Happy New Year of 2013

Cheers! A glass of wine  helps relax abdominal muscles. Happy New Year to all.
Let us promote ostomy advocacy in the Philippines

Ronald
Colostomy Friends
12.31.12

Tips for Ostomates when Leaving the House

Try to practice the following tips:

1. Carry a small bag where you have ostomy supplies whenever you leave the house. In case of emergency, you have something to change with. Bring along wipes, alcohol and even an extra shirt.

2. When traveling by car, do not put ostomy supplies in the trunk where it is hot and the wafer can melt and be deformed.

3. Be cautious about food and water when you are in other countries.

4. In a place where weather is hot, be prepared to change more often.


- posted by Susan
CF volunteer
:D Merry Xmas Season

Wheelchair For Sale

We take this opportunity to greet each and everyone a Blessed Christmas Season.

We are posting this ad for anyone interested:

For anyone interested to buy a brand new manual wheelchair, removable arm rest and leg rest, stainless steel, 24" inch wheel diameter, sportsmatic type b, made in "House with No Steps" or Tahanan Walang Hagdan, Please contact us. We will send photos for those interested. Negotiable price cost. Please check Tahanan Price costing. I am selling the wheelchair much lower.

Location: Near Mindanao Avenue, parallel to Veterans Hospital and/or(Trinoma and SM north ave)
I thank CF for giving me this chance to write this post.
Email us at colostomyfriends@gmail.com

Posted by Joseph
Colostomy Friends Volunteer

Food Reference Chart

Please check ostomy.org for other references.
Merry Christmas to all.


Colostomy Friends
Bert
Volunteer

Maligayang Pasko

Mga Paalala:
1. Huwag kalimutan na uminom ng maraming tubig lalo na sa mga salu salo kapag may mga party.
2. Kung maiiwasan ang softdrinks ay mas mainam.
3. Hindi sagabal na may Colostomy Bag para magdiwang ngayong Pasko 2012 at salubungin ang 2013.
4. Magbigay ng oras para mag-dasal para sa magandang kalusugan.

Maligayang Pasko sa Lahat.

Colostomy Friends
Chit Dacanay

COLOSTOMY BOWEL CONTROL

COLOSTOMY BOWEL CONTROL


Patients with a right-sided or upper colostomy do not have as much remaining colon as those with a left-sided or lower colostomy. Because of this, there is usually too little colon left in a lower colostomy to absorb enough water to make a solid stool. A lower colostomy cannot be controlled by irrigation, but instead behaves very much like an ileostomy, with fairly continuous discharge.

The left-sided colostomy is often described as a ‘dry’ colostomy since it usually discharges formed stool. One has the choice of attempting to manage this type of colostomy by either trained control or irrigation control. Only 1/3 of the people who at-tempt to train themselves to control the lower colostomy without irrigation are successful in doing so. This control is more easily and satisfactorily achieved by irrigation. However, there are some patients who can’t achieve irrigation control because they have an ‘irritable bowel’. This problem has nothing to do with the colostomy. It is just part of some people’s makeup. Some people, even before they have their colostomy, may have had very irregular bowel habits. They retain these habits after the colostomy is performed.

Regular irrigation does not assure regularity with irritable bowel syndrome. When this condition exists, the physician will some-times suggest that the patient dispense with irrigation, since it does not produce the desired regular pattern. People may become frustrated by trying to achieve this. People with an irritable bowel situation should treat the colostomy much like an ileostomy by wearing an ostomy appliance all of the time.





Source: Saskatoon Ostomy Association Bulletin, August 2012

Thanks to InsideOut
11.20.2012
/jasmine

People with 2 Colostomy Bags

One of our readers asked why some have 2 colostomy bags:

The following are the possible answers gathered from friends.

Photo courtesy of Phil Esgate (http://philostomate.blogspot.com/)

1. Possibly to rest one stoma for awhile? One may be more for mucous rather than legit output.

2.  They sometimes have two after a difficult surgery with a contaminated abdomen. One will produce only mucus. Or they could have a colostomy/ileostomy and a urostomy. Urostomy would be if urinary bladder was removed due to cancer or trauma.

3. Yes. If there are birth defects/injuries where there is a neurogenic branded such as spinal cord injury or spina bifida. Spina bifida patients usually have a "button" urostomy. So many situations that can lead to it.

4. A double barrel ostomy forms 2 stomas. One is nonfunctioning meaning that no feces is expelled, yet mucous is discharged so sometimes it is called a mucous fistula. Sometimes this is sewn shut and left in abdomen which then expels mucous through there.

Thanks by Clostomy Friends
Please join our National Federation of Ostomates. Email us at colostomyfriends@gmail.com (Jean)

Ostomy Wound Care tips

Caring for a Wound

Special care must always be taken when caring for a wound:

1. Before dressing a wound, clean it thoroughly with sponges and cleansing solution. Do not allow scab to form in the wound which will cause infection. Use a gauze with saline solution to scrub of the wound. In case it bleeds, just put pressure with gauze until bleeding stops.
2. Also, remove any body hair which also contributes to infection.
3. Pat the wound dry with a different, clean sponge.
4. When the wound is clean and dry, apply the dressings appropriate to the severity of the wound.
5. When removing old dressings, always remove one layer at a time, not all at once.

Remember:
Calmoseptine and Desitine is for rashes and allergies while Silver Sulfadiazine is for wound treatment.

You can add anymore tips for ostomy wound care.
Salamat po - Jean Pablo

Ostomy Associations in the Philippines

Do you want to know the different ostomy associations all over the Philippines?

The National Federation has established several chapters in the different regions. The different ostomy associations in the Philippines will help patients and colorectal survivors through certified trainors from doctors and patients as well. It is only the National Fed that gives certified training that was conducted with the help of the Asia South Pacific Ostomy Association and in partnership with the Deparment of Health.

The distribution of colostomy bags are secondary, we form strong and solid support groups all over the Philippines.

We are growing with a team of surgeons and nurses and patients. The NFOP, Inc welcomes you.

Ostomates due to Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and, next to Lung cancer and Breast cancer, the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the country today.

"The Colorectal rate in the Philippines is lower than in the U.S. except for Filipinos in the U.S. who assume the same rates in U.S.," says Dr. Ramy Roxas, Director of Cancer Center at the Medical City and Chief of the PGH Colorectal Surgery Division, proof that the environment has proven is a big factor to the disease. Still, despite the lower incidence, Roxas says, the Philippines has a higher Colorectal cancer mortality compared to other countries.

"Colon cancer starts out as a non cancerous growth in the lining of the colon called the "polyp" and if allowed to grow becomes an invasive growth," "Stage 1 is superficial, Stage 2 when it invades the colon, Stage 3 as it spreads to the lymph nodes, and Stage 4 once it spreads to other organs."

Stage 1 Colorectal cancer has very good prognosis, Roxas explains, in an interview over Dateline Philippines Saturday, with Stages 1 and 2 at times needing no chemotherapy.

"Stage 1 has a very good survival rate for colon cancer at 90% combined with rectal 75%." He however says, that is not the case in the later stage. (Department of Health 2005 Cancer Facts and Estimates shows, Colorectal Cancer has a median survival of 24 months. The 5-year survival rate for Colon Cancer in 47.72%, while that of the rectum is 19.45%. Meanwhile, the 10-year suvival rate for the colon is 32.38%, that of the rectum 5.48%.)

In terms of survival rates, Roxas says, the Philippines fares worse than other countries.

Based on global cancer statistics, the Philippines ranks low in terms of age standardized survival rates for Colorectal Cancer in both sexes. It ranks 27% for women, 29% for men, falling behind countries like the United States, West Europe, Japan, Thailand and India.
Roxas admits, late detection may be to blame for the low survival rate associated with the disease.

Given such worrisome figures, Roxas hopes to push for better prevention and treatment for colorectal cancer.

"Colorectal cancer is actually very preventable condition. There's evidence to show that with good screening," Roxas says. Screening and a multi-modality treatment (Chemotherapy, pre-operative radiotherapy, High quality surgery) are among the factors responsible for improving Colorectal cancer ourcomes.

"The actual public health recommendation is to do fecal occult blood or a stool exam to look for microscopic blood at age 50," Roxas says. He also advises earlier screening, for those with a strong family history of Colorectal cancer, or with two or more relatives who had it. Roxas says, screening should be done 10 years before the age of diagnosis of relatives with Colorectal cancer. "Colonoscopy is the most accurate and best test," Roxas adds.

Roxas says, a number of palliative and curative treatments are available for those found to have Colorectal cancer.

"Colorectal treatment is rapidly evolving. Younger patients may tolerate aggressive treatment better. With the older medication, the life span of a Stage 4 patient is 6 months, but with newer chemotherapy agents they've gone beyond two years," Roxas says.

He counts a high-protein and highly processed diet, carcinogens, smoking, alcohol, stress, and a sedentary lifestyle among the factors of Colorectal cancer.

He says, people should have themselves checked at the first signs of the problem. Symptoms include: blood in the stool, changes in bowel movement, unexplained weight loss, unexplained anemia, frequent abdominal pain.

Amid today's hurried pace and ever changing lifestyles, experts say, early detection is still key to battling the disease.

Showering or Taking a bath with an Ileostomy

There are no strict rules and it really depends where you are most comfortable with. It is simply done in a bath tub or a shower and soaping and that is. No big deal.

Watch

What is a Urostomy

Thanks to Ms. Joy Hooper


 What is a Urostomy? Watch it in youtube

Basic Ostomy Skin Care

People who have a stoma often share many of the same questions and concerns.
This best practice document provides answers to some of the common questions that people ask about the day to day care of the stoma and the surrounding skin. The answers are directed to the person who has a stoma but may also be helpful for the nurse as a teaching tool.

People with a stoma often worry that their skin may become irritated from the stool, urine, or pouching system. It is important  to treat the skin gently, protect it from stool, urine, and chemicals, and use products correctly to decrease the chance for skin problems

What is a Protective Barrier Film?

It is a protective sheet used also for irritated skin. Trace a hole in the centre the size of your Stoma and cut it out then place it over the Stoma the same way you would with a sure seal , then stick your base plate and bag onto it, it works brilliantly!

Read this PDF

The Bag of Life: The Filipino Ostomates

 

In a country where there is so little awareness about having a colostomy bag, there is so much misconception and wrong information that circulates in mainstream society. This is only a secondary consideration since wearing a colostomy bag is not a way to feed on the curiosity of people. The initial reaction of many people is varied. Some get so surprised and curious while others get so excited making it such a big deal. On the other hand, there are some who knows how to empathize in understanding such conditions. In one-way or another, I believe that the latter have similar stories to share.

It boils down to positive information that brings awareness. This is the bigger story. In order to send the correct signal and strong consciousness to other people is for ostomates to support each other and strengthen one’s ranks. It is very sad for people having the bag to think so little of one self when the possibilities for a quality of life is still one and the same. I encountered people who have fallen desperately to depression because of the inability to accept having a bag. It was not colon cancer that took away his life but the depression and the feeling of disgrace. It is the opportunity presented in the celebration of World Ostomy Day to celebrate new life. It is the bag that saved lives.

Whenever I get the chance to attend speaking engagements during a lay forum with ostomates and doctors alike, I always say in my opening statement that having the bag is not that bad at all. One of the perks we enjoy is that we no longer have to rush and run when we have to use the toilet. This will send smiles to the faces of ostomates but I go deeper to my message. It has been for a long time that society dictates how unacceptable a colostomy bag can be. This time around we are here to disprove that it is not the colostomy bag that runs our life. In fact, we control our life and it is not the other way around. There have been a lot of success stories that ostomates have achieved and trials overcomed that tells the world “yes we can”. October too is breast awareness month but it has more appeal and acceptance than ostomy awareness. Both are diseases that battle cancer but the latter does not enjoy good billing in society. Yet, ostomates grab this second chance to life proving to inspire others and spread awareness.

When World Ostomy Day is celebrated in the Philippines, I get the chance to meet ostomates from different parts of the country. At first, 6 years ago after my surgery, I felt so isolated and alone that I might be the only person with this kind of special condition. I never thought that there were “others” too. I have started building support groups in different hospitals and lo and behold, there have been a few who have courageously responded to join and step forward.  I have also established the National Federation of Ostomates of the Philippines with the help of some friends. I realized there are a lot more who are a special lot with this kind of special condition. It takes a lot of work and initiative to invite people with a personal touch to create self-supporting groups where ostomates help ostomates. It is not a far-fetched vision but a doable one. It will take time but very achievable. The partnership we built with the Department of Health in supporting the advocacy of building ostomy support group for patients has been well supported by Chief of Hospitals and the Surgery Departments and above all the Secretary of Health Dr. Enrique T. Ona himself. We open our lines to continue this advocacy to reach out to poor and indigent ostomates empowering them that life is good, training them to assist and counsel fellow ostomates, and cover the whole islands of the Philippines to announce that having a bag is an extension of life. Copyright (c) (Ronaldo Lora) October 15, 2012