Unwanted Baggage
A comprehensive Introduction Surgical Ostomies
by
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Table of Contents Chapter 1 My Own Ostomical Story ...Another of life’s adventures. Chapter 2 Ostomy Surgery ...An Introduction to the whys and wherefores. Chapter 3 Specific Symptoms and Treatment ...Finding a diagnosis. Chapter 4 When Surgery Becomes Necessary ...From hospital admittance to discharge. Chapter 5 The Stoma Nurse ...Meeting your new best friend. Chapter 6 Early Days With Your Stoma ...The Beginning of life after surgery. Chapter 7 Problem Areas ...How to recognise and deal with potential problems quickly. Chapter 8 Hints & Tips ...Ideas and suggestions to assist new ostomates. Chapter 9 Irrigation ...A viable alternative? Chapter 10 Reversal ...Following temporary surgery. Chapter 11 A Post Operative Diet Guide ...Guidance for ostomy patients. Chapter 12 Exercise & Sports ...Sensible Guidelines for activities. Chapter 13 Travelling with a Stoma ...Coping with International Adventures and Local Trips. Chapter 14 Choices – Stoma Appliances, Clothing and Accessories ... Essential information on bags and all the extras to make life more comfortable. Chapter 15 Benefits & Entitlements ...Chronic illness can bring financial problems in its wake. Central & Local Government and other sources can help Chapter 16 Emotions ...The mental twists & turns adapting to life with a Chronic Illness Chapter 17 Intimacy ... up close and personal! Chapter 18 Children & Young People with Stomas ...The world of Young Ostomates. Chapter 19 The ostomical workplace ...Returning to or starting work. Chapter 20 Leaving Work ...Retiring or unable to work; ....Becoming a full or part time carer. Chapter 21 Pregnancy and Childbirth ...Yes, You Can! Chapter 22 Caring ... Life as a Carer By Philip Prosser Chapter 23 Cooking for New Carers ...Strangers to the kitchen By Philip Prosser The website www.thebowelmovement.co.uk ...The Future – Ostomy puppets - sales of other essentials – updates Everything Else ...websites and other useful information 431 Extract from Chapter 5 Once surgery is scheduled, you should request a pre-operative visit with a “stoma nurse” - more correctly referred to as a specialist, colorectal nurse. The nurse will spend some time with you either at hospital or at home. During this initial visit, tests will be conducted on skin sensitivity. This is a simple case of sticking small samples of a variety of bag adhesives onto your skin. They are left for a few days, then removed and any red rashes or skin sensitivities to certain brands will be noted. Most bag adhesives are very hypoallergenic and sensitivity is rare. However, if you are allergic to certain brands there are Barrier Skin Creams, Wipes and Sprays that form a seal to prevent the adhesive from touching the skin and do not compromise bag security. During your initial visit, you will see your first few bags. You will be shown different styles - drainable or closed, one-piece or two-piece, large or small bags etc. You are not making a permanent choice of bag. Your stoma will change in shape and depth during your life and new products come onto the market all the time. Keep your options continually open. You will be anxious about the whole procedure, and the idea of an ostomy itself, but the most important part of this early meeting will be to establish the location of the Stoma. You need to consider the clothes you wear. The last thing you need is a tight waistband constantly rubbing against the stoma. The Stoma Nurse may ask you to lie down, sit down and crouch, to try to find the best possible position for your Stoma. If you disagree with the positioning, say so, as that will not be the only place it can go. You must avoid areas around old scars, natural creases, and your navel. It is best to make a good compromise between your personal preference and expert advice. It is crucial that the Stoma is easily accessible. After the operation, you will need to be able to see and reach the Stoma clearly to clean the area and change your bag. If however, you are admitted for emergency ostomy surgery, the hospital stoma nurse may have time to run through these things with you prior to the operation. If not, the surgeon will make the best possible choice of stoma location. Your life will be changing because of this operation so it is essential to plan as much as you can to help yourself through this difficult learning curve. Remember that, in cases of permanent ostomies, you will be out of commission for some time. Organize your life! Schedule appointments and take care of business as much as possible in the weeks prior to surgery. Approaching surgery with a positive attitude is important. To gain a good perspective talk to other people who have had the same procedure done.
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About the Book
One in every two hundred and fifty people face life with an ostomy bag(pouch). Until now, there has been a lack of information written by people with personal experience of this life-changing condition. This book provides over four hundred pages packed with detailed information on resources, help with appliance choices and many solutions to life with a bag (pouch).
From the latest in applicable benefits to travelling with a bag. From such things as intimacy to dealing with paediatric ostomates, workplace and school's legal obigations, specialised clothing,coping with depression and body image - every imaginable topic is covered. Three hundred wesbites and contact details are listed.
The author's husband, Philip has also contributed essential information for Carers. This is a "Must-Have" addition for any colostomate,ileostomate or urostomate, those new to life with a bag, their families and carers. Even the seasoned ostomate may find something they did not know!
The book also provides an introduction to a new website : wwww.thebowelmovement.co.uk that will include regular updates for the book, newsletters, unusual stoma products and a forum for children, teens and for adult ostomates to meet others. .
About the Author
Elizabeth Prosser 1950-current. Born in the UK, and following an interesting international career, (writing for US Government and author of "Stranger in the Hague", editor of the British Business Bulletin for the Anglo Dutch Chamber of Commerce, editor of USA Trade Today, for the USDOC,) I returned the UK to retire and "farm" poultry, but due to illness retirement became a reality. I became determined to help the Ostomy community that I rather unexpectedly joined in 2007 through a bowel removal op due to Crohn's disease and led to other chronic associated illnesses. The book's main script was finished in early 2008. Due to ever increasing illness and mobility problems leaving me bed-bound, it was up to my co-author (and also experienced writer), now full time carer/husband to complete. He did a fantastic job updating and also setting up the website with our wonderful designer Pumpkin Web Design. As many other ostomates, I receive weekly chemotherapy but will remain bed bound. (Awaiting 2 more maintenance ops this year. I remain determined to raise awareness and funds for the ostomy charities of the UK (1.2 million people who wear ostomy bags including 30,000 children (birth-16).This amazing community needs increased awareness and support. A large percentage of the Royalties from the proceeds of the book will also go to these charities (fully audited) to support their research and welfare funds. This is the first book of its kind written with full on ostomy experience. Pilip Prosser (co-author) I was born to generations of drovers dating back to the 1700's. I myself held the last-ever drover's license to drive animals through the streets of Newport in 1960 (I was 12). I worked with my father's company in school holidays and weekends fetching and carrying live transport (even on one occasion an agoraphobic elephant for Billy Smart's Circus, she brought her own trunk as well!) all over Wales and the West of England.I officially joined the family business after leaving school and took part in buying and selling livestock. Unfortunately my father became ill and he sold the business, At this point, I joined Royal Mail at 21. I began as everyone done as a postman on the beat but soon rose up the ranks until I became transport manager for Gwent.As a Postal Executive, it gave me an insight into a huge range of projects but my core interests remained with transportation, trade and livestock. The opportunity arose for me to take redundancy. Leaving gave me the chance to travel extensively pursuing a variety of new and varied interests. I wrote numerous articles of my exploits which were published in agricultural, transportation and cultural magazinesI then met wife and now co-author. Together we had a meeting of the minds. I began sentences and she finished them. We first turned to very successful poultry farming, but when Liz became ill it took precedence over everything. We sold the farm and bought a smallholding so we could provide for ourselves. She had almost finished the manuscript when she became no longer able to continue. There were updates and re-writes to be done, so I took over and added my own chapters on caring and liaised with the publishers. I also helped our web designer to create a website updating the book and to give a lot more practical advice. We have been in contact with some extraordinary people who have, despite being chronically ill, managed to achieve remarkable things. We have included many of the associations dedicated to helping other ostomates as they provide research and welfare funds for their respective members.