A Blessed Christmas Season and a Prosperous 2011 New Year to all

Note:
Monthly meetings every last Tuesday of the month.
Please wait for notification on venue and time.

Pictures of Christmas party at PCS last December 14, 2010 to follow soon.

Christmas Party Schedule

Get Together na!!!



December 7, 2010 - 3rd floor OPD at PGH
December 14, 2010 - PCS - Malacanan

No registration! Come one and come all.

Ostomy Gathering for November and December

Please take note of the following dates na pinost po ni Alvin sa message box.
Eto po ay mga salo salo ng mga ostomates at meron po distribution ng ilang mga bag.
Thank you very much po.

Asian Ostomy Association

Please check out this website for news and events happening from different countries with ostomy associations.

I handle a group called Young Ostomates, you can also get in touch with me if you are interested to help understand the plight of people with stoma and a colostomy bag. I hold discussion groups and meetings.

Cleaning Ostomy Bags for reuse Again

Due to expenses and also Filipino ingenuity, you can try using this technique to clean ostomy bags.

I make sure that I first have this materials, old toothbrushes, joy ultra and vinegar, zonrox bleach, detergent soap, wooden board.

When I change my two piece appliance, I make sure that I still secure the colostomy bag and not throw it away. I throw away the flange and clean myself. While airing my stoma, I start to work with my ostomy bag especially if it is already sticky. You would know this because it cramples after it has been overused.

Wear gloves if you like. I clean the bag with water, zonrox and detergent soap. At least it is clean now in and out. For the stick part inside, I lay on the wooden board, seal the bag with a clip and put a pinch of joy ultra and vinegar. The joy ultra will remove stickiness and vinegar removes the smell.

I get the tooth brush and start scrubbing the stool that has a rubber like texture. I make sure that not all the amount of liquid overflows.

the old tooth brush will not be reusable again so throw it away.

Hope this primitive lifestyle in our developing country helps not unless we have a donation that will arrive soon ready to be distributed to all indigents.


I will experiment with other cleansing products. I get three weeks from re-using a colostomy bag and then throw it away.

Other suggestions will be a lot of help.

PayBox

PayBox

Ostomate ka ba?

Hindi hadlang ang pagiging ostomate para makabalik sa mga gawaing nakasanayan na, ang sitwasyon na ito ay dugtong ng ating buhay para makatulong at makapagsilbi pa rin sa ating kapwa. Ostomate ka ba?

Emptying

This photo may be offensive to non ostomates but usually this is one
of the ways to drain the stool in the toilet bowl. Others would use a stool
beside the bowl and then drain. It will be very difficult to do this in public
places.

What is great in other countries in Japan is that there are special toilet
bowls that is used by ostomates for cleaning purposes. And what is commendable
is that you can find such toilet bowls/sinks in public places.

It will take some time when this toilets will apply soon in our country in the Philippines.



Toilet for Ostomates in Japan




Maybe senators and politicians can consider this initiative to install special toilets for hospitals and appropriate places where people with colostomy will not have a hard time in cleaning and disposing stool.

A quality of life for all ostomates.

comments and suggestions are most welcome.

Ileostomy

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:



An ileostomy is an opening that is made in the ileum (the lowest part of the small intestine) with surgery. After the opening is made, the end of the ileum is brought to the surface of the abdomen. The stool drains from the ileum to the outside
of the body through an opening in the abdomen called a stoma.

The stoma is usually located on the lower right side of the abdomen. The stool has a liquid to soft consistency and drains into a flat, changeable, watertight bag or pouch. The pouch is attached to the skin with an adhesive (substance that seals the pouch to the skin).

An ileostomy is sometimes needed for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cancer, trauma or other diseases. With an ileostomy, the colon and rectum are usually removed
and cannot be used again. However, temporary ileostomies are sometimes done to allow the colon to rest and heal for a period of time.

Using Stomahesive Powder for Excoriation

When you have weeping skin or technically called excoriation, here are some tips and inputs you could follow to dry the skin. You have to do this daily.

Put the powder on first then "blow" away the excess (not wipe). This will allow the powder to be absorbed by the skin where required.

It will not affect adhesion.

Then apply the barrier wipe.

When the flange covers the area, the skin heals for several days and when you remove the flange, the excoriation is gone.



Stool excoriation is the most common skin complication. It can lead to redness, weepy bleeding areas, pain, itching, stinging or burning sensations. Skin excoriation is often the result of stool coming into contact with the peristomal skin. Additional factors which may lead to excoriation include chemotherapy, radiation, psoriasis, adverse reaction or side effect to certain medications such as, steroids, antibiotics, chemotherapy, or immunosuppressives. A flush or retracted stoma can lead to stool leakage and excoriation. Poor hygiene, an inappropriate pouching system as well as allergies or sensitivity can also cause skin reactions.

The most common reason for stool irritation is an appliance or flange with an opening that is too large. Too much skin becomes exposed and stool comes in contact with it, causing irritation/erosion. The opening of an appliance/flange should be no more than 1/8 inch (3 to 4 mm) larger than the base of the stoma. This allows for adequate skin protection, but also ensures some "wiggle" room for peristalsis or normal movement of the stoma. The opening should not be snug against the stoma as this can cause a laceration or a cut to the stoma to occur. To ensure that the opening is correct, save the paper or plastic backing of the current appliance and place it over the stoma, ensuring that it is centered over the opening. Look in a mirror and check the gap between the base of the stoma and the edge of the opening. The stoma may need to be moved around (use a tissue and just gently move it from side to side, or up and down) to check all sides. If the opening is too large, then the pattern needs to be adjusted accordingly.

Once the cause of the stool irritation has been identified and corrected, then the actual treatment is quite simple. Using a pectin based powder (e.g. Stomahesive Powder™ or Premium Powder™), sprinkled lightly on the affected area, and then sealed with a skin sealant (e.g., No Sting™ or Skin Prep™) is usually sufficient. Using powder only may prevent the appliance from adhering to the skin, so a sealant is helpful. Usually, if all things are corrected, then healing or resolution should occur by the time the next appliance change is due.

Hop this helps!

Understanding Ulcerative Colitis

Some Practical Tips and Home Remedies

One can be so despondent and helpless when facing ulcerative colitis. But changes in diet and lifestyle may help control its symptoms and lengthen the time between flare-ups.

Diet
There's no firm evidence that what you eat causes inflammatory bowel disease. However, certain foods and beverages can aggravate your symptoms, especially during a flare-up in your condition. It's a good idea to try eliminating from your diet anything that seems to make your signs and symptoms worse. Here are some suggestions that may help:

* Limit dairy products. If you suspect that you may be lactose intolerant, you may find that diarrhea, abdominal pain and gas improve when you limit or eliminate dairy products. You may be lactose intolerant — that is, your body can't digest the milk sugar (lactose) in dairy foods. If so, try using an enzyme product, such as Lactaid, to help break down lactose.

Keep in mind that with limiting your dairy intake, you'll need to find other sources of calcium, such as supplements.

* Experiment with fiber. For most people, high-fiber foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, are the foundation of a healthy diet. But if you have inflammatory bowel disease, fiber may make diarrhea, pain and gas worse. If raw fruits and vegetables bother you, try steaming, baking or stewing them. Check with your doctor before adding significant amounts of fiber to your diet.

* Avoid problem foods. Eliminate any other foods that seem to make your symptoms worse. These may include "gassy" foods, such as beans, cabbage and broccoli, raw fruit juices and fruits, popcorn, alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated beverages.

* Eat small meals. You may find that you feel better eating five or six small meals rather than two or three larger ones.

* Drink plenty of liquids. Try to drink plenty of fluids daily. Water is best. Alcohol and beverages that contain caffeine stimulate your intestines and can make diarrhea worse, while carbonated drinks frequently produce gas.

* Make a food journal where you can write the food that helps and does not help. This diary will go a long way.

Stress
Although stress doesn't cause inflammatory bowel disease, it can make your signs and symptoms much worse and may trigger flare-ups. Stressful events can range from minor annoyances to a move, job loss or the death of a loved one.

When you're stressed, your normal digestive process can change, causing your stomach to empty more slowly and secrete more acids. Stress can also speed or slow the passage of intestinal contents. It may also cause changes in intestinal tissue itself.

Although it's not always possible to avoid stress, you can learn ways to help manage it. Some of these include:

* Exercise. Even mild exercise can help reduce stress, relieve depression and normalize bowel function. Talk to your doctor about an exercise plan that's right for you.

* Regular relaxation and breathing exercises. An effective way to cope with stress is to perform relaxation and breathing exercises. You can take classes in yoga and meditation or practice at home using books, CDs or DVDs.

* Other techniques. Set aside time every day for any activity you find relaxing — listening to music, reading, playing computer games or just soaking in a warm bath.

Thanks to UCVlog for the pictures.

Get in touch with CFP (Colostomy Friends of the Philippines) for your questions and other queries.

Are you between 20 to 40 years old?

Do you have issues and questions regarding colostomy surgery
Are you interested to help people with colostomy?
Please get in touch!!!

If you are younger or older you are still welcome.

Hollister Size 38 colostomy bags

We have a surplus of size 38 colostomy bags for free. Any referral especially for those most in need will be appreciated.

Just get in touch with me so that you can get the two piece colostomy bag.

Let's Get Together




Libre ka ba sa March 26,2009. The Philippine Society of Colorectal Surgeons is organizing a conference that will involve ostomates to participate in the forum. this will serve as socials too.

Hope that this will invite people to participate and meet new friends.