OSTOMY PRODUCTS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING. ONE WAY TO KEEP UP IS TO ATTEND AN OALA MEETING WHERE ONE OF THE MANY PRODUCT REPRESENTATIVES IS OFFERING INFORMATION ON THEIR PRODUCTS. A MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE CAN BRING YOU “UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL” BY DEMONSTRATING THE PRODUCTS AND LETTING YOU HANDLE THEM. BY LISTENING TO THE PRESENTATIONS YOU MAY FIND A PRODUCT THAT COULD PERFORM BETTER FOR YOUR GIVEN STOMA. YOU CAN EVEN GET SAMPLES MAILED TO YOUR HOME SO YOU CAN TRY THEM YOURSELF.
IN JUNE AND JULY WE HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CONVATEC, ANDREA BEUGNON, WHO DETAILED US ON A SKIN BARRIER PRODUCT THAT IS NEW TO THE MARKET. IN AUGUST, TAMMY MCMINN FROM HOLLISTER DEMONSTRATED A SKIN BARRIER THAT HAS A SUBSTANCE THAT IS NATURALLY FOUND IN THE SKIN CALLED CERAMIDES. CERAMIDES IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE SKIN BY KEEPING THE MOISTURE IN THE SKIN WHILE PROVIDING A GOOD ADHESIVE BARRIER. SEVERAL MEMBERS WERE INTERESTED IN THE PRODUCT AND TAMMY OFFERED TO SEND THEM TRIAL PRODUCTS.
ATTENDING AN OALA MEETING ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO BOTH ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT STOMA LIFE AND PROVIDE SOME
ANSWERS TO ANY NEW OSTOMATES WHO MAY BE ATTENDING THEIR FIRST MEETING. NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU HAVE HAD YOUR STOMA, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO GAIN BY ATTENDING A MEETING.
HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON. CHECK OUT THE DATES OF OUR NEXT MEETINGS IN THIS NEWSLETTER.
GLENDA HAMBURG RN, CWON
ACTING PRESIDENT, OALA