Hey Folks! Fuzzbutt here again. I’m Ostomyland’s furry mascot and every so often I like to share some of my top tips with everyone.
This time my tip is to check out my ‘Pick of the Posts’ section over on Ostomyland’s Message Board.

Why not visit my Ostomy Reference Posts and see some of the most popular or unusual topics? You’ll find information and ideas on a range of ostomy topics – and you can even add your own comments!

Take care everyone, I’ll see you next time with another top tip!

Red, sore and itchy skin could be a thing of the past, thanks to a novel new product from Salts Healthcare. Dermacol is a unique stoma collar that provides a leakproof barrier around the base of the stoma, preventing output from coming into contact with the skin.

Experts at Salts say its Dermacol stoma collar is a true medical first, designed to offer ostomy patients an easier and more secure way to take care of their skin by preventing leakage, according to the ‘Birmingham Post’.

Recently launched in the UK, Australia and Sweden, and available in Europe from June, 2009, the Dermacol stoma collar is the latest in a long line of medical advances and developments from Salts.

And such is the overwhelming demand for their most recent addition that the company has taken on extra staff and created new shifts to meet orders.

The Dermacol stoma collar – a soft collar that fits around the stoma – was developed specifically in line with feedback from patients, one of whom initially designed the product. Patient feedback had found that leakage and soreness were the two key difficulties which needed to be tackled. The main challenge for Salts was to find a suitable polyurethane and so designed, manufactured and now patented Alphathane which is an extremely soft, supple yet strong type of polyurethane.

In a clinical trial, 74 per cent of patients felt their pouch was more secure with the Dermacol collar and 83 per cent found it comfortable to wear.

See the product on Salts Website here

See also:
Salts Website

Article in the ‘Birmingham Post’

CUI International is a manufacturer and supplier of specialist underwear, swimwear and hernia support devices based in the UK.

“Our patented internal pocket system helps many ostomates to feel comfortable and confident in supporting the pouch.”

Some of their range is also available on UK NHS prescription, as are their Fulcionel hernia support briefs and belts.

For detailed information please visit their site: www.cuiwear.com

CUI Additions to Ostomyland Pages:
CUIwear.com has also been added to the Ostomy Lifestyle Guide within Ostomyland on the For Further Information chapter, under the Underwear/Swimwear listing, and on to our Ostomy Weblinks chapter

Ostomy Lifestyle (ostomylifestyle.org) has uploaded a video of their recently underwear and swimwear promotion evening. If you missed the event and want to see what went on, or if you want to remember the fun time you had at the evening, then why not pop over to their website and checkout the video. It’s available in HD too for those with a suitably fast internet connection speed, and who knows… it may tempt you into attending their next fundraising event too!

Website Link: ostomylifestyle.org

Yesterday saw the start of WOC Nurse Week. During this week, the Society will recognise woc nurses for the services they provide to millions of patients.

WOC (Wound, Ostomy and Continence) Nurses are a major source of help to Ostomates as well as those who have chronic, acute wounds or continence disorders.

Starting with ostomy care in 1968, the role of the nurse evolved to include patients afflicted with chronic and acute wounds caused by pressure ulcers, diabetes and venous insufficiency, as well as individuals suffering from fecal and urinary incontinence.

But with nearly 60 percent of wocn members nearing retirement age, the Society is asking: “How can the wocn Society ensure future generations of nurses are trained adequately to respond to the specific needs of woc patients?”

To answer this question, the wocn Society will begin promoting mentoring opportunities and encouraging professionals to share skills and expertise to equip a new generation to carry on the wocn commitment to caring.

Visit their website to learn more:
http://www.wocn.org/About_Us/News/27/

The easter weekend is nearly upon us, and so I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all Ostomyland members and visitors a very happy Easter weekend. I hope you all have a great weekend, and manage to sneak a little bit of chocolate in somewhere.

It’s Saturday! The weekend is here, and Ostomyland that can only mean one thing. . . yes, it’s time for our weekly IRC chat ostomy support meeting. Every Saturday at 8pm BST (GMT+1), and lasting most of the evening, you can join us in our chat room for the meeting. Ask other ostomates questions, shoot the breeze with people in a similar boat to yourself, or just watch what everyone else says and jump in when you feel ready too.

If you’ve not joined us in the chat room before, why not make today the day! You dont need to have any sepereate software, you can join Ostomyland’s chat room using your own web browser. Simply click here to go to the chat webpage, scroll down to where it says “Java Chat Windows: take your pick…” then just choose what size of chat window you want to use and click on it’s link. Once the new window has loaded, just enter your nickname, click connect and then chat away!

Cant make the meeting today? Dont worry, its on every week and the chat room is open 24/7 for impromptu support and/or off topic chat, although we cannot guarantee that that will always be someone in the chat room every minute of the day – in fact we can all but guarantee that that will NOT be the case, lol. UK and US weekday evenings are usually the best time to find people in the chat room away from the weekly meetings.

Visit the Chat Room:

http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/ostomyland-chat-room/

World Time: There is a clock at the top of this post showing you what the current UK BST (GMT+1) time is to help you work out what the starting time of the meeting is.

Congratulations to

Cal
Phyllis
Jules

for finding this year’s April Fool.

Have you spotted it yet? If not, here’s a hint…..it’s on the Message Board…..