NASHVILLE AREA  

CHAPTER OF THE

UOAA

Meeting Place for 2011-2012
See Directions below

MISSION 

DIRECTIONS AND MEETING INFORMATION

We will be meeting in the Old Board Room, which is located inside the Stringfield Bld, (Baptist Hospital) right off of 21st street in the entrance where patents are discharged. The room is located behind the cafeteria

Free parking next to the building at 21st Avenue and Patterson  and if there is room we can park in the "u" parking entrance.

   (2 blocks from either Charlotte or Church)              see MAP

Helpful hint:  get there early to make sure that you can find it & to ensure parking. 

 DIRECTIONS TO  MEETING ROOM - Old Board Room

PRESIDENTS' COLUMN 

Warm Greetings to both Members & Visitors!

It was really great to see some of our members that are not always able to come each month due to their or busy schedules, health issues. It was such a treat to see you and you bring so much with you each time you come. You have a wealth of experience and information that can't be beat for any new visitor.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to speak to speak to each of you. Recently, one of our newest ostomy members said something that got me to thinking. To paraphrase our conversation, she said that she was so surprised when she came into our meeting for the second time, and she saw us just laughing and joking with each other. I was somewhat startled by that statement and apologized that we might have offended her, or if we had been inappropriate or unresponsive to her needs. She reassured me that this was not the case, just that she was somewhat surprised by this. It would be understandable, since she was early in her recovery. Her statement remained with me and is the reason I am saying this to you.

Many of you know some of my history. In fact, my grandmother died from colon cancer in the 1950's. I didn't know her very well and so was unaware of her health issues. And then, many of you know, my dear mother also had colon cancer and in just a few years passed away from this terrible disease in 1987. She was a very private person who kept her pain and most of her problems to herself. Even though I suggested that she come to a support group, she could never bring herself to attend a support group.

Mother was very private person, and yet she was also quite strong and found that she had to depend upon her own resources in her own life. And I have no doubt that she would have found her own path to a life with her ostomy. And yet, I still grieve for the time that was taken from her short life and that she felt she had to shoulder it all alone. I never knew anything about what she was going through, as she lived with her ostomy in private. I will always feel very sad about that.

I remember that as I was first recovering from surgery, I had no idea how I would accomplish the rest of my life. I was just overwhelmed! Now, I want to personally thank Sara O'Kelly for continuing to call me and welcome me to a meeting. And when I became stronger, Alan and I came to my first ostomy meeting to see what was in store for us. We both walked in here and felt their warmth and their joy in the way they approached life.

Although I had remember my mother, who endured being an ostomate, I found here people who were actually living a full life, even after surgery. They shared their experiences and suggestions on how I might handle the challenges that living with this "bag" entails. Most of their ideas great have eventually faded, but the warmth that I felt at that meeting has remained to this day.

And so now, each month I am privileged to speak to new people who have received the ostomy surgery and are reaching out for some kind of support. Each person gives to me a very special gift when we talk and exchange experiences, that continues to stay with me. When all of us are first given this surgery there are so many things are going on with our lives and then it only becomes about how to handle life with this "dreaded bag"! It becomes a test as to how we will continue on with our life as we must now know it. The highly skilled surgeon can perform this marvelous surgery, and yet, we then must draw each on our own resources, as well as our family and friends to find a way to continue to live with an ostomy.

Each month I come here to be reinvigorated with life. I want to THANK YOU ALL, both the members and visitors of this support group. Many of you who will read this, may not be able to still attend our meetings, due to a busy schedule, or other health issues; and yet you have contributed to the gift of life and enriched many lives. That might sound somewhat dramatic, but as you probably all know, once we have had this surgery, it is up to each of us to find out how to not only endure, but to actually live with our ostomy. There definitely is LIFE after surgery and it is there for each of us! Whether you come to one meeting or become one of our longtime members, you are valued and always welcome!

During the past few months, we have been busy with referrals and have donated some supplies to some who have requested them. By the way, the same goes for our members, as well. If you run out of supplies and do not have any insurance , just give me a call at 615-662-7639 & let me know what you need & I will do my best to match them with what has been donated to us.

Look forward to seeing at our next meeting this Sunday!


So, in the meantime, continue please stay well!

Please come out and bring your presence to our circle of friendship.

To all of our Donors, thank you for thinking of others in your difficult times.
May God bless you.

Thanks,
Sandra Ashendorf & Alan
Questions? Call 615/662-7639. Hope you can attend!

See you at the next meeting.

So come and join us. The meeting begins at 2 p.m. at Baptist Hospital
in the Old Board Room.

Questions? Call 615/662-7639. Hope you can attend!

See you at the next meeting.
Alan & Sandra Ashendorf 

                   Everyone is encouraged to come.
  See you there.

We will also be taking your suggestions for programs for this coming year.

PRESIDENT MESSAGE
Sandy Ashendorf, Co-President, happily passes on to Steve Eisen, our Treasurer, a very generous and greatly appreciated contribution from Hollister.

Hollister has graciously agreed to pick up the cost for anyone, wishing to join our group for the first year.

THANK YOU HOLLISTER

Sara O’Kelley     662-3664

Alan or Sandra Ashendorf       662 7639

FROM OUR TREASURER

We currently operate as the Nashville Ostomy Association. We issue our own
local newsletter by email, hold our monthly meetings the last Sunday of every month at
2:00 pm at Baptist Hospital, visit patients in need at area hospitals, and maintain
our own website.

We are also a member of the United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.,
which collects separate dues and which individuals can also join and receive
their magazine.

Our dues are only $10.00 a year.

If you or anyone in your family have been received
any benefits or assistance by our group in the past and have not been coming
to our meetings - You can still support our group and assist others by your donations
so that we can assist others in the future.

Please feel free to call me at home
at night (I stay up late) or on the weekends at 353-0243 if you have questions.
Steve Eisen, Your Treasurer Since 1984.

Mail check payable to the Nashville
Ostomy Assoc. c/0 Steve Eisen, 524 W. Hillwood, Nashville, TN, 37205. If
you are unable to pay these dues, please contact Steve at 353-0243.

MEDICAL INFORMATION ON THE WEB

This takes you to the National Ostomy Site. From here you can find all sorts of information www.uoa.org    

The Continent Diversion Network .www.ostomyalternative.org

Parents of Ostomy Children .www.uoa.org/networks_parents.htm    

Teen Network .www.uoa.org/networks_teens.htm   

Find answers to your health questions in this easy to navigate collection .http://www.thriveonline.aol.com/medical/library/index.h tml    

The Digital Urology Journal offers articles and  reports, urology nurses online and much more. http://www.duj.com/index.html 

 The University of Pennsylvania’s OncoLink provides accurate information about specific types of cancer, treatments and research advances  http://cancer.med.upenn.edu/    

 Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America     www.ccfa.org                

"Ileostomy Lavage"

By: Dianne Garde

When someone with an Ileostomy encounters a blockage, it is important to know how this should be treated.  The term "a Lavage" is used rather than irrigation.

In the Ostomy realm the term irrigation is generally refers to someone with a colostomy who gives them an enema on a daily basis to clear the colon of stool.  The amount of water used is probably between one and one and a half liters.  I feel that trying to instill this amount of fluid into an obstructed Ileostomy could be potentially dangerous as the pressure could cause a perforation. 

The generally accepted method of treatment for Ileostomy obstruction is to use saline (sodium chloride) to prevent dehydration and to utilize a bulb syringe with an open ended whistle tip, 24Fr or 26Fr, catheter.

The solution is sucked into the bulb syringe and gently instilled into the catheter and the contents sucked back into it again in an effort to break up a food bolus.  This should be done a number of times until the saline comes back clear.

I would not recommend that Illeostomies try this procedure unless they have the proper equipment and have been taught by an Enterostomal Therapist.   This should not be attempted until an x-ray has been taken to determine that it is a food bolus and not a mechanical obstruction.

I would also recommend that if you feel you have an Ileostomy blockage that you try to get to a major centre where there is a qualified personnel familiar with the proper procedure to deal with the problem appropriately

About the Author: Dianne Garde is Certified Enterostomal Therapist. She can be reached at: wcet@on.aibn.com.

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