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AT HOME
Some ostomates find it difficult to acknowledge a stoma as part of their body image, but by giving the stoma a name, instead of just ‘it’, they find that this makes the stoma more acceptable and friendly.
Obviously any name is possible, as long as it means something to the ostomate.
NAMING A STOMA
It is advisable for urostomates to use a night drainage bag, as this allows extra drainage capacity, and alleviates the need to get up every few hours during the night to empty the urostomy pouch.
It is better to connect the night drainage bag to a urostomy pouch, which contains a quantity of urine. The urine can be squeezed through the tube into the night drainage bag. This ensures that air does not collect in the night drainage bag, and urine does not sit in the urostomy bag itself overnight.
It can be beneficial to place this night drainage bag on its stand into a plastic,
rectangular washing-
It is essential that reusable night drainage bags are washed thoroughly after every use. It is acceptable to use water on its own.
NIGHT DRAINAGE BAGS
In the UK, free NHS prescriptions (except for glasses) are available for patients, who have a permanent stoma. Patients with a temporary stoma have to pay for prescriptions, unless they are eligible for another reason, e.g. over 60 or on low income benefits.
Free prescriptions are obtained via an NHS Medical Exemption Certificate. A form
FP92A should be completed, ticking the section stating that the applicant has a permanent
fistula, which requires an appliance. This form can be obtained from a hospital
doctor, a doctor’s surgery or a stoma care nurse. Fill in parts 1 and 2, and ask
the doctor to sign that the information is correct. The surgery will forward the
completed application form, using the pre-
NHS Help With Health Costs,
Medical Exemption,
Newcastle Upon Tyne.
NE2 1BF
Upon approval of the application, the NHS Business Services Authority will forward
a white card -
The NHS Business Services Authority will write about a month before the certificate is due to expire, so that there is ample time to apply for a new certificate. If an ostomate does not receive a reminder letter and wishes to renew the certificate, the ostomate should contact the NHS Business Services Authority. It is the ostomate’s responsibility to ensure that they hold a valid certificate every time an exemption is claimed for prescription charges.
Further details can be obtained by telephoning 0845 601 8076, or by visiting the website.
PRESCRIPTIONS
Many ostomates worry about odour problems, but these days, there are many stoma care products, which will help with this concern.
Everyone passes wind, but for those people with a stoma, this can sometimes be very inconvenient or embarrassing, as they have no control over it. It is very much an individual problem. Certain foods, which can cause one person to have wind, may be perfectly acceptable to another person.
All modern appliances have an integral filter incorporated into the pouch, which controls the release of wind, therefore preventing the pouch from inflating or ballooning. These filters contain charcoal, which helps to neutralise any odours and is effective normally for between six to twelve hours.
A useful tip to reduce odour in your appliance is to place two or three drops of peppermint essence into the stoma pouch. This is available from most major supermarkets.
ODOUR CONTROL
Some manufacturers and support groups offer free magazines/journals. These are invaluable
in many ways -
MAGAZINES
Coloplast
Colostomy Association
ConvaTec
Dansac
Fittleworth
IA
Pelican Healthcare
Salts Medilink
SecuriCare (Medical)
Urostomy Association
The journal ‘Charter’ is available free to all patients on Coloplast’s mailing list and clinical nurse specialists.
This association produces an informative, quarterly, glossy magazine ‘Tidings’ for colostomates, their families and carers. It features real life stories, the latest reviews on new stoma care products, ostomate tips, etc.
The ‘Contact’ magazine is available online from ConvaTec, and can be read by visiting the website.
On request, Dansac will forward their magazine ‘Voice’ to stoma patients.
This company have produced a ‘Life Assist’ pack with useful hints and tips on a range of ostomy lifestyle issues. This is available free to all ostomates, on request.
This support group publishes the IA Journal, which is sent to all members quarterly, free of charge, in March, June, September and December.
Pelican Healthcare will send out a copy of their quarterly newsletter ‘A Pelican Brief’ to all patients, who are registered with their home delivery service.
On request, Salts Medilink offers a free magazine ‘LinkLine’ to all ostomates. This magazine can also be read online at their website.
SecuriCare (Medical) produces a six-
For members, the Urostomy Association publish a magazine three times a year. In addition, the Urostomy Association Members’ Handbook is given to all new members.
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