Please reply direct to: [email protected] (Gray, Karen)
Many thanks
Gary
RE: question to you
I work as an Enterostomal Nurse & have a 52 year old male patient who has
had a bilat hip disarticulation from spina bifida. He is a very active,
independent man who became very ill this spring with a UTI & didn’t pick
up on it early so subsequently during this time he was traveling back to
Georgia to a family reunion & ended up being hospitalized & septic.
While there he was not placed on a pressure relieving bed & developed a
pressure ulcer. By the time he got settled at home (about 2 1/2 months
later) that pressure ulcer had necrotized down into the soft tissue
surrounding his rectum. A diverting colostomy was given to this patient
(hopefully, as a temporary diversion) until after he heals post a
flap/graft is done to the area. The plastic surgeon thinks his
rectum/sphincter function will not be affected by the procedure, however,
has been trying to tell the patient he may prefer the colostomy as he can
manage it up front. He does occassionally have accidents of incontinence
from his bowel, not because of any malfunction, more because he can’t
wheel himself to the bathroom & transfer himself in time before things
start to act. Needless to say, he is depressed. His biggest joy is
going on that trip to Georgia every 2 years to visit his daughter. He is
fearful that the trip will have to stop because it’s an 8 hour flight
with many stop-overs & if his colostomy pouch gets full he can’t change
it. I have many patients with colostomies that travel all over via
planes but I see his point that he can’t get up out of his chair or even
move his chair into a plane’s restroom to empty his pouch. Do you have
any suggestions, or know of anyone that has this problem that he could
maybe get in contact with? I know he tends to be negative & honestly, I
think his wound will heal & he can have his colostomy reversed within a 2
year time span (he’s not diabetic & basically has no other significant
medical illnesses that wound interfere with healing)–as long as he stays
healthly & takes care of himself. This is one proud man that I would
like to help find some answers. Do you have any suggestions?
Please reply direct to: [email protected] (Gray, Karen)
