My Bladder Cancer Fight

As I hinted earlier, most people in the Medical Community know nothing about how to handle a Urostomy patient. The one person that does is a Urostomy Nurse. From here on, I will just refer to him or her as a Nurse.

Over the past few years, I have had a few different Nurses, both male and female. All have been very knowledgeable in their field. I have yet to meet a bad one.

I use my Nurse whenever I run into a difficulty with my Urostomy pouch or my skin under the pouch. In every case, they have been able to come up with suggestions to improve my situation. In some cases, it has been ‘try this’ and if that does not work then we will try ‘this’. I have never gotten the answer ‘I don’t know what to suggest’. This answer we never want to hear.

One of the main strengths, of the Nurse, is their knowledge of any new products that have just come on the market. It is almost impossible for the patient to keep abreast of anything new with so many companies out there who manufacture Urostomy supplies. I cannot recall seeing a newsletter from any manufacturer announcing a new product that they have brought to market.

Besides having this knowledge, the Nurse generally has samples from the different manufacturers that she is able to let you try and it does not cost you a penny. I cannot tell you how many free samples I have gotten from my Nurse over the years. Some have worked, others have not. As a Urostomy patient, we need to realize that each of us has a different tolerance to any product. I have tried products, that I knew almost immediately, that I was having a reaction to some ingredient in this product. I sure would have hated to spend $50.00 $100.00 for the product from the manufacturer just to find out that it was not for me. Yes, the manufacturer does send you sample but generally, it is just one or two. This is not enough for you to make an intelligent decision regarding their product. I do understand why the Nurses get a larger number of samples than the patient.

As an example, a while ago I was having trouble finding a good barrier ring that my system would tolerate. I got some samples from the different manufacturers but never enough to do a good study. There is something in my urine that will eat most barriers up in a couple of hours. Of course, there is the Eakin ring but you need a bank loan to buy one box of 20. I went to see my Nurse and she gave me at least six samples of each from different manufacturers to try. I found a barrier ring that my system would tolerate and not break down for at least 3 to 5 days. Great, problem solved. Do not be afraid to ask your Nurse for as many samples as she can give you. Remember she did not buy them; they were gratis, to her, from the manufacturer.

Had I been at home when I ran into my major problem this past December, I would have immediately gone to see my Nurse. Believe me, I would have trusted any suggestion that she would have given me. Being away from home, I went to an Urologist for advice.

To me, there are two people; you must develop an excellent relationship with. One is your Urostomy Nurse and the other is your Urologist. Both are so, so valuable in keeping you in the best of shape regarding your stoma and your Urostomy apparatus. Sorry to say but your Family Physician does not have a clue about stomas and Urostomy apparatus.

Posted on February 6th, 2008 by Neil
Filed under: My Cancer, My Problems, Problem - Skin Peeling, Solving Skin Problem