November 2015
PORTAGE COUNTY
OSTOMY ASSOCIATION
www.pcostomy.org
Portage County Ostomy Association
Mission Statement
We are a volunteer and non-profit organization:
1. To assist in the rehabilitation of persons who have or will
have ileostomy, colostomy, urostomy or alternate
procedures.
2. To be of mutual assistance to each other.
3. To provide trained ostomy visitors for both pre-operative
and post-operative visits as requested by patients,
physicians or ET nurses.
4. To provide emotional support and encouragement to the
patient’s family.
5. To promote better public understanding of ostomies and
alternate procedures.
6. To cooperate with other organizations dedicated in whole
or in part to similar objectives.
Meetings
The Portage County Ostomy Association meets the first (1 st)
Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m., in the Professional
Building at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center
(formerly Robinson Memorial Hospital) in Ravenna.
There are no meetings in January, July and August.
Since Labor Day is the first Monday in September, we will
meet on the second Monday in September ONLY.
Medical Advisors
Jen-Nan Yuh, M.D., Howard Minott, M.D., John R. Gusz, M.D.
Please check with your physician or E.T. nurse
before using any hints or tips printed in this newsletter!
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT:
Vickie Takacs
330-322-7908
4463 Wayland Road, Diamond 44412
[email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT:
John Bordonaro
330-626-1461
1738 State Route 303 Apt. #11
Streetsboro 44241
[email protected]
TREASURER:
Betty Schwinn
330-296-6388
3148 Menough Road, Ravenna 44266
BOARD MEMBERS:
Judy Hillis
330-297-1926
COMMITTEES
SUNSHINE:
Madeline Dean
330-325-2841
4192 Fairgrounds Road, Atwater 44201
REFRESHMENTS:
NEWSLETTER:
Vickie Takacs
330-654-9025
EDUCATION:
Sallie Messerly, B.S.N. - R.N.
330-245-6171
PUMPKIN FUN FACTS:
● Pumpkins originated in Central America.
● The name pumpkin originated from "pepon" – the Greek word for "large
melon."
● Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.
● Pumpkins are fruit.
● Pumpkin flowers are edible.
● Eighty percent of the pumpkin supplies in the United States is available in
October.
● The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter and
weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds
of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake.
● In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of
pies, not the filling.
● Colonists sliced off pumpkin tips; removed seeds and filled the insides with
milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of
pumpkin pie.
● Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake
bites.
● The largest "official" pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,340 pounds.
● The largest "unofficial" pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,458 pounds, but
was not awarded due to damage.
● The Connecticut field variety is the traditional American pumpkin.
● Pumpkins are 90 percent water.
● Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.
● Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm” or “isquotersquash."
● Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.
President’s Notes
Two meetings into this year and both meeting have been great fun!
I think we all enjoyed meeting the dogs from Love on a Leash. Their
history and personal stories were very inspiring. Anyone who has
been visited by a furry, four-legged, tail-wagging pooch while lying
in a hospital bed knows how important they are. And UH Portage
Medical Center is very lucky to have them all. We appreciate the
volunteers (and dogs!) taking their time to visit with us.
******************
November’s meeting will be a little different…we will have our first
round-table discussion of our new year. Topics that need to be
discussed are connecting with home health care to reach fellow
ostomates, speakers/programs from February to May, your ostomy
concerns / updates / successes, finalizing the refreshment schedule,
etc. etc. Please bring your ideas, comments and concerns!
*******************
John Bordonaro and I have been in contact with a mom and young
gentleman who will be having a temporary ileostomy with the final
outcome to be the creation of a J-pouch. I sent two UOAA
magazines, a past issue of the Phoenix magazine, some info from
Hollister, and two sample pouches – a one-piece and a two-piece. I
tried to think of what may have eased my mind before surgery.
The initial contact came through an email from our web page. It’s an
exciting step when individuals find us. Hopefully, those who attend
our meetings will find out how beneficial a support group can be. For
me, there is nothing more rewarding than having a guest at a meeting
that becomes relaxed and interactive.
But how can we get more ostomates to our meetings? I wish I knew
the answer.
~Vickie
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 2nd at 7:00 p.m. – A not-so-simple roundtable
discussion! Everything from soup to nuts…or from speakers to
ostomy issues to marketing our group. We can talk about
anything and everything that has been happening! Susie Waugh
will be doing refreshments, but goodies always welcome!
December 7th at 6:00 p.m. – Holiday Carry-In Dinner followed
by Holiday Music (to be announced)
No Meeting in January!!
February 1st at 7:00 p.m.- Our first meeting of 2016
PCOA tidbits…
Postage costs are a big part of our expenses. I mail 31
newsletters, nine months per year. That’s a cost of $15.19 per
mailing and $136.71 per year – almost 14 member dues. If
you can contribute to postage costs, that would be greatly
appreciated!
Annual dues of $10.00 per member is due every September
and is to be paid to our treasurer Betty Schwinn.
Meeting cancellations can be verified through the Medical
Center’s main operator at 330-297-0811. We will also make
an attempt to call or email all members – please make sure
we have your current contact information!
This newsletter is also available online!
Go to www.pcostomy.org
and click on the newsletter button on the home page!
'Twas the night of Thanksgiving,
but I just couldn't sleep...
I tried counting backwards,
I tried counting sheep.
The leftovers beckoned...the dark meat and white,
but I fought the temptation with all of my might.
Tossing and turning with anticipation,
the thought of a snack became infatuation.
So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door
and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.
I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
stuffing with gravy, green beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
till all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.
I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky
with a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie
But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees...
Happy eating to all – pass the cranberries, please!
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
After the Honeymoon
Rupert and Elaine, a young couple, got married and went happily on their
honeymoon.
When they got back, Elaine immediately phoned her mother and her
mother obviously asked, 'How was the honeymoon, dearest?'
'Oh, Ma,' she replied, 'the honeymoon was wonderful. So romantic...'
Then Elaine burst out crying. 'But, Ma, as soon as we returned home
Rupert started using the most ghastly language... saying things I've never
heard before! I mean, all these awful four-letter words! You've got to come
get me and take me home.... Please Ma.'
'Calm down, Elaine!,' said her mother, 'Tell me, what could be so
awful? What four-letter words?'
Still sobbing, Elaine whispered, 'Oh, Ma...words like dust, wash, cook, and
iron.'
--------------------------------------------------Grocery Store
A lady was looking for a turkey but couldn't find one big enough.
She asked the stock boy "Do these turkeys get any bigger?"
The stock boy replied "No they're dead."
What is a parastomal hernia?
Having a stoma can develop into an ostomy specific type of hernia called a
parastomal hernia. Since a Stoma passes through the abdomen, it can compromise
the strength of the muscular abdomen wall. These weakened muscles can come away
from the stoma, weakening its integrity and causing the intestine to bulge.
A stoma hernia is typically not painful, but can be very uncomfortable and unnerving,
not to mention more difficult to manage and care for. As the stoma grows, it can
become more difficult to attach ostomy wafers and pouches. It can also eventually
lead to intestinal twisting/kinking that can cause serious damage to the intestine by
cutting off blood vessels. (This, of course, requires immediate medical attention as
being left untreated can be very dangerous.)
What Causes Parastomal Hernia?
Coughing, sneezing, heavy lifting and being overweight all put pressure on the
abdominal wall & a stoma. Over time, muscles can weaken to the point a stoma
begins to protrude and push out due to the pressure of the guts behind it.
There are many possible origins for parastomal hernia to develop. Some are related to
surgery and a poorly placed stoma or a developing infection around the border. Other
causes are related to an individual’s health, such as being overweight, heavy lifting, or
any kind of physical strain, or a combination of these factors.
How common is parastomal hernia?
In the 1990’s, the United Ostomy Association found that a hernia is one of the most
common complications for Ostomy patients. Ostomy hernias happen to about 30% of
all stomas. It’s more common with Colostomy than Ileostomy and Urostomy.
How is Parastomal Hernia treated?
Surgery is the most common repair for any type of large hernia.
Typically, if the hernia is not recurring, doctors will recommend a Hernia Belt and
appliance changes before recommending surgery. A hernia belt is designed for
individuals with small hernias or those where surgery can be risky or further
compromise one’s health. A hernia belt is a firm, wide belt that helps support the
stoma and muscle tissue around it externally.
As for surgery, doctor opinions vary based on their preferences for proper care and an
individual’s needs. There are two options for the surgeon:
1) To repair the muscle tissue around the stoma (either with stitching or mesh).
2) Create a new opening in a healthy spot and close off the old one.
In some cases, Option 1 isn’t applicable; either hernia is too large or the surgery is
too risky. And some surgeons will choose to re-locate the stoma first and install mesh
if the problem persists.
However, today, often a mesh is implanted instead of stitches. This is the ideal
method of repairing a hernia.
A mesh is laid across the herniated muscle tissue, helping to hold the muscle together
and increasing its strength & integrity. The mesh also speeds recovery times over
other methods and reinforces the tissue; patients can often be mobile again within a
matter of days.