INSIDE - Vancouver United Ostomy Association

HIGH Life
Vancouver Ostomy
Volume 43 - Issue 4
INSIDE
Travel Insurance
for Ostomates
1
Letters3
and News
Insurance
Checklist4
“Happy Days”
5
New Patients’
Corner
8
Universal
Pharmacare10
Books11
Remaining 2011
MEETING
SCHEDULE:
Sept. 18
(AGM)
CHRISTMAS
PARTY & LUNCHEON:
SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 27
CHEERS
RESTAURANT
North Vancouver
CHAPTER MEETINGS
ARE HELD AT:
Collingwood
Neighbourhood House
5288 Joyce Street
Vancouver at 1:30 PM
NOTE: In the event of
severe weather conditions,
please call the Collingwood
hotline 604-412-3845 to
check if the centre is open.
JULY
AUGUST
2011
Do Ostomates Need Extra
Travel Insurance?
(Is an ostomy considered a ‘preexisting’ medical condition?)
Y
ou don’t necessarily need special medical
insurance just because you travel and have
an ostomy. But you do need to take a close look
at what kind of coverage you have. Many travellers mistakenly assume that their credit card
or group medical insurance is adequate; others balk at purchasing additional
short-term coverage. All folks who travel, not just those with an ostomy, should
have medical insurance that will protect them from a wide variety of calamities.
Accidents or health issues are just as likely to happen in a foreign country as
they are at home. Even a short, quick trip down to Bellingham could turn out
to be financially ruinous if you suffered a heart attack or became the victim of
a serious accident. Would your existing medical insurance pay for ambulance
services, surgery or medical evacuation? If you were travelling with your spouse
or family, how would they get home if you had to be flown back to a Canadian
hospital? What if you or your spouse’s condition necessitated a lengthy stay in
a foreign hospital? What is the maximum amount covered? How long can you
be out of Canada and still be insured? We’ve all heard horror stories of what a
few overnight stays in a foreign hospital can cost the underinsured.
Is an ostomy considered a ‘pre-existing’ condition? This depends on whether
or not your condition is considered stable. For instance, with BCAA Travel
Insurance, you are covered if you are 59 years of age or younger, and have
been stable for a minimum of 90 days after any ostomy surgery or serious
ostomy-related health issue. If you are 60 or older, the stabilization period
increases to 180 days prior to departure.* If for some reason it is imperative that you travel sooner after surgery or a serious health issue than either
of these waiting periods you would have the option of purchasing additional
coverage. These stabilization periods apply to any major health concern, not
just ostomies.
Take a close look at what you have, and ask your current provider questions if
you’re not sure. In the end, it’s better to be over-insured than to have a disasterous medical bill. q
* BCAA Travel Insurance Plan, others may vary
see comparison charts, page 4
Vancouver Ostomy HighLife -July / August 2011 1
Vancouver Chapter
EXECUTIVE &
VOLUNTEERS
PRESIDENT
Debra Rooney
604-683-6774
VICE-PRESIDENT
Joy Jones
604-926-9075
SECRETARY
Donna Savage
604-937-5954
TREASURER
Emilia Prychidko
604-874-1502
NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION &
EDITOR
Debra Rooney 604-683-6774
email: [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
Joy Jones
604-926-9075
email: [email protected]
VISITING COORDINATOR
Debra Rooney 604- 683-6774
VISITING COORDINATOR
BACKUP
Maxine Barclay 604-272-0814
YOUTH CAMP COORDINATOR
Sandra Morris
604-921-8715
LIBRARY, VIDEO AND DVDs
Norma Primiani
604-327-5895
NOTICE OF MEETINGS/GREETER
Norma Primiani
604-327-5895
CHRISTMAS PARTY
COORDINATOR
Joy Jones
604-926-9075
MEETING REFRESHMENTS
Chris Spencer
F.O.W. COLLECTION
& SHIPPING
Earl Lesk
604-327-7661
Published by the Vancouver, BC Chapter of the
United Ostomy Association of Canada, Inc.
Box 74570, 2768 West Broadway,
Vancouver, BC V6K 2G4
Anon-profitvolunteersupportgroupforostomates.
Chapter website: www.vcn.bc.ca/ostomyvr/
NATIONAL OFFICE:
United Ostomy Association of Canada
#501-344 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3A7 1-888-969-9698
http://www.ostomycanada.ca/
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Articles and information printed in this newsletter
are not necessarily endorsed by the United Ostomy
Association and may not be applicable to everybody. Please consult your own doctor or ET nurse
for the medical advice that is best for you.
From
Your President
I received an email the other day from Di
Bracken, President of the Toronto chapter.
She sent me a link to their new website,
which includes an Ontario edition of our
Handbook for New Ostomy Patients. Our
chapter has been given source credit for
this publication. When I first conceived of
the project 5 years ago I never dreamed You’re never too old to look silly
the booklet would be circulated so widely.
(And rather more widely than we really know I might add -- I’ve run across
more than one ‘unauthorized’ ostomy-related website that has our handbook
linked without formal permission! Hey -- it’s all good.)Thanks again to the chapter members who helped proof and shape the booklet, and all the ET nurses
who have made suggestions and offered advice over the years. Do take a
look at Toronto’s new
website, it’s very well
done.
Another thing you
should take a look
at is the insurance
checklist here on page
4. Many of us -- and I
include myself here -are guilty of not paying enough attention
to how well our travel
medical
insurance
protects us when we
are out of the country.
Rosemary Hill, ET nurse at Lion’s Gate, gave a
Purchasing temporary
wide-ranging, informative and very entertaining
talk at the June 26th meeting
insurance just for the
duration of a trip can
be a wise idea although some people balk at the added cost. Why pay more
for things that are unlikely to happen? Well, you pay for fire insurance on your
home, don’t you? Do you feel cheated if your home doesn’t burn down? Of
course not. Make sure you’re covered, folks. Please note that our chapter
doesn’t necessarily promote one travel insurance company over another. The
checklists in this issue were kindly supplied by Megan Hill of BCAA, (who
gave a very informative talk on the ins and outs of travel medical insurance at
the May 5 Education Evening sponsored by Andy Manson and her colleagues
at New West Ostomy Care & Supply) There are many other insurance providers and options available; it is in your best interest to shop and compare. The
subject of travel insurance is of special interest to me lately because I will be
on the road again this summer . . . to CHINA!!
The chapter will adjourn for the summer and we hope to see you at the AGM
Sunday September 18. Have a happy, safe and healthy summer!
Debra
2 Vancouver Ostomy HighLife - July / August 2011
GOOD JOB, QUESNEL!
Letters & news
VOLUNTARY PRODUCT
RECALL
Smith & Nephew Inc, is voluntarily recalling the following products because
they were made in the same facility as
other products that have been subject to
voluntary recalls due to potential bacterial contamination. No Contamination has been revealed in testing carried
out on S&N products to date; however
S&N has decided to voluntarily recall
the products identified below out of an
‘abundance of caution’
1. REMOVE Universal Adhesive
RemoverWipes # 403120 Lot
Number OL1163
2. SKIN-PREP ProtectiveWipes #
59420425 Lot Numbers OG117,
OG225, OJ146, OK78, OM198
Lot Numbers are stamped on the bottom of each foil pack inside the shelf
box. Purchases could have been as far
back as the beginning of January 2010.
If you find any of these products with
the above lot numbers in your possession, contact your retailer for further
instructions.
Reported in the Niagara May
2011 Newsletter” It’s in the Bag”
VIA Brantford & District Ostomy News
May 2011 q
Hi Debra:
Quesnel Ostomy Support Group still
going strong. Attendance: Apr. 14, May
15, June 16. Ostomates & S.A. S. O.’s.
We have recessed now until Sept. 12th.
Thanks to the support of Van. High Life
info. & Larry Trapp of Evansville Indiana Chapter Newsletter, we are able to
keep informed of new articles regardThe College of Registered Nurses of ing Ostomies.
British Columbia has
announced the recipiA great deal of thanks must go to our
ents of the 2011 Nurs- Hospital Administrator Margaret Sading Awards. These lon and her staff. She and three of her
registered nurses have top Managerial staff attended our June
demonstrated
out- meeting, listened to our complaints &
standing performance in the CRNBC suggestions, explained the workings
Professional Standards, the foundation of the Hospital, and explained how
for registered nurse and nurse prac- Ostomates might better assist them.
tioner practice in British Columbia. Some Ostomates volunteered to attend
Congratulations to Lauren Wolfe, RN, U.N.B.C. Nurse training sessions here
ET of Richmond (Vancouver Coastal in Quesnel to answer questions for the
Health) who was one of this year’s crop trainees regarding Ostomies.
of recipients for Excellence in Nursing
Practice!
I will send you a copy of our Presentation Overview when the mail strike
NOTICE OF CHANGE OF NAME is over Debra. I know the overworked
staffs in your area could never attend
As of June 25, ET nurse Margaret your meetings, but this cooperation
Cowper will be going by her new mar- could be accommodated in smaller
ried name, Margaret Chalk!! Congrat- centers.
Hope you’re all enjoying a GREAT
ulations from us all! Margaret will continue to serve her patients and clients summer break.
in the ostomy community from both
Group Leader
Langely and Peace Arch Hospitals.
Morris Turner
LOCAL ET NURSE WINS
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For more information or samples contact: 1-888-634-9367
• Harmless - even when
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Also available at: OSTOMY CARE AND SUPPLY CENTRE 604-522-4265
Vancouver Ostomy HighLife -July / August 2011 3
4 Vancouver Ostomy HighLife - July / August 2011
Charts courtesy Megan Hill, BCAA Travel Insurance
Are you without coverage if you plan to stay
longer than expected or does your plan allow
you to extend it?
Are you covered by your plan if you parasail,
scuba dive, bungee jump, etc...while on
vacation?
Will you be penalized if you don’t call the claims
company right after emergency or prior to
visiting hospital?
Must you pay for your trip in full with your credit
card in order to benefit from its coverage?
Have you read your “Insurance Certificate” and
do you know where it is?
Do you know if you are covered for a preexisting condition and is it based on age?
5
6
7
8
9
10
If you said:
How did you do?
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
No Unsure
❑
Unsure
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
- 59 years & under: There is a 90-day
stabilization period prior to departure
- 60 years & over: There is a 180-day
stabilization period prior to departure
- Optional Coverage is available to cover
unstable pre-existing conditions up to a
limit of $200,000
Every policy comes with a detailed policy
wording booklet
Coverage is not dependent on method
of payment
No penalty or co-insurance for nonnotification (some benefits must be pre-approved)
Covered except if injured while scuba diving
when not certified. Optional coverages are
available to cover participation in
professional sports or speed contests
Extensions to existing coverage are
available
You only pay for what you need up to
365 days for those age 0-59 and up to
183 days for those 60+
Family plans are available and provide the
same coverage for all immediate family
members named on the policy
All travelling companions may purchase
coverage
Accidents are just as likely to happen across the border as they are to happen
Why get a quote?
✔
Yes
What’s your maximum number of days for any
one trip?
4
✔
Number
of days
Will the coverage of the family members
travelling with you be the same as yours?
3
No Unsure
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
Can you purchase coverage for other people
travelling with you?
2
$
1
Maximum coverage is $5 million
Credit Card Coverage BCAA Travel Insurance
What is your credit card’s maximum limit of
travel insurance coverage?
Question
✔
Take a few minutes to fill out these 10 questions to find out. You
might be surprised to learn how little your card will cover in times of
emergency and how much peace of mind a BCAA Travel Insurance
policy can give you.
If you said:
How did you do?
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
No Unsure
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
❑ ❑ ❑
Yes
$
Accidents are just as likely to happen across the border as they are to happen at
home. In fact, driving on unknown routes could potentially increase the odds. Even
- 59 years & under: There is a 90-day
stabilization period prior to departure
- 60 years & over: There is a 180-day
stabilization period prior to departure
- Optional Coverage is available to cover
unstable pre-existing conditions up to a
limit of $200,000
Every policy comes with a detailed policy
wording booklet
BCAA Travel Insurance arranges to have
a family member with you during
hospitalization. Transportation and other
incurred costs are also covered at $200
per day
No penalty or co-insurance for nonnotification (some benefits must be pre-approved)
Covered except if injured while scuba diving
when not certified. Optional coverages are
available to cover participation in
professional sports or speed contests
Provincial medical plans often have an
extensive process for reimbursement.
BCAA Travel Insurance will handle all
paperwork, coordinate reimbursement and,
when possible, directly pay hospital bills
With global 24-hour toll free numbers,
assistance is only a phone call away
Same coverage for immediate family
members if family plan is purchased
BCAA offers Trip Cancellation policies
which include Trip Interruption coverage
Maximum coverage is $5 million
Group Plan Coverage BCAA Travel Insurance
Take a few minutes to fill out these 10 questions to find out. You
might be surprised to learn how little your group plan will cover in
times of emergency and how much peace of mind a BCAA Travel
Insurance policy can give you.
Why get a quote?
✔
Do you know if you are covered for a preexisting condition and is it based on age?
Have you read your “Insurance Certificate” and
do you know where it is?
Does the plan arrange and pay for someone to
stay with you if you are hospitalized during a trip?
Will you be penalized if you don’t call the claims
company right after emergency or prior to
visiting hospital?
Are you covered by your plan if you parasail,
scuba dive, bungee jump, etc...while on
vacation?
Will the plan coordinate payment with your
provincial medical plan or pay the hospital
directly?
Who will you call in case of an emergency?
Will the plan cover family members if they are
not travelling with the covered employee?
Can the plan provide coverage for trip
cancellation or reimbursement if you need to
return early due to a family emergency?
What is the maximum amount of travel
insurance coverage?
✔
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Question
✔
Unless you’re self-employed or work part-time, you most likely
have a very competitive group plan through your employer. But will
this plan work for you in an emergency?
How does your group plan
stack up?
How does your credit card
coverage stack up?
Almost everyone has a credit card that may or may not include
travel insurance coverage. Whether you have a VISA, MasterCard,
American Express or some other credit card, travel insurance is no
doubt an option, but does it really give you the coverage you need?
BCAA Travel Insurance
BCAA Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance Comparison Charts, cont. from page 1
“Happy Days”
by Jennie David, reprinted courtesy Metro Halifax Ostomy News, June 2011
Jennie David is a native of Halifax and a second year student at Boston University. She’s 20
and has had Crohn’s since she was 11. The ileostomy was done last summer and she thanks
her lucky stars every day she had it done. Makes life worth living, she says. Jennie is national
chair of the youth committee of the (Canadian) Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
T
hey looked at me and
smirked slightly, not
believing that I wasn’t nervous. I smiled and nodded,
attempted a joke, but I
could see the doubt in their
eyes. Understandable, I
suppose, as I was minutes
away from being wheeled
into an OR and having a
five- foot organ clipped out
of me forever. But I promise that I wasn’t nervous.
Okay, that’s a bit of a lie in
some ways. I was nervous
to wake up after the Ostomy surgery and be consumed
by nausea from the anaesthesia. I was nervous that my
family would have a meltdown during the 7 hour wait.
But I wasn’t nervous about losing the organ. I know that
sounds insane but it’s true. When you’ve had every drug
and been labelled a “primary non-responder” (which
I swear is GI term for loser), losing the organ that has
tried to destroy your life for 7 years doesn’t seem like a
huge loss to mourn.
I can’t remember falling asleep exactly - whether or not
I had been put under in the OR or in the holding area, I
just remember waking up and rolling around in agony,
moaning, as the nurses put the pain controller button
in my hand and coaxed me to press it. A hefty 10 hours
after my family had sobbingly left me, they rushed to my
side, patting my hand and smiling. And so began my
journey into the recovery, the post-surgery battle to get
back on my feet. After a week of two steps forward and
one back, I was finally released from the hospital, worn
but smiling. They wheeled me out with my army of massive balloons and family, and for the first time in a long
time I felt the August sun against my face. My Granddad
stood by my side and whispered that these were happy
days. I smiled at him, not mentioning the scars across
my abdomen, the pain, or even the loss of my organ -
because he was right, I was going home and I was on
my way to health, and that means happy days.
My Mom had emailed some of my doctors letting them
know about the surgery. Most of the responses contained best wishes, but one also contained something
that took me by surprise and slight horror - sympathy.
A doctor was passing along her sympathies to me. It
shocked me to say the least since there was nothing to
be sorry for, only a future to be excited for. I found it almost offensive; anyone who knows what my IBD history
has been would offer congratulations in a heartbeat and
never sympathies.
One of my roomies in the hospital, a witty older woman
who served as my pseudo Grandmom for several days,
offered the following advice off a magnet on her fridge:
‘With enough caffeine, anything is possible.’ While I’m
sure that is true, I think that also with enough determination (and perhaps medicinal drugs), anything is possible. There isn’t a scorecard in life, no referee to blow
the whistle when you fall down. But that’s okay, because
what matters isn’t as much what happens to you as it
is how you understand and interpret what happens to
you. I lost almost my height in an organ, I will never go
to the bathroom “normally” again - that could make
anyone terribly upset. But - I’m giving myself a future
by letting go of my colon, I’m freeing myself of the pain
and that makes this experience a positive one.
So, you see, my Granddad is perfectly right - these are
“happy days.”
Life is unfair, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be
wonderful. Crohns has changed my life - the physical changes are obvious, but it has empowered me to
achieve my dreams, given me the strength to believe in
myself, and I’ve been honoured to meet incredible people who deserve a cure. Step by step, penny by penny,
we are part of the cure. And then one day, we will be
saying “Happy Days”.
cont. next page
Vancouver Ostomy HighLife -July / August 2011 5
“Happy Days” cont.
Closing words of Jennie’s speech at
the Crohn’s Walk . . .
“The best advice I received before having my permanent
ileostomy surgery last year was to not look until I was
ready. And although it was a good and decent suggestion,
I couldn’t resist the temptation of pulling up my oversized
Johnny to reveal the little bag that had saved my life.
The bag was rubbery and medicinal, and beneath it was
the meaty red intestine sticking out. My first thought was
what did I do? How was I ever going to manage to accept
my permanent internal tailoring and be happy about it?
The answer: moment by moment, step by step. On my
last day in the hospital, I decided to empty my bag in
the toilet ‘like a big girl’ as the nurses had been emptying
it bedside. As I attempted to model what I imagined it
would be like, I opened the lip of the bag before pointing it
towards the toilet. Needless to say, before I knew it, I had
drowned myself and the bathroom with output and as I
sat there laughing, I knew I was going to be okay.
And that is why it’s so exciting to be here today. We can
accept that we have inflammatory bowel disease, we can
accept that our bodies function partially as its own enemies, but we cannot – and will not – accept that nothing
can be done about it. Today we are taking the metaphorical steps to bring an end to the pain, we are raising our
voices and raising awareness. We have to accept our disease before we can fight for our future.
This is my pledge and this is my mission: I accept my
disease, I accept my ostomy, I accept my responsibility to
be a part of the cure, and I refuse to accept the limitations
people think there are – because the truth is, there aren’t
any. “ q
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Another Ostomy Education Day will be held this
fall, on October 29. The theme of this one will
be “Intimacy and Ostomies” with guest speaker
none other than author, comedienne and inspirational speaker Brenda Elsagher.
Many of Brenda’s articles have
been reprinted in this newsletter over the years and she is one
funny, wise lady. Brenda and her
husband will be joined by local
suppliers and product reps and by
Andy Manson and her colleagues
from New Westminster Ostomy Care & Supply.
Details to follow in the next newsletter!
Tips & Tricks
Can’t get the wafer off because
your stoma has swollen? Don’t
panic. Get some ice cubes, put
them in a washcloth and then put
that inside a plastic bag. Hold all
this over top your pouch -- the chill will cause
the stoma to shrink and allow you to remove the
wafer. (Don’t hold bare ice against a bare stoma,
however -- you just want to shrink it, not freeze it!)
OSTOMY CARE & SUPPLY CENTRE
Wishes to invite you to our Fall Education Day!
Come for the whole day or just drop in to see what’s new.
When:
Saturday November 7, 2009 9:00 am - 3:30 PM
Is pleased to offer Physiotherapist Services for Abdominal
Topic: - Flanges and Skin Care
Strengthening and Hernia Prevention.
Where:
Hilton Hotel Metrotown, 6083 McKay Ave., Burnaby, B.C.
9:00 - 10:00
Exhibits
 displays from ostomy manufacturers, welcome
10:00 - 11:00
Cancer Crooner – Bret Martin-a man’s story and songs of cancer,
ileostomy surgery, treatment and reconnection surgery. See www.cancercrooner.com.
We are pleased to welcome Physiotherapist Martha Nils, BSc (P.T.), FCAMT.
Martha spoke at our Hernia Education Day. She will offer a private one on
one session to teach you how to safely strengthen your abdominal muscles to
help prevent peristomal hernias.
11:00 – 12:00
Flange technology and Skin Care
 Convatec research scientist explains:
“Everything you want to know about flanges but were afraid to ask?”
Complementary Lunch and Exhibits
12:00 – 1:30
1:30 – 2:30
Andy Manson, ET and Rob Hill
 talk about their IBD Adventure hike up Mount Kilimanjaro
2:30 – 3:30
Tips and Tricks and Open Discussion
Free admission
To register call
Seating is limited
604-522-4265 or 1-888-290-6313
Or
www.ostomycareandsupply.com
The cost per session is $120 and may be covered
by your extended health care plan.
Register on line
Products on display from such manufacturers as Coloplast, Convatec, and Hollister, etc.
See You There!
Your Ostomy ET nurses; Andy, Muriel and Lisa
To book a private one on one session with
Martha, call 604-522-4265.
6 Vancouver Ostomy HighLife - July / August 2011
this
like s!!
k
o
lo
ice
may her serv
u
o
Y
using
after
OSTOMY CARE
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CONTACT US:
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Call: 604.879.9101
Fax: 604.879.3342
Toll Free: 1.800.663.5111
NURSING SERVICES:
[email protected]
www.mycarecentre.ca
Lauren Wolfe, RN, E.T.
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Ostomy Care Centre - Keir Surgical
Vancouver Ostomy HighLife -July / August 2011 7
NEW PATIENTS’
CORNER
· Be sure to carefully read the instruction sheet
included in the box or guidelines on the container for specific recommendations for a given product.
Generally speaking, all ostomy supplies should be stored
in a cool, dry location. Too much heat can melt or weaken
many of the materials used in ostomy wafers, pouches,
and accessory items. Avoid leaving supplies in a hot car
or in direct sunlight. Review instructions periodically to
refresh your memory and to see if any recommendations
have changed over time.
Keep supplies such as wafers and pouches in their original box. By doing so, you save the brand name, product
identification number, and the lot and date information
for those items. Perhaps you will never need this informaDO SOME RESEARCH
tion, but in the event you do, the box you have saved will
We often hear of patients who continue to use the exact
provide the information you (or someone helping you)
same pouches and wafer models they were wearing when
will need for reorder or to report any quality control probthey were discharged from hospital. This is not necessarily
lems.
a bad thing -- if something works for you and you like it
there’s no reason to change -- but sometimes folks don’t Some ostomy supplies do have a “shelf life”. Be sure to
realize they have other choices if they dislike their original check for dates that may be recorded on their containers.
type of appliance. It’s worth your time to learn about the If you find you have a box with an expired date, check with
different companies that supply ostomy products. Most the manufacturer, your local supplier, or an ostomy nurse
of us will have our ostomies for the rest of our lives, for advice on usage.
therefore we owe it to ourselves to find the best possible
While you do want to keep a “stock” of supplies so you
combination of comfort, security and aesthetics.
are always prepared to change your system, avoid the
One of best ways to learn about your options is to ask practice of stockpiling too much so your reserve will be
your ET nurse! Ask him or her if another model or brand as fresh as possible. This, of course depends on factors
might work as well or better for you. You can also call such as the availability to a local supply house, or shipup the major companies and ask for free samples to ping issues.
‘test-drive’ different things before buying. Ostomy supply
Purchase supplies from a trusted vendor – one you know
companies want your business and they want you to try
will provide good service as well as stock/ship current
their brands! -- make use of their toll-free lines. If you
stock.
have a computer, make use of the internet. A single
general search of ‘ostomy supplies’ will turn up pages
and pages of information. A word of caution about trying Reporting defective supplies
new products without input from your ET however -- if Don’t worry, it’s very rare for pouches or wafers to be
you have a hard to fit stoma (irregularily shaped and/or defective. But if you determine that your supplies are
recessed, uneven peristomal skin) pay extra attention to defective in spite of proper use and storage, contact
how you apply the new gear as it may not perform the the manufacturer at their toll free number to report the
same as what you are used to. q
problem and receive product replacement or adjustment. Let your supply source know of your report to the
manufacturer. They need to be aware of problems; howPROPER CARE & STORAGE OF OSTOMY
ever, the complaint needs to be directed to the manufacSUPPLIES
turer to ensure the defect can be addressed. *
Ostomy supplies are not inexpensive, to say the least. So, From an article by Teresa Murphy-Stowers, Fort worth TX; via Dallas
it is important to understand how to apply them properly (TX) Ostomatic News; April 2011; The ”O”, Ostomy Toronto June 2011;
with the fewest errors possible and equally important to
know how to take care of and store supplies until use. * you DON’T need to send used defective ostomy equipProper care may avert the need to discard unused sup- ment through the mail to prove your point . . . they’ll take
plies and thus be as economical as possible.
your word for it folks, honest
8 Vancouver Ostomy HighLife - July / August 2011
Ostomy Care & Supply Centre
Lancaster
SALES & RENTALS
We carry all Ostomy Appliance Brands
• Wheel Chairs
• Walkers
• Bath Safety aids
• Incontinent Supplies
• Support Stockings
• Diabetic Supplies
Medical
Supplies &
Prescriptions
Ltd.
Our commitment is to provide the best care
and service possible
• Free Consultations &
Appliance Fitting
• All brands of Ostomy
Supplies
& Accessories
Andrea (Andy) Manson • Custom Ostomy
Hernia Belts
and Muriel Larsen
RN, ET (Ostomy) Nurse
Specialists
Ostomy Care & Supply Centre
2004 - 8th Avenue
New Westminster, BC V3M 2T5
873-8585
604-522-4265
1-888-290-6313
526-3331
Located in the West End Medicine Centre Pharmacy
Free parking at the rear of the building and easy access from Skytrain.
601 West Broadway,
Vancouver
7487 Edmonds, Burnaby
582-9181
www.ostomycareandsupply.com
DELIVERY
AVAILABLE
13710-94A Avenue, Surrey
HANDBOOK FOR NEW OSTOMY PATIENTS:
3,000 UNITS AND COUNTING!
If you have had ostomy surgery recently and have not seen or
been given a copy of A Handbook for New Ostomy Patients,
ask your ET nurse for one. This publication is free upon request, or available for free download on the internet. Just go to
our website (www.ostomyvr.vcn.ca) and click on the link.
A Handbook for New Ostomy Patients was first published in
2006 by the Vancouver UOA chapter. At that time, in the course
of coordinating the Visitor Program, chapter member Debra
Rooney saw that although there were a number of helpful publications regarding supplies and application of products, there
was little that addressed new patients’ concerns from the point
of view of ostomates themselves. She set about writing and
compiling a handbook that addressed issues common to new
patients; the result was proofed, revised and tweaked by chapter members, then proofed, revised and tweaked some more
by local ET nurses who kindly gave their time and attention to
the project. The initial press run of 600 units was distributed to
local hospitals through their ET departments. Response from
both nurses and patients was very favourable and a second
run of 1,000 units was produced in the following year. For the
first 3 printings, the handbook was funded by donations from
chapter members; the fourth printing done in 2010 was kindly
funded by Elaine Antifaev of ET Resources in Whiterock. To
FREE delivery in the Lower Mainland
FREE shipping throughout BC
date, over 3,000 hard copy units
have been put into circulation.
Over the the last 5 years, the handbook has evolved in response to
suggestions and advice, with the
fourth edition featuring a new section on pelvic pouch surgery written
by Shabita Teja, one of the chapter’s
A Handbook
younger members. Handbooks are
for
sent not only to hospitals but also
New Ostomy
to UOA chapters in BC upon rePatients
quest. In 2007 the handbook was
picked up by two American ostomy
websites; the following year permission was granted for the University
of Boston to use it as a reference tool for their enterostomal
teaching units; in 2009, in collaboration with Roger Ivol of the
Hamilton Chapter, an Ontario edition was published. Most
recently, UOAC Toronto has added the handbook to their retooled website.
The Vancouver chapter is pleased to be able to offer these
handbooks free of charge to a wide variety of medical institutions, agencies, caregivers and, of course, directly to patients
themselves upon request. q
Vancouver Ostomy HighLife -July / August 2011 9
Universal Pharmacare could save $10.7 billion
A
National Public Pharmacare plan
could provide everyone in Canada
with prescription drug coverage. It could
also save us $10.7 billion a year through
bulk purchasing and similar economies
of scale.
A new report — the economin case
for universal Pharmacare — explains
how it could be done. The full study is
available at www.PharmacareNow.ca.
“The way we pay for prescription
drugs is broken,” say Joel Lexchin, MC,
professor, School of Health Policy and
Management, York University.
“Politicians hide behind the excuse
that universal public coverage is too expensive. This study exposes that excuse
as a fallacy. We can save money and
cover everyone in the country. Medicare
works and Pharmacare is no different,”
says Dr. Lexchin.
The study has also been endorsed by
Dr. Robert Evans, O.C., Ph.D (Economics, Harvard), whose internationally respected work includes ground-breaking
comparative studies of different health
care systems and funding strategies.
“Canada has an America-style system
of paying for drugs, and it yields American results — inequity, waste and high
costs.
“Marc-Andre Gagnon (author of
the report) provides a comprehensive
analysis of the major benefits to Canadians from a true Pharmacare system
of universal public coverage,” says Dr.
Evans. “To date however, private insurers, Big Pharma, anti-tax ideologues
and apathetic governments have kept
this beyond
our
reach.”
The
report
finds
that a
national
Pharmacare
plan would
enable all Canadians to enjoy equitable
access to needed medicines, and also
help to control the growing cost of prescription drugs.
The only thing that’s lacking is the
political will to act. Ask your candidate if
he or she will support universal Pharmacare for Canadians q
-Source: COSCO (Council of Senior Citizens’
Organizations of B.C.) April 2011
10 Vancouver Ostomy HighLife - July / August 2011
Travel
Tips
Photocopy a
page from an
ostomy supply catalogue
that has pictures of your
appliances and some
explanation of how they are
used. One traveller reported
a very positive result from
carrying such photocopies.
When an airport searcher
asked about the items found
during a hand search, he
was able to explain their
function without a long
conversation that would hold
up others in line.
BOOK S
Secure Start Book Club
It’s In the Bag and Under the Covers:
Stories of Dating, Intimacy, Sex, & Caregiving
By Brenda Elsagher
Will my husband and I be able to make love again? When
is the right time to tell someone I’m dating about my ostomy? Will my pouch be a turnoff? Questions like these
come up at conferences, in Internet open forums, and
when speaking to WOC Nurses and Hollister Secure
Start Coordinators. After years of volunteering in a visitor
program for people new to ostomies, Brenda Elsagher
has heard them all. Now she uses her wit and wisdom to
pull the covers off of this delicate subject, and share the
stories of real people.
“I was not going for humor in this book as much as an
honest telling of how people handle dating, intimacy, sex,
and caregiving with their ostomies,” Brenda writes in her
preface. “I wanted the inside scoop so that we can understand the tension we may face, or the relief we may find,
in knowing that we are not alone.”
If you have read Brenda’s other books, you know she
is a master of mixing laughter and tears. This book is
no exception. Stories from women include feeling attractive again, and finding the right apparel to add to the
romance. For some men, the “mechanics” don’t always
work quite the same after ostomy surgery, and it can be
CHAPTER MEMBERS MAKE
THIRD PRESENTATION AT
DOUGLAS COLLEGE
Earl Lesk and Debra Rooney
(back of table) with some
members of the afternoon
class of second year nursing
students at Douglas College
on May 10, 2011
disconcerting. There are
a few stories in this book
that address that. What
stands out after reading
the stories in It’s In the
Bag and Under the Covers
is that everyone reacts to a
partner with an ostomy differently. Brenda concludes
that more often than not,
people that are in committed, healthy relationships
experience no difference
except for more compassion for one another, including gratitude for the
caregivers.
This book is a must read for anyone searching for answers about intimate relationships, from people who
have been there. Perhaps you just had ostomy surgery
and are wondering how to tell your partner about your
ostomy. Maybe after reading a few stories you will realize
that it takes some time to adjust to your new situation,
and that’s okay too. This book may just be the launching
pad for the story of the rest of your life.
It’s In the Bag and Under the Covers is available at Amazon.com and from Brenda’s website.
Check Brenda’s website www.livingandlaughing.com,
for updates.
VANCOUVER, B.C. CHAPTER OF
UNITED OSTOMY
ASSOCIATION OF CANADA INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
OF MEMBERS
TAKE NOTICE that the annual general meeting of the members of the
VANCOUVER, B.C. CHAPTER OF UNITED OSTOMY ASSOCIATION
OF CANADA INC. will be held at 1:30 p.m. on the 18th day of September,
2011 at Collingwood Neighbourhood House, 5288 Joyce Street, Vancouver, BC for the following purposes:
1. to receive the report of the Directors of the Association;
2. to receive the financial statements of the Association;
3. to waive the appointment of auditors for the Association for the
ensuing year;
4. to elect directors and officers to hold office until the next annual
general meeting for the Association;
5. to transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting.
Vancouver Ostomy HighLife -July / August 2011 11
FEEL SOOTHING MINT WORK ITS MAGIC
Source “You Docs” Health Tips from Mehmet Oz, M.D.,
and Michael Roizen, M.D. The Province, May 27, 2011
W
e love it when science solves the
mystery of a time-honoured
home remedy, because we think
there is at least a bit of truth
in many home ‘brews’. It’s
happened again, and to one of
our favourite digestion-soothers:
peppermint.
It turn out that this ancient herbal tummy-tamer does its
thing by switching off pain-sensing nerve fibres in your
digestive system. Who knew?
That helps explain why pouring yourself a steaming mug
of peppermint tea or just sniffing it for an upset stomach
-- or popping an enteric-coated peppermint oil capsule
to ease irritable bowel syndrome -- really works.
GET OUT YOUR PENCILS!
Ostomy Word Search - Ottawa Ostomy News, March 2011
12 Vancouver Ostomy HighLife - July / August 2011
We’ve known for a while that mint relaxes smooth
muscles in your GI tract, which can tone down IBS
cramps. That’s super-useful if you’re among the one in
five people with this uncomfortable problem.
Now we know it can mute hyper-sensitive nerves, which
can trigger internal distress after a spicy meal, too
much coffee, a glass of wine or during a bout of flu.
Peppermint tea or even peppermint aroma may be all
it takes to soothe a queasy stomach or settle one that’s
gassy and bloated.
But it may take a stronger dose to ease IBS. That’s
where peppermint oil capsules come in. To give them
a try, stick with 0.2 to 0.4 ml of oil three time daily and
use only enteric-coated versions to avoid heartburn.
Otherwise, the muscle-relaxing oil could relax a valve at
the top of your stomach, allowing acid to backwash into
your esophagus. That hurts. q
Tip if you’re heartburn-prone: Skip mint chewing gum
for the same reason.
Macdonald’s Prescriptions #3 Kitsilano
2188 West Broadway, Vancouver – 604.738.0733
PRESCRIPTION EXCELLENCE- OSTOMY CLINIC IN STORE
Central Vancouver Island’s ONLY store based Ostomy Clinic
with Colette MacAskill, RN, ET (Ostomy Specialist) on staff.
Long term accessibility, education and support from ET,
Ostomy Specialist
Free consultations and Appliance Fittings in private clinic
Expert product information and Sampling Program
Large Ostomy Inventory and Special Orders
BC Pharmacare receipt
Competitive pricing
Custom Ostomy Hernia Belts
FREE DELIVERY of ostomy products island-wide
Store Open 7 days a week.
PHARMASAVE WESTHILL CENTER NANAIMO
1816 Bowen Rd. (next to Tim Hortons) Phone: 250-740-3880
DID YOU KNOW . . .?
If you are right handed,
you will tend to chew your
food on the right side of
your mouth. If you are left
handed, you will tend to
chew your food on the left
side of your mouth.
Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of
Israel in 1952, but he
declined.
“We’re small enough to know you, large enough to serve you”
Neal Dunwoody, RN, BScN, WOCN is our Wound
and Enterostomal Specialist providing expert support
and all supplies through our Pharmacy clinic on
Saturdays
We take great pride in our specialty services and supplies
Skin Care Products
Custom Compounding
Customized Compression Hosiery
Natural and Botanical Supplements
Mobility Equipment
Incontinence Supplies
Specialty health supplies
Cardiovascular Assessments
Cardiovascular Risk Assessments
24 Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Lung Assessments and Smoking Cessation
Registered Nurse Consultations
United Ostomy Association
of Canada
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Toronto, Ontario
August 15 - 18, 2012
“Caring in a Changing World”
Astronauts can’t belch
- there is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their
stomachs.
In ancient times strangers shook hands to show that
they were unarmed
In 2011, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays. This apparently happens once every 823 years!
Vancouver Ostomy HighLife -July / August 2011 13
Davies
PRESCRIPTION
PHARMACY LTD.
VISITOR REPORT
Referrals for this reporting
period came from Richmond
General, Royal Columbian,
Lion’s Gate and St. Paul’s
hospitals, as well as from
independent inquiries.
Colostomy 3
Ileostomy 3
Urostomy
1
Other1
TOTAL
8
Many thanks to my excellent crew this round:
Trevor Mendham, Alison Mindlin, Sandra Morris, Gordon
Blad and Andrea Kardos
Davies Pharmacy has been serving the North Shore with quality
medical supplies and pharmaceuticals for 30 years. Our expert
staff of pharmacists, nurses, and
technicians can provide you with
a full range of products for a
healthy life style.
1401 St. Georges
(opposite Lions Gate hospital)
604-985-8771
14 Vancouver Ostomy HighLife - July / August 2011
A warm welcome is extended
to new chapter members
Betty McEwan, Bjorn Nitting and Judy Huber
Thank you to the following folks for their
kind donation to the chapter:
Patricia Fingarson, Bjorn Nitting and Thomas Adams
E ª T ª RESOURCES ª LTD
The Choice of Experience TM
Ostomy Clinic and Supply Centre
SERVICES
ª Clinic visits by appointment with specialized
E.T. Nursing Care.
ª Hours of operation for clinic visits are Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, 11 am to 5 pm.
ª Pre-operative teaching and stoma site marking
ª Post-operative instruction and supplies for caring for
your ostomy
ª Assessments and fittings for pouching systems
ª Information and care for various ostomies
ª Skin care
Phone:604-536-4061
toll-free:1-877-ET NURSE fax: 604-536-4018
(1-877-386-8773) email:[email protected]
SUPPLIES
ª
ª
ª
ª
All brands of ostomy supplies and products
Expert product information
Fittings for support belts
Pharmanet billing
Elaine Antifaev, RN, ET, CWOCN
E ª T ª RESOURCES ª LTD
1 - 1381 George Street, White Rock, BC V4B 4A1
(corner of Thrift and George)
STOMA CLINICS IN VANCOUVER / MAINLAND AREA Pre-surgical counselling and post-operative follow-up.
Ostomy Care and Supply Centre
VANCOUVER
Vancouver General Hospital
Deb Cutting, RN, ET
Laura Jean DeVries, RN, ET
855 West 12th Avenue
Tel (604) 875-5788
St. Paul’s Hospital
1081 Burrard Street
Neal Dunwoody, R.N., WOCN
Christina Kerekes, R.N., IIWCC, WON
Tel (604) 682-2344
Local 62917
Children’s Hospital
4480 Oak Street
Amie Nowak, BSN, RN, ET
Macdonald’s Prescriptions Tel (604) 875-2345
Local 7658
Neal Dunwoody, RN, ET
(Saturdays 9 - 4, call for appointment)
3199 West Broadway
(Kitsilano)
Tel: 604-738-0733
KEIR SURGICAL & OSTOMY SUPPLIES
Tel 604-879-9101
Lauren Wolfe, RN, ET and
Heather McMurty, RN, ET -- both by appointment only, call Keir
NORTH VANCOUVER
Lion’s Gate Hospital
Annemarie Somerville,
RN, ET (on mat leave)
Rosemary Hill, RN., ET
231 East 15th Ave., N. Vancouver
NEW WESTMINSTER
Royal Columbian Hospital
Heather McMurty, RN, ET
Susan Andrews, RN, /
Laurie Cox, RN, ET
Lucy Innes, RN, ET
WHITE ROCK/RICHMOND
Elaine Antifaev, RN, ET, CWOCN
Tel (604) 984-5871
Tel (604) 520-4292
Andrea (Andy) Manson, RN. ET.
Muriel Larsen, RN. ET.
(Saturdays 9 - 1)
Lisa Hegler, RN, ET
Christina Kerekes (1 day per week)
SURREY Tel (604) 536-4061
Surrey Memorial Hospital
Elke Bauer, RN. ET
Tel (604) 588-3328
LANGLEY
Katie Jensen, RN. BSN. ET
Margaret Chalk, RN, ET
Ostomy Outpatient Clinic
ABBOTSFORD
Maureen Clarke, RN. BSN. ET
Paula Yakashiro, RN, BSN. ET
(Sharon Fabbi retired July 1)
Langley Memorial Hospital
Tel (604) 534-4121 Local 7422
Abbotsford Regional Hospital
Tel (604) 851-4700
Extension 642213 (Clarke)
646154 (Yakashiro)
CHILLIWACK
Chilliwack General Hospital
WHITE ROCK
Peace Arch Hospital
Jacqueline Bourdages, RN Wound Care and Ostomy
Resource Nurse
Margaret Chalk, RN, ET
RICHMOND
E. T. Resources, Ltd.
Tel (604) 522-4265
Lauren Wolfe, RN, ET
Tel 604-795-4141
Local 614447
Tel (604) 531-5512
Local 757687
Richmond General Hospital
Tel 604-244-5235
THANK YOU to the ET nurses who let me know of staffing
changes at their worksite! Keep those updates comin’!
Vancouver Ostomy HighLife -July / August 2011 15
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Vancouver Chapter United Ostomy Association
Membership in the UOA of Canada is open to all persons interested in ostomy rehabilitation and welfare.
The following information is kept strictly confidential.
Please enroll me as a
new
renewal member of the Vancouver Chapter of the UOA.
I am enclosing my annual membership dues of $30.00, which I understand is effective from the date application is received. I wish to make an additional contribution of $
, to support the pro-
grams and activities of the United Ostomy Association of Canada. Vancouver Chapter members receive
the Vancouver Ostomy Highlife newsletter, become members of the UOA Canada, Inc. and receive the
Ostomy Canada magazine.
Name
Phone
Address
City
Postal Code
Year of Birth
email (if applicable):
Type of surgery:
Colostomy
Urostomy
Ileostomy
Internal Pouch
All additional contributions are tax deductible. please make cheque payable to the
UOA Vancouver Chapter
and mail to: Membership Coordinator, 3908 Sharon Place, West Vancouver, BC V7V 4T6
16 Vancouver Ostomy HighLife - July / August 2011