ostomy? Please don’t turn a deaf ear to us. We’re here to give assistance to all ostomates in reaching a complete rehabilitation and adjusting to their new way of life. So come to a meeting; talk your problems over with the other ostomates. Perhaps they can help you to cope because, in most cases, they‘ve been there.

After you meet and talk to other ostomates, you’ll be amazed at the progress they’ve made and how easy it is to make friends with any off their members who have the same (or different) type of ostomy as you have. You’ll begin to wonder why you stayed away so long.

So come on out, open your eyes, perk up your ears and think “HAPPINESS” again. Other ostomates and ostomy support groups DO care about you and they are there to share with you!

If you notice any of the following:

A) If there is recurrent leakage from underneath the base of the bag. This is important to rectify as soon as possible as the urine will quickly cause your skin to become red and sore and eventually break down.

B) If the skin becomes sore and red (this could be due to irritation from the base (wafer) of the bag or urine coming into contact with the skin). You may need to measure your stoma, and cut the hole in the pouch base smaller. If the irritation is caused from the base then you find that there are many products on the market with a suitable backing for your skin. It may be just a matter of trying a few and finding the right one for you.

C) If your appliance does not stick this may be due to the backing of the pouch not being compatible with your skin. Again you may need to try a few pouches to find a suitable backing for you. Or you may be applying the bag incorrectly e.g. not cleaning the skin thoroughly enough before applying the next bag.

D) If the color of the urine changes to cloudy or if there is an increase in mucous or blood in your urine then you should see your GP as you may have an infection which can be treated with antibiotics.

E) If the color of the stoma changes or the size changes dramatically or bleeds excessively.

If anyone walked a mile in the shoes of an ostomate, how would they feel? Maybe a little tired, but their ostomy would work just fine.

What does having an ostomy mean to you? Survey says: good health, no pain, belonging to a group of strong, caring and compassionate people—ostomates, savvy individuals who’ve learned how and where to get and share knowledge, help, humor and hope.

Okay, there hasn’t yet been a comprehensive survey. Are you living as actively as you’d like to? If not, why? An ostomy is merely tissue that’s been surgically relocated and designed to function smoothly. Even if a temporary ostomy doesn’t work correctly and trouble-free—it may only need a little extra attention and care. You and your ostomy deserve the time necessary to be taken care of really well. After that, let your heart and brain take charge.

Living through health problems that led to ostomy surgery, you no doubt gained strength and fortitude. Your ostomy won’t break and neither will you. You might develop feistiness and greater determination. You may also discover more bad hair days are likely than bad ostomy days especially in a tropical, humid climate, during blistery winters or in the windiest rainstorms.

If you’re not sure whether activity is medically or physically all right for you to do, before you stop yourself from trying, ask your physician and WOC Nurse if actual medical or physical restrictions prevent you from participating in or learning to water ski; play the guitar; swim; play canasta or poker; scuba dive; speak Spanish, French or Italian; dance (ballet, tap, waltz, samba); eat Cajun, sushi or Greek foods; hike, canoe, kayak; take a trip by car, bus, ship, plane or train; ride a horse; run a marathon; walk 30 minutes; do yoga; golf; garden; sing or laugh.

Ostomies don’t prevent working, traveling, living anywhere, swimming, scuba diving, hiking, or water skiing. Don’t allow inaccurate information or a negative attitude to prevent you from doing what you want. Adjust your attitude with realistic information. Just as you adapted to the ways your body changed as you were growing up and as an adult too, you can adapt again and resume living as millions of other ostomates have done.

Learning how to take care of an ostomy is not as difficult as originally learning—earlier than you may remember—to walk, or later perhaps learning to drive a car, to wear contact lenses or bifocals. Ask questions. Terrific at sharing information, ostomates are resilient, inventive, practical and creative. At ostomy association meetings, notice how well people look. That’s due to deliberate effort and an optimistic attitude. Give yourself the same quality of care you expect from your doctors. Don’t ask less of yourself.

Having an ostomy might mean better health now and living longer. Decide each day what you’d like to do. Socialize with other people, or spend time alone. Count on the people most important to you to remain loving and supportive. Call people you’d like to see. Let your family and others know when you want them to join you in various activities. Don’t think or expect the worst from anyone, including yourself.

An ostomy gives you health and options. Consider the Spanish proverb: Living well is the best revenge. Live well!

UOAA has been in the process of receiving a logo and website “facelift” and have reported that the project has been completed. If you want you can check out their new website at: www.ostomy.org.

They can still be accessed via their old website: www.uoaa.org and you will be re-directed to the new website address.

In the way of changes, they have moved their offices to Minnesota. The new address is: United Ostomy Associations of America, P.O. Box 512, Northfield, MN 55057. The telephone number remains the same at: 1-800-826-0826.

Via: Evansville, IN, Ostomy News, via: The Right Connection, San Diego

Don’t believe as if having an ostomy makes you less of a person or some freak of nature. There are lots of us and most of us are glad to be alive. Build a support system of people to answer questions when you have a problem.

Consider our ET’s and your officers who are listed in the newsletter of your local chapter. Don’t play the dangerous game of making your appliance fail by over taping or putting off a change. There aren’t any prizes given for the longest wear time except accidents. Don’t wait until you see the bottom of your supply box before ordering more. Always count on delays in shipping, holidays, etc. when calculating what is needed. Zip-lock sandwich bags are useful and odor proof for disposal of used ostomy pouches. Don’t get hung up on odors. There are some great sprays and some internal deodorants--remember-- everybody creates some odors in the bathroom. Don’t feel you are an exception. Hydration and electrolyte balance is of vital importance.

Be sure to drink enough fluids to maintain good hydration, ileostomates especially. Read and learn all you can about ostomies. You never know when you may find an opportunity to educate someone about the life-saving surgery that has extended so many lives. Learn to be matter of fact about this and never embarrassed.

Few folks get out of this life without some medical problems and unpleasant situations with which to cope. You may be amazed at how people will admire your adaptability and courage. In the beginning after surgery, almost everyone experiences some depression. If you fit into this category, you are certainly not alone. But it need not be a lasting condition. Try something as simple as walking -- long walks. If the depression seems to linger, don’t he afraid or ashamed to seek help. There is help out there! The bottom line is - We are alive! In other times, in other countries, we might not be. Medicine and techniques today have given us an opportunity to experience this second chance. It is certainly an opportunity worth accepting and exploring. The most important part of you as a human being has not changed.

Via: By Word of Mouth - Kankakee (IL) Ostomy Association

TSA guidelines currently in force state:

* Security Officers will not ask nor require you to remove your prosthetic device (an ostomy appliance is a prosthetic for removed intestinal or bladder tissue).

* During screening process, please do not remove or offer to remove your prosthetic device.

* You have the option of requesting a private screening at any time during the screening of your prosthetic device.

* You may have a companion, assistant or family member accompany and assist you into the private screening area (once he or she has been screened) and remain throughout the screening process.

* TSA will make every effort to have two Security Officers of the same gender as the passenger being screened present during the screening.

* If you are wearing an exterior medical device and are uncomfortable with going through the metal detector or being hand-wanded, you may request a pat-down inspection and visual inspection of your device instead.

* You should be offered a private screening if clothing is required to be lifted to complete the inspection process.

* Advise the Security Officer if you have an ostomy or urine bag. You will not be required to expose these devices for inspection.

The complete TSA guidelines for Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids can be found at