ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

MARYLAND
OSTOMY ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. BOX 847
GAMBRILLS, MD 21054

OFFICERS
President:

Paul Rossi
410-647-6171
268 Shakespeare Drive
Severna Park, MD 21146

Vice President Stan Novack

Secretary
Jamie Darr
Treasurer
Lyn Rowell
Webmaster: Janice Winters

410-255-6802
410-987-0094
410-672-6983

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Allyn Mellits
Joan Gardner
Ginny Gross
Stan Baker
Sandi Burnett
Bob Keller
OSTOMY ADVISERS:
Irene Repka, RN, BS, CWOCN
Michelle Perkins, RN, BS.

Were on the Web! www.annearundelostomy.com

Volume 43

If AA County
Schools are closed
due to inclement
weather, there will
be NO MEETING.

Number 7

APRIL 2016

Thank you Anne Arundel Medical Center for printing our newsletter.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 7, 2016 Dr. Kahan, Pain Specialist
MAY NO MEETING

Note: Meetings are held at 7:30pm, the first Thursday of each month at the
Belcher Pavilion at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. From
the 2nd floor of the parking garage take the entrance into the Belcher
Pavilion and once inside take the elevator to the 7th floor and check with
the desk for the room number.

An optimist is a person who laughs to forget. A pessimist

is a person who forgets to laugh.

The Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Ostomy Association, Inc. (AACOA) is a non-profit, volunteer-based
organization dedicated to providing reassurance and emotional support for people who have had or will have some
kind of ostomy surgery, such as a colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy (urinary diversion) or a continent procedure. The
goal of the AACOA is to provide moral support, information, and education to people with ostomies and their families
and friends. Members receive The Rambling Rosebud newsletter monthly. DUES are $15 please make check out to
AACOA and mail to AACOA, PO Box 847, Gambrills MD 21054-1454

2015-2016

Membership Application Please Print

Full Name
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Last




First M.I.
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Street Address





Apartment/Unit #
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City







State Zip Code
Phone: ( ) Date of Birth: Gender:


Email Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reason for surgery: ____ Crohns ____Ulcerative Colitis _____ Cancer _____ Other__________________________
Emergency contact if we are unable to reach you: ______________________________________________________________________
What type of surgery have you had?
Colostomy
Ileostomy

Urostomy
Parent of child with

Spouse/Family Member
Other (please specify)

I would like to help with the following committee(s) or activities:

Finance
Program

Membership
Sunshine

Newsletter
Visiting

How did you hear about us?

Internet Search
Hospital

Other

Hospitality
Refreshments
ET/WOCN Nurse
Physician

A WORD OF THANKS for their constant support of our

Chapter to: Anne Arundel Medical Center for providing
rooms for our regular meetings and special events. We
appreciate their support and assistance.

THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL

BE ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH
7:30pm at the Belcher Pavilion

OSTOMY ADVISORS FOR STOMA HELP
To consult with one of the ETs below, a physicians
referral is necessary and a fee will be charged. Call for
an appointment.

BALTIMORE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL

410-787-4578

ANNE ARUNDEL MEDICAL CENTER

Michelle Perkins, RN, BS, CWON

Email: mperkins@aahs.org

Laura Alberico-Klug, RN, BSN, CWON

Email: lalbericok@aahs.org
443-481-5508 / 443-481-5177
Fax: 443-481-5198

Private Consultants
Joan M. Sullivan, MAS, RN, CNA, CWOCN
410-932-7312

Spring Into Wellness!

YOURE INVITED TO ...

With

Ostomy, Skin & Wound Health

6
1
0
2
,
6
1
il
r
p
A
,
y
Saturda Cockeysville, MD 21030

oad,
10757 York R
2 p.m.
10:00 a.m. 1

what is new
rn
a
le
d
n
a
s
or
d
n
ve
e
Meet th y, wound and skin health!
in ostom

Hollister
Coloplast
Molnlycke
Convatec
SteadMed
EHOB
ward Winner
Comebacks A
at
re
G
r
lo
Tay

rn about
a
le
d
n
a
m
a
te
g
in
rs
Meet our nu tive Services now available.
Austins Consulta

Jearlean

Joan
Sue Currence,

n Simpson

Selekof, Collee

ses

Continence Nur

samples &
Door prizes, freed m
ch more ...
u
n
a
s,
on
ti
ra
st
demon
y,
Wound, Ostom

6729 York Road

Baltimore, MD 21212
410-377-5300

10757 York Road

Cockeysville, MD 21030
410-773-0300

Dulaney Center II
901 Dulaney Valley Rd, St 300
410-982-0800

CALL 410-773-0300 TO RSVP OR FOR QUESTIONS

April 2016

The Rambling Rosebud

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Our speaker this month is Dr. Kahan from the Kahan Center for Pain Management. We are grateful that
he is willing to come and speak. We all deal with pain at some point and there are conditions that make
pain a constant companion.
PLEASE NOTE due to a scheduling conflict at the hospital there will NOT be a meeting in May but
meetings will resume as normal in JUNE.
At our recent board meeting we voted to pay/reimburse the $40 registration fee for the April 29 May1st
regional conference in Dulles for up to FOUR dues paying members. If you would like to attend and take
advantage of the groups assistance, or have already paid to attend and would like to be reimbursed, please
contact Lyn Rowell (number on the cover). Its open to the first four members who take advantage of this
offer. We will have registration forms again at the next meeting.

Paul
You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go
to them sometimes. A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

A WORD OF THANKS for their constant support of our

Chapter to: Anne Arundel Medical Center for providing
rooms for our regular meetings and special events. We
appreciate their support and assistance.

OSTOMY ADVISORS FOR STOMA HELP

To consult with one of the ETs below, a

physicians referral is necessary and a fee will be
charged. Call for an appointment.
BALTIMORE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL
410-787-4578

Items from this newsletter may be reprinted in

other ostomy newsletters, provided proper credit
is given as to source of material

ANNE ARUNDEL MEDICAL CENTER

Michelle Perkins, RN, BS, CWON
Email: mperkins@aahs.org
Laura Alberico-Klug, RN, BSN, CWON
Email: lalbericok@aahs.org
443-481-5508 / 443-481-5177
Fax: 443-481-5198

Private Consultants
Joan M. Sullivan, MAS, RN, CNA, CWOCN

410-932-7312

THE MID-ATLANTICS LARGEST OSTOMY DEALER

We have a dedicated group of Ostomy Supply Service Professionals that
are committed to keeping you in your active lifestyle. Northern Pharmacy
and Medical Equipment has an attentive staff that cares about your quality
of life. Make us your first step in getting back to life as it was meant to be.
After all

Weve been here for over 75 years, there must be a reason!

Our Ostomy Department provides a full range of comprehensive

services and quality products from trusted brands you can rely on.
WE OFFER:
Delivery anywhere in the United States
Free delivery available
Next day delivery is available
Large inventory of ostomy & wound care
supplies in stock (we stock an inventory of
over 5,000 boxes of supplies)
Customized hospital and clinic service
plans available
Northern Pharmacy and Medical Equipment
6701 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21234
Harford Rd & Northern Parkway
www.NorthernPharmacy.com

In-house Medicare and insurance billing

specialists
Personalized pharmacy/medical supply
specialist available
Easy ordering by fax, phone, online, or
in-person.
Toll Free 24 hour hotline
Acceptance of all major credit cards
SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OUR OSTOMY SUPPLY
MANAGER: AARON SACCO
Phone: (410) 254 2055 x260 Fax: (443) 740 9297
woc@northernpharmacy.com

April 2016

The Rambling Rosebud

RECENT MEETING NOTES

Lyn Rowell

At our last meeting there was a discussion about

output that was very loose. Among the suggestions
for individuals concerned about either high volume of
output or very loose output, was to try a dairy free diet
and see if that makes a difference. Some ostomates
have reported having lactose tolerance problems after
surgery where none existed prior. Its worth a try it
might take a few days to notice a difference if it is a
lactose intolerance issue.
Glen Duke mentioned that he found having a loose
output irritating in a pouch (the sloshing sound/feeling)
so he had routinely taken water soluble fiber to add
bulk but recently his wife had suggested a fiber
smoothie. For those who are interested, here is the
recipe:
Fill blender jar 1/3rd (about 1 1/2 cups) of
ALMOND milk (or Lactaid)
cup protein powder (there are many different
varieties available, some flavored Glen uses
Muscle Milk).
1/8 to cup of pysllium fiber (like Metamucil)
1 banana
Spoonful of peanut butter for flavor but this can
be omitted.
Blend together and drink.
Glen said this has been very effective for him for
bulking up his output.
You could also add some frozen berries (strawberries)
for extra flavor.
**************************
As you are aware, ships have long been characterized
as being female (e.g. steady as she goes or shes
listing to starboard). Recently a group of computer
scientists (all male) announced that computers should
also be referred to as being female. Their reasons for
drawing this conclusion follows:
1.

No one but the Creator understands their internal

logic.
2. The native language they use to communicate with
other computers is incomprehensible to everyone

else.
3. The message bad command or file name is about
as informative as Iif you dont know why Im mad at
you then Im not going to tell you.
4. Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long
term memory for later retrieval.
5. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you
find yourself spending half your paycheck on
accessories for it.
However, another group of computer scientists (all
female) think that computers should be referred to as
if they were male. Their reasons are as follows:
1. They have a lot of data but are still clueless.
2. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but
half the time they ARE the problem.
3. As soon as you commit to one you realize that if
you had waited a little longer you could have
obtained a better model.
4. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them
on.
5. Big power surges knock them out for the rest of the
night.
**************************
DOCTOR VISITS BE PREPARED
Via the Triangle - Pittsburg Ostomy Society
It is often difficult to get a doctors appointment these
days. So when you get there, be prepared so that you
can get the most value from being there.
Write down a list of concerns. It will help remind you of
everything you wanted to discuss and if you prefer,
you can hand it in for your doctor to read. There is
nothing worse that leaving the doctors office and
remembering that you needed a prescription. etc.
Prior to your appointment, ask yourself questions
about any symptoms, side effects, etc. you are
experiencing so you can do a better job explaining
them to the doctor.
Take a copy of all medications, including over the
counter supplements, to your appointment. The nurse
will ask you for them when you check in and handing
them to to the nurse will save time and eliminate
errors.
6

April 2016

The Rambling Rosebud

If you are hard of hearing or have something serious

to discuss, ask a friend or family member to
accompany you on the visit. They can make notes
and provide moral support for you.

to the outside of the body.

Be sure you can hear and see your doctor during the
visit. Ask them to speak up, talk slower or even repeat
or rephrase if you are having trouble understanding
what they say. If you know you have hearing issues,
let the staff know when you get there so they can
make note for everyone who is caring for you.

Urostomy: An opening in the urinary system where

urine can pass to the outside.

Keep the doctor updated on what has happened since

your last visit. If you went to the ER, had problems
with your ostomy, or experienced side effects of
medications, let the doctor know. (You can include it
on the list with your medications if thats easier).
Ask for an interpreter if your doctor speaks with an
accent you cannot understand.
Finally, be honest with your doctor about your health.
Do not try to hide anything as it will hinder getting a
correct diagnosis.

OSTOMY 101 THE BASIC FACTS AND

VOCABULARY
Via Ostonama News
Due to surgical advances, a relative few number of
cancer survivors need an ostomy. But for those who
do, it can be a life-saving surgery. Ostomies can be
temporary or permanent. A temporary ostomy allows
healing to an area of the bowel or bladder below the
ostomy. A permanent ostomy may be needed if the
location of the cancer requires that the end of the
colon (rectum), the entire colon, or the entire bladder
be removed.
Most ostomies for cancer survivors are done during
the first stages of surgical treatment to remove the
cancer. However, some my be done months or years
later. If cancer affects the bowel or bladder, there may
be a need for a colostomy, a urostomy or in rare
situations, both.
Common ostomy types for cancer in cancer survivors:
Colostomy: A surgical opening from the large bowel
or colon to the abdomen to allow fecal matter to pass

Ileostomy: An opening in the ileum, a part of the

small bowel, to the abdomen. Small bowel contents
can pass through to the outside of the body.

Ostomy surgery an be performed on people of all

ages, including infants. A small number of patients
may require two ostomies: one into the bowel and one
into the urinary system. An ostomy may be needed if
cancer spreads to the bladder and rectum, such as
cervical cancer and prostate cancer.
An ostomy may also be needed because of treatment
side effects from radiation therapy or surgery. There
are some side effects from treatment that may require
an ostomy:

Radiation to the prostate or cervix may cause a

change in the bowel or bladder that interferes
with eliminating waste.
Severe bladder of bowel irritation.
Chronic bleeding after radiation to the uterus,
bowel or prostate gland.
Bowel obstruction after surgery.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR OR OSTOMY

NURSE from the Ostonoma News

If cramps last more than two or three hours.

If you get a deep cut in the stoma.
If there is excessive bleeding after several
emptyings.
Bleeding at the juncture of the skin and stoma.
Severe skin irritation or deep ulcers.
Unusual change in size or appearance of the
stoma.
Severe watery discharge lasting more than
five or six hours.
Strong odor lasting more than a week.
Any other unusual occurrence regarding

the stoma.

A.A.C.O.A.
P.O. BOX 847
GAMBRILLS, MD 21054