January 2004 Newsletter

In This Issue

• Our Next Meeting • LDOA Announcements
• From the President's Desk • Telling People You Have an Ostomy
• ET Corner
• Welcome Our Vice President
• Do You Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome? • 
• 
Coping With an Ostomy

Suggested Reading
• Ostomies and Flu Season • In the Event You Are Hospitalized
• Colostomies and Irrigation • 
• 
World’s Easiest Test

Click and Collect Update
• Fallacy and Fact • On the Lighter Side
• Five Steps to Getting Better • Change of Address Membership Renewal Form

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Our Next Meeting

DateThurs. Jan. 15, 2004
Time7:00 pm
PlaceMiddlesex-London Health Unit
50 King Street, London
Guest SpeakersCharlie Stanton, ConvaTec Rep.

Kevin Saunders and Carrie Piper, Shoppers Home Health Care
(Adelaide & Commissioners)
ET AdvisorRuth Best, LHSC, South Campus
February's Meeting
DateThurs. Feb. 19, 2004
Time7:00 pm
PlaceMiddlesex-London Health Unit
50 King Street, London
Guest SpeakerDr. Patrick Colquhoun will not be speaking at the meeting. Alternate arrangements are being made and
we'll keep you posted.
ET AdvisorLina Martins, LHSC, University Campus

LDOA Announcements

42 Cedarwood Road
London, ON   N6H 5E7

Printing Firm Sponsor

LDOA is still looking for a printing firm sponsor. If you have connections or know of a company that would be willing to donate their services to print our newsletters and brochures, please contact our Newsletter Editor,     As a gesture of appreciation, LDOA offers a print ad for the firm in each news- letter, a sponsor-type ad on the web site, and a "Printed by our Sponsor" promo line in the brochures. Thank you.

Reminders

  • LDOA’s newsletter is published bi-monthly and, accordingly, there was no newsletter in December.

  • Please send your contributions for March’s newsletter to no later than  February 23, 2003.

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From the President's Desk

To all LDOA members and their families: a happy, healthy and prosperous 2004.

As I struggle through my first year as your president, I would like to thank my Executive Committee and membership for your support and patience.

Thank you, Heather Smith, for stepping into the Vice President position.

We will be better organized this year. We have been making great strides with the newsletter and web site thanks to the devoted efforts of Deanna Sterling, and Edith Scheliga has been doing a terrific job as Treasurer. Hopefully Joy Ibsen, our Social Co-Ordinator, will be back with us after recuperating from her serious illness. And thanks to Brenda Turner, our Visitor Co-Ordinator, who will be very busy this year with our Visitor Training Seminar.

John Jory, our Past President, has moved to Orillia. We will miss his wisdom and his absence will be felt. John attended our Christmas Dinner and it was good to see him again.

We have an outstanding list of guest speakers for the next few months.

  • This month • Charlie Stanton, ConvaTec Representative, and Kevin Saunders and Carrie Piper, Shoppers Home Health Care (Adelaide & Commissioners)


  • February • Dr. Patrick Colquhoun will not be speaking at the meeting. Alternate arrangements are being made and we'll keep you posted.


  • March • Open Meeting (rap session)


  • April • Sarita Gupta, Dietitian, LHSC, University Campus


  • May • Dr. David Boyd, General Internist, LHSC, South Campus

Let’s hope that our members who have been ill or hospitalized, in particular, Lillie Low, Dorothea Crover, Louretta Gavigan and Lynda Crockett, are all on the road to recovery and will be able to join us again.

I look forward to seeing you at the meetings, and thank all of you for your support.

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Welcome Our Vice President

The waiting and the wondering are over! We are pleased to announce that Heather Smith has accepted the position of Vice President. Our Executive Committee is now complete!

In addition to being an ileostomate for nearly two years with a genuine interest in LDOA’s further development in the ostomy community, Heather brings with her experience in the area of fund raising, which LDOA intends to put to good use in the near future!

Those of you who were at September’s meeting may recall that Heather showed us her pouch covers. In addition to performing "regular" seamstress services, Heather makes durable and washable pouch covers, including special covers for joggers that keep the pouch secured snugly against the abdomen. She can also alter store-bought clothes to suit the needs of ostomates – everything from pants to bathing suits to intimate apparel.

And those of you who were at November’s meeting may recall that Heather made an exceptional holiday swag which was raffled off and won by a lucky LDOA member!

Indeed, we are fortunate to have as our Vice President someone with many talents, experience, and a sincere interest in the welfare of LDOA and it’s members. Welcome Heather!

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Click and Collect Update

Regarding the ads on LDOA’s web site, we are pleased to announce that we reached the $100.00 US goal on November 23, 2003. Shortly thereafter, LDOA received a bona fide cheque from Google in the amount of $121.00 US, which converted to $152.88 CDN. Altogether, it took us 54 days – just a wee bit under two months – to reach our goal. And now we begin again to collect another $100.00 US. As at January 3, 2004, the "kitty" sits at $15.60 US. Here’s hoping we reach our goal again by the time the next newsletter is published in March!

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ET Corner

Each newsletter, London’s ETs answer your concerns

Submit your questions or concerns in writing at an LDOA meeting or send them to your ET (Enterostomal Therapist) by e-mail.

What is the best way to control redness, irritation and itchiness under the flange?

One needs to carefully review every step in their appliance application to assess when the redness, irritation and/or itchiness began. For example, have you recently used a new soap on your skin or are you using a new skin barrier, adhesive remover or new appliance? Has your stoma size or shape changed? Has your medical condition changed? Have you had the flu or a temperature resulting in a change in your stool or urine? Answering yes to some of these questions may help to address why you are experiencing problems. First, you need to have a proper fitting appliance that is suitable for your stoma and body contours. You may be allergic to some products and you need to eliminate them. Itching with redness sometimes occurs when the weather is hot and humid and you are sweating resulting in a yeast infection. If you make adjustments to your routine and your situation does not improve, you need to see an ET or your physician.

How does chemotherapy affect the adhesion of an appliance?
The purpose of chemotherapy is to disrupt the life cycle of the cancer cell. Cells that are rapidly dividing are the ones that are most affected by chemotherapy. Cancer cells, along with normal cells, go through the same division cycle and are therefore both affected by chemotherapy. The epidermis, which is the top layer of skin, can become vulnerable to skin irritation. Reactions can occur, such as dryness, redness, flaking, fissures, weeping, minor ulcerations, tenderness, oiliness or swelling of the stoma. It is important to care for the skin around the stoma (peristomal skin) as any break in the skin presents the potential for an infection. It is very important to prevent traumatizing the stoma or skin and accidentally causing bleeding.

Therefore, provide gentle peristomal skin care:

  • Use a skin prep and allow it to dry (your finger will come away from the skin dry). This should help the appliance adhere to the skin.


  • Avoid traumatic adhesive removal.


  • Do not shave the peristomal skin.


  • Monitor peristomal skin for complications such as yeast infections and treat accordingly. See your ET if you are not sure of the infection and do not know how to treat it.


  • Perform daily head-to-toe skin assessments for potential sites for infection.


  • Assess your pouch application and removal techniques to ensure that these are appropriate. See your ET if you need to review the technique.


  • Identify and stop any practices that may traumatize the stoma. For instance: tight clothing, a belt over the stoma, or aspirin in the pouch.


  • Monitor for bleeding into the pouch and carefully ascertain the source of the bleeding.

If you have any concerns, see your ET. Do not wait and try to solve the problem by yourself.

Why does turnip help to form stool?
Turnip is a high fiber food which absorbs some of the fluid in the bowel, but it should not cause stool to become more formed than with any other high fiber foods. For some people, it can cause looser stools.

Do You Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

An article for the non-ostomates among us. This article discusses the definition, symptoms and diagnosis of IBS, as well as the effects of diet, stress and medication. The article, which appeared in the printed version of LDOA's newsletter, has been given a web page of its own in the Articles Library and further elaborated upon. Click here  to read the article. Click your browser's  back  button to return to this page.

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Excerpts from the
UOA Evansville
Re-Route Newsletter


For those members who have not yet discovered the wit and wisdom of  UOA Evansville Chapter's   newsletter, The Re-Route, we would like to highlight some of its enlightening info.

Ostomies and Flu Season

The flu brings with it headaches, upset stomach, diarrhea, muscle aches and pains! The advice to drink plenty of fluids and rest in bed remains sound medical advice for your general attack of the virus. But if your case of the flu includes diarrhea, the following may be helpful.

Colostomates • It is usually wise not to irrigate during this time. Your intestine is already washing itself out. After diarrhea, you have a sluggish colon, so leave it alone. Start irrigation again after a few days when your colon has had a chance to return to normal.

Ileostomates • For those with an ileostomy, diarrhea is a greater hazard. Along with the excess water discharge, there is a loss of electrolytes and vitamins that are necessary in maintaining good health. This loss brings a state of dehydration, therefore, you must restore electrolyte balance. First, eliminate all solid food. Second, obtain potassium safely and effectively from tea, bouillon and ginger ale. Third, obtain sodium from saltine crackers or salted pretzels. Fourth, drink a lot of fluids, including water. Cranberry juice and orange juice also contain potassium, while bouillon and tomato juice are good sources of sodium. Increased water intake results in increased urine output rather than increased water discharge through the appliance. Vomiting also brings the threat of dehydration. If it is severe and continuing, your doctor should be consulted.

Urostomates • Be sure to keep your electrolytes in balance. Follow the general instruction for colostomies and ileostomies.

No ostomate should take medicine for pain or a laxative without a physician’s advice. Do not use an antibiotic for cough or flu unless ordered to do so by your doctor.

When returning to a normal diet, use fiber-free foods at first, then gradually increase to a normal diet. Prompt attention to symptoms of distress of colds and flu could bring a happier and, hopefully, healthier winter.

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Telling People You Have an Ostomy

Here are some questions you should ask yourself when giving out personal information. “How will I benefit from certain persons having certain information? How will the person asking the questions benefit from my answers?”

Thinking back to those critical days of adjustment just after your ostomy surgery, you may only have wanted people around you that you trusted and loved. You may have needed the support of your spouse, friend or children. In order for those people to support you, they needed to know about your ostomy surgery. By sharing this information, you were helped through what may have been a very difficult time.

Once you were home, friends started to call and then visit when you felt up to it. The question arose as to “What do I tell them about my surgery?” Probably, you thought about each person and their relationship with you – the closeness you felt for that person, their relationship with you and maybe the sincerity of that person’s concern for you. After considering these factors, you may have made a decision to tell the person about your ostomy.

When you returned to work, the question arose again: “Should I tell my employer about my ostomy?” Here again a couple of questions needed to be asked. “Do I need support from my employer because of my ostomy? How does my employer knowing about my situation help me?” The answer to this becomes situational. For example, if you work on an assembly line and must take scheduled breaks and you’re still adjusting to emptying your pouch, you may or may not need a different schedule for breaks than those enforced. Your employer needs to know that you’re not breaking the rules, but have a real need.

Whether to tell someone you have an ostomy becomes a matter of who has a right to know and how you will benefit from their knowing. Simply explain that you had surgery (for whatever reason you had your surgery) which resulted in having an alternate route made for emptying either your bowels or bladder. By having had this surgery, you were given the opportunity to increase the length and quality of your life. Educate the people whom you have de- cided have a right to know about your ostomy using the articles at this web site or pamphlets available from UOAC. Share with those persons you believe have a vested interest in your well being.

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Colostomies and Irrigation

Bowel control after colostomy depends in part on the nature of the person. People with right-sided colostomies do not have as much remaining colon as those with a left-sided one. Because of this, there is usually too little colon to absorb enough water to make a solid stool. This type of colostomy cannot be controlled by irrigation but rather behaves very much like an ileostomy with a fairly continuous output.

The sigmoid, or left-sided colostomy, is often described as a “dry” colostomy as it discharges formed stool. One has the choice of attempting to manage this type of colostomy either by trained control or irrigation control.

Only one-third of people who attempt to train themselves to control their colostomy without irrigation are successful in doing so. Training relies heavily on diet and medications to achieve regularity. Most physicians feel that control is more easily and satisfactorily achieved by irrigation.

However, there are some people who cannot achieve irrigating control because of “irritable bowel”. This problem has nothing to do with the colostomy – it is just part of some people’s physical make-up. Even before they had their colostomy, they may have had irregular bowel habits. They may retain these habits after their colostomy is performed so that regular irrigation does not assure them regularity. When this condition exists, physicians will often suggest the person dispense with irrigation since it will not produce the desired regular pattern and the person may become frustrated trying to achieve this.

In the Event You are Hospitalized

First, take all of your ostomy supplies with you that you will need during your hospital stay. The hospital may not have the same type of appliance system you are using.

Prepare yourself to do some expert communicating, especially if you go to a hospital where ostomy patients are not seen too often, or if you go for a condition not related to your ostomy. Do not assume that all hospital personnel are knowledgeable about ostomies.

Do not submit to procedures which you think may be harmful to your stoma. If you are in doubt about any procedure, refuse to have it performed and talk to your physician about it. THIS IS YOUR RIGHT !!!

Notify your ET no matter what the reason is for your hospital- ization. Give her your room number immediately. Do not leave this important part of your hospital stay up to the nurses in your unit. Regular nurses are not always trained in the care of ostomates.

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Coping With An Ostomy

Book Excerpt by Robert Phillips, Ph.D.

You're living with an ostomy. But that's not good enough. You want to learn how to live well with an ostomy. You want to start getting back into the swing of things. Tens of thousands of people have had ostomy surgery. But regardless of how this has afflicted others, you want to do everything you can to take responsibility for your own life. You can help yourself to feel better both physically and psychologically!

How can your surgery affect you?

Each person is unique and deals with the circumstances surrounding surgery in a different way. You need to analyze your situation to determine how to best live with your illness.

Because having ostomy surgery affects different people in a number of ways, you may experience some or all of the following concerns:

  • Interference with daily activities
  • Interference with physical functioning
  • Interference with your sleep
  • Changes in lifestyle and/or personality
  • Emotional reactions such as anger, anxiety, depression or guilt
  • Changes in relationships with family members
  • Alterations in your social life
  • Feeling that you have less control

What can you do?

Your ultimate goal is to take charge and live a happier life despite having an ostomy. Here are a few strategies that can help you to better handle your ostomy and improve your overall health, happiness, and productivity.

Be a person, not a patient.

Make this the foundation of your thinking. You are a person who has had ostomy surgery, not an ill person. The only time you are a patient is when you are in the doctor's office or in a hospital. The way you see yourself living with an ostomy is an essential part of coping successfully.

Understanding how your ostomy affects you and your life.

Identify the ways that your ostomy causes problems for you. Are you experiencing any problems with the pouch system, leakage, odour, skin breakdown? How does having an ostomy affect others around you? Does it limit your activities? There are many other factors that may affect you. You'll want to identify them and determine how you're going to deal with them.

Set overall goals for improving your life.

You'll find that your efforts can include many of the following:

  • Improving your ability to adapt to your situation
  • Setting reasonable, realistic and achievable goals
  • Aiming to control your life
  • Improving day-to-day functioning
  • Improving your perspective on any problems you may be facing
  • Being more assertive and taking an active part in your health care (including dealing with medical personnel)
  • Accepting and improving your ability to deal with the emotional consequences of your ostomy
  • Increasing your ability to handle negative emotions
  • Focusing more on your strengths and diminishing the impact of any weaknesses or limitations imposed by having an ostomy
  • Doing things that you like and spending less time with things you dislike
  • Enhancing positive relationships
  • Improving participation in your social network
  • Improving your life satisfaction and quality of life

Pinpoint what you need to help improve your life.

Think about the difficulties you are having living with an ostomy. Write these down on the left side of a piece of paper. On the right side, next to each item, write down things you can do to improve each one. Keep adding to your list and plan how you will use these ideas to improve your life.

Anticipate the negative.

There are negative things that can happen during your life with an ostomy (leakage, skin irritation, depression, fear, sexual concerns). But some of these could also happen if you didn't have an ostomy. The more you anticipate and prepare, the better you will cope. Isn't this true of us all – ostomates or not?

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Five Steps to Getting Better

  1. Slow down. Save some energy for our bodies and lives instead of giving every last ounce to work, worry, entertain- ment or other demands.

  2. Make a change. Change something in our lives that damages us. No matter how small, any successful change builds our self-confidence and makes the next change easier.

  3. Get help. We can't do it alone. Life is a co-operative effort. Learn to find and ask for help.

  4. Value our bodies and our lives. Listen to our bodies and treat them with respect. Fill our lives with more pleasure, love, and reasons to live.

  5. Educate ourselves. Take responsibility. Be assertive. Accept ourselves the way we are, but don't give up on getting better.

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World's Easiest Test

  1. How long did the 100 Years War last?

  2. Which country makes Panama hats?

  3. From what animal do we get catgut?

  4. In what month do the Russians celebrate the October Revolution?

  5. What are camel's hair brushes made from?

  6. The Canary Islands are named after what animal?

  7. What was King George VI's first name?

  8. What colour is the purple finch?

  9. Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

  10. How long did the 30 Years War last?

Are you sure?  Click here  for the answers.

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Fallacy and Fact

Fallacy • After ostomy surgery, men become impotent and women have impaired sexual function and are unable to become pregnant.

Fact • Generally, ostomy surgery does not interfere with a person's sexual or reproductive capabilities. Although some men who have had radical ostomy surgery for cancer lose the ability to achieve and sustain an erection, most men do not experience impotence or, if they do, it is temporary. If impotence does occur, a variety of solutions are available. A urologist, a doctor who specializes in such problems, can help find the best solution.

In women, ostomy surgery does not damage sexual or repro- ductive organs, so it does not directly cause sexual problems or sterility. Factors such as pain and the adjustment to a new body image may create some temporary sexual problems, but they can usually be resolved with time and, in some cases, counseling. Unless a woman has had a hysterectomy to remove her uterus, she can still bear children.

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Suggested Reading: UOAC Library

Unless you have visited  UOAC’s web site,   you probably don’t know that several ostomy-related books can be purchased and that, as an LDOA member, you are entitled to as much as a 40% discount.

The Ostomy Book
Authors   •   Barbara Dorr Mullen
and Kerry Anne McGinn
Published   •   April 1992
Publisher   •   Bull Publishing Company
ISBN   •   0923521127
Description   •   330 pages – Paperback
UOAC Price   •   Members $14.00  (02-001)
Chapters   •   $24.95

From the Publisher • This book is written by a colostomate and an ET nurse and is characterized by many first person experiences and insights. Covering numerous topics from the typical descriptions of different ostomies and surgeries to traveling with an ostomy, considering work situations, remaining active with exercise, children with ostomies, sex and emotional adjustments, this book is written with a good sense of humour and a very down-to-earth attitude. Mullen and McGinn do a great job explaining the role of the ET nurse and the role of the Ostomy Association in education of the ostomate and the public at large.


Positive Options for Living With Your Ostomy
Author   •   Craig A. White
Published   •   January 2002
Publisher   •   Hunter House
ISBN   •   0897933583
Description   •   128 pages – Paperback
UOAC Price   •   Members $13.25  (02-007)
Chapters   •   $20.95

From the Publisher • The fact that ostomies are often life-saving procedures does not make them any easier to adjust to or live with. Changing the way your body rids itself of waste material is a big issue mentally as well as physically. While clearly explaining the basics about ostomies and ostomy-care, this book also includes the kind of information and psychological adjustment advice that doctors, surgeons and nurses may not give. If you have an ostomy or will have to have one in the future, this book aims to provide information on the practical and emotional aspects of life after surgery, including: recognizing signs of depression, panic and anxiety and knowing when to seek help and/or medication for these conditions; dealing with the impact surgery can have on intimate relationships and sexual activity; and addressing concerns so that your life is as normal as possible.


Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis
Author   •   Dr. Fred Saibil
Published   •   August 2003
Publisher   •   Key Porter Books
ISBN   •   1552635430
Description   •   232 pages – Paperback
UOAC Price   •   Members $12.00  (02-005)
Chapters   •   $19.95

From the Publisher • Dr. Fred Saibil, a renowned expert on IBD, provides concise, up-to-date information on these two conditions. Among the topics covering the many aspects of IBD, this book provides useful self-help strategies for living with IBD and explains possible complications of the disease, effects on sexual activity and child-bearing, and the special problems of children with IBD.

Dr. Saibil is head of the Gastrointestinal Unit at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto and has been on the Medical Advisory Council of the Crohn’s and Colitis Founda- tion of Canada since 1974.


Coping With An Ostomy
Author   •   Robert H. Phillips
Published   •   March 1986
Publisher   •   Avery Penguin Putnam
ISBN   •   0895292777
Description   •   285 pages – Paperback
UOAC Price   •   Members $12.00  (02-002)
Chapters   •   $18.95 (temp. unavailable)

From the Publisher • Written by a psychologist active in ostomy support groups, this book will interest most ostomates and their families and caregivers. Phillips explains ostomy surgery and care of the ostomy, but the book's greatest value lies in its coverage of the emotional and lifestyle changes caused by an ostomy. The author's conversational tone and use of humour may help to ease the pain for those agonizing over their surgery. The final chapters cover problems faced by people living with an ostomate.

Deanna's Comments • I have not read this book and am going strictly on the basis of the copyright date and an excerpt of the book reprinted above. While the book itself is perhaps outdated by practical medical standards, the overwhelming emotions and depression an ostomate and their family experiences after surgery are not. It is for this reason that I mention this book as a source of support more so than a source of current information.


Alive and Kicking
Author   •   Rolf Benirschke
Published   •   November 1996
Publisher   •   Rolf Benirschke Enterprises
ISBN   •   1885553404
Description   •   298 pages – Paperback
UOAC Price   •   Members $11.00  (02-003)
Chapters   •   Does not carry this book

From the PublisherAlive and Kicking is the autobiography of one of the best place kickers in the NFL. Drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1977, Rolf was a 22 year-old rookie who was diagnosed a year later as suffering from ulcerative colitis.

On September 7, 1980, less than a year after Rolf almost died from the disease, he returned to professional football wearing two ostomy devices. He went public with his disorder, thus bringing about a greater understanding and acceptance of the disease with which he was afflicted. And he set the example for ostomates, playing seven more seasons in the NFL and becoming one of the best and most respected kickers in NFL history.

Alive and Kicking is a story of faith, family, friends, courage and determination. Originally written by Rolf to encourage others with IDB and ostomies, it is also an inspirational story for anyone who has ever faced or who is facing the vicissi- tudes of life. In plain yet eloquent language, Rolf tells us his life story in order to inspire each of us to persevere, to over- come, to succeed, to take the lessons we learn during the process and to make the most of the life with which we are gifted.


Yes We Can: Advice on Traveling With an Ostomy
and Tips for Everyday Living
Author   •   Barbara Kupfer
Published   •   April 2000
Publisher   •   Chandler House Press
ISBN   •   1886284598
Description   •   240 pages – Paperback
UOAC Price   •   Members $13.95  (02-006)
Chapters   •   $18.95

From the Publisher • This book is one big anecdote from both ostomates and ET nurses. Although meant to be a resource for traveling, many readers find the details of people discussing how they normally care for their ostomies and how they change their care for traveling to be very enlightening and to contain information not found in the traditional IBD and ostomy books. Perhaps the greatest benefit though, is being inspired by the various individuals who have not let their ostomy slow them down in the least and who lead active lives that should be the envy of non-ostomates!


In addition to the paperback books shown above, UOAC also offers the following publications geared towards the new or soon-to-be ostomate.

Ostomy – A Reference Guide

Members Price  •  $2.00  (10-001)

This 28-page booklet covers all aspects of living with an ostomy in an easy-to-read text and illustrations. Contents include:

• Types of Ostomies
• Appliance and Skin Care
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Psychological Aspects
• Body Image and Sexuality Changes
• Basic Dietary Guidelines
• Helpful Hints

Deanna's Comments • The following three "Guide to Self-Care" booklets are intended for adults but the simple and colourful illustrations make them ideal aids in explaining ostomies to young children – whether they have an ostomy themselves or someone in their family does. I used the booklet’s illustrations to help my 6 year-old niece better understand her grandma’s (my mother’s) ileostomy.

Guide to Self-Care: Living With Your Colostomy

Members Price  •  $2.25  (05-001)

This is a colourfully illustrated 24-page, 7" x 10" booklet. As a guide to self-care, subjects include:

• Understanding your colostomy
• Selecting, caring for, emptying and changing your pouch
• Irrigation, answers to common questions, and more

Guide to Self-Care: Living With Your Ileostomy

Members Price  •  $2.25  (05-002)

This is a colourfully illustrated 24-page, 7" x 10" booklet. As a guide to self-care, subjects include:

• Understanding your ileostomy
• Selecting, caring for, emptying and changing your pouch
• Food blockages, answers to common questions, and more

Guide to Self-Care: Living With Your Urostomy

Members Price  •  $2.25  (05-003)

This is a colourfully illustrated 24-page, 7" x 10" booklet. As a guide to self-care, subjects include:

• Understanding your urostomy
• Selecting, caring for, emptying and changing your pouch
• Managing skin problems
• Night drainage system
• Answers to common questions, and more

A Young Person's Guide to Living With an Ostomy

Members Price  •  $2.00  (17-001)

Colorectal Cancer Treatment and Your Colostomy

Members Price  •  $2.00  (17-002)

Adjusting to Life With an Ostomy

Members Price  •  $2.20  (07-007)

Pelvic Pouch Procedure

Members Price  •  $3.25  (08-004)

A Guide to Living With a Urostomy

Members Price  •  $2.50  (13-001)

A Guide to Living With a Ileostomy

Members Price  •  $2.50  (13-002)

A Guide to Living With a Colostomy

Members Price  •  $2.50  (13-003)

If you are interested in purchasing any of these publications, visit UOAC’s web site    Click on the Publications link and take it from there. Be aware that UOAC is in the midst of revamping its web site and the information contained in the Publications section is subject to change.

  • You may pay by cheque or VISA (minimum order of $10.00 required for payment by VISA).


  • Add 15% of the merchandise total for shipping and handling (minimum charge is $1.50 regardless.


  • All orders must be prepaid.


  • Returns, refunds or exchanges can be made within 30 days of the shipping date. Thereafter, all sales are final.

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Change of Address Membership Renewal Form

The Change of Address • Membership Renewal Form found on the back page of the printed newsletter can be printed directly from your computer by  clicking here.

Answers to the World's Easiest Test

  1. 116 years (1337 to 1453).

  2. Ecuador.

  3. From sheep and horses.

  4. November. The Russian calendar was 13 days behind ours.

  5. Squirrel fur.

  6. The Latin name was Insularia Canaria – Island of the Dogs.

  7. Albert. He respected Queen Victoria's wish that no future king should be called Albert.

  8. Distinctively crimson.

  9. New Zealand.

  10. Thirty years of course – from 1618 to 1648.

On the Lighter Side

 

Final Thoughts

  • If money doesn't grow on trees then why do banks have branches?

  • How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

  • Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

  • How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

  • Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.

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