Posted by Jeanne Lowry on January 27, 2015 under Caregiver Corner, Ostomy Care, Resources | 
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We have over 1,700 pins, spread out on thirty boards – and it grows every week! Our boards are varied and include “Helpful Senior Videos,” “Laughter: The Best Medicine” and “Top-Rated Ostomy Supplies and Support.” So come visit us on Pinterest and we’ll see you there!
Posted by Jeanne Lowry on January 2, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment
Happy New Year, everyone! To kick off 2015, a year in which an estimated 134,000 new stomas will be created, we thought we’d take a look at a few of our favorite ostomate blogs.
Ostomy Outdoors
Heidi’s ostomy surgery is now four years behind her, and her life is so active and “normal” that she completely forgot her “stomaversary” this year, something she used to celebrate. To her, that means she’s now in place she wanted to be almost immediately after getting her surgery, a place where her stoma, Wilbur, isn’t on her mind every day. Heidi’s posts about traveling, hiking and other intense outdoor adventures will inspire everyone to get out there, no matter what!
The Stolen Colon – Living Beautifully with an Ostomy
Stephanie is also very active: she’s a triathlete and runs half-marathons on a regular basis. Her stoma surgery is more recent, at about two and a half years, but she is also very comfortable with the changes it has brought to her life. She gives lots of great advice about life with a stoma, including what to wear, how to troubleshoot ostomy bag problems and more. And she’s always very honest about her feelings about her stoma.
OstomyChic
This blog is written by a professional women who’s ileostomy is a little higher than what most people have. This makes dressing a bit of a challenge – but one that she’s up to! While she doesn’t post very often these days, her clothing advice is timeless.
We’d love to hear about more ostomy blogs that we could highlight in upcoming posts! Please let us know of yours or one you read in the comments below.
Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 24, 2014 under BladderMatters, Ostomy Care, Very Urological | Be the First to Comment
We took a look at some of our product reviews back in August but as we get new reviews in all the time, we thought the topic worth another visit.
Please keep in mind that all of our products are available to review right on their page. Not only do we love the feedback about the items we carry, reviewing can help your fellow customers know more about a product. We try to create product descriptions that are helpful to all customers, but those of you who are using them have the best knowledge about them!
Review of Prevail Adjustable Underwear:
“My husband needed after Prostate cancer surgery and found this brand best fit and most comfortable for larger size man.”
Review of Hollister Adapt Paste:
“My son was born with gastroschesis, which is a birth defect were the intestines grow out of the body in utero. He had his first surgery an hour after birth and now has a colostomy. He makes in a bag until his reversal surgery. The bag was constantly leaking and pulling away from his skin. I was changing it at least 5 times a day. My surgeon told me about Adapt which keeps the round and bag secure for at least 24 hours. This product changed everything.”
Review of Dale Foley Tube Catheter Leg Band:
“…This is probably the best product of its kind on the market. I have used it for years and prefer it over anything else. They are washable and can be bleached to disinfect. One will last me at least two months.”
We love these positive reviews, but we are aware that not all products work perfectly for everyone. A recent comment on one of our skin barriers for ostomates told us that while they found the product easy to fit and durable, and called it a good product, that they found it difficult to remove. In that case, we would recommend another skin barrier for that person, as different adhesives can affect various skin types in unexpected ways.
If you have an opinion on one of our products, we ask that you head over to TotalHomeCareSupplies.com and tell us!
Posted by Jeanne Lowry on October 16, 2014 under Ostomy Care | Read the First Comment
Ostomy nurses are generally associated with a larger group called WOC Nurses (Wound, Ostomy and Continence). Originally, ostomy nurses started out as something called Enterostomal Therapists in the 1960s. The first association of these types of nurses went through some turbulent times before eventually becoming the WOCN Society.
Because ostomy nurses spent so much time learning about how to care for ostomies, they learned a lot about wound care. And incontinence and ostomy nurses have a great amount of knowledge about how the bladder and intestines work. But each of these nurses has their own specialty.
Ostomy nurses often meet their patients before the surgery takes place. They are the ones with the answers and make the time to discuss the life changes with the patient and their family. Oftentimes, they’re the ones that make recommendations on where the stoma should be placed, after discussing the placement with the patient and watching how that person sits. They also walk the patient through their feelings about the stoma, and may recommend discussing the upcoming surgery with someone who has already experienced it.
After the surgery, ostomy nurses are there to show patients how to use their ostomy pouches and answer more questions. They still may be helping the patient to emotionally deal with the impact of their new stoma.
Many nurses, of all types, may connect deeply with their patients. And many patients also connect with and remember their nurses. But ostomy nurses are there during such a huge and often positive life-changing event, they deserve a special shout out. So thank you, WOC Nurses! You are appreciated.
Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 6, 2014 under BladderMatters, Ostomy Care, Very Urological | Read the First Comment
We think we carry the best possible incontinence, ostomy and urological products out there.
But you don’t have to take OUR word for it.
We love it when our customers review our products. It lets their fellow customers know specifics of the product and first-hand accounts of using them. We thought we’d highlight a few of these reviews in today’s post. When you finish, please feel free to write some reviews of your own!
Review of First Quality Prevail Adult Briefs:
“I have used this particular brand of briefs for many years and I highly recommend them. They’re absorbent and not too bulky. They’re comfortable and really are the best brief out there.”
Review of Hollister New Image 2pc Flextend Skin Barrier CTF:
“I love these flanges this inside portion is protected by what appears to be plastic covering over the barrier. The ease of use and the outer sticky tape helps hold the flange and barrier are in place. Rarely does it become un-sticky even in the shower. I would recommend them and I’ve tried many types.”
Review of Dale Foley Tube Catheter Leg Band:
“This is the best way to hold a cath tube in place. Have used many and found nothing better.”
While we of course love positive reviews, we want to hear about all the types of experiences that our customers have with our products. We use these reviews when considering which products and product lines we should sell, and will sometimes pass on the comments to the manufacturer. Our goal is your satisfaction with everything we sell.
For instance, this review of ConvaTec Aloe Vesta Perineal Skin Cleanser helps us know that there’s another product out there that a customer would like us to carry:
“Great product although it’s hard to spray[,] a foaming product would be better. Hospitals carry the liquid foaming that is what I really was looking for.”
(That cleansing foam can be found here.)
So if you have an opinion on a product you’re using, it’d be great if you’d head over to TotalHomeCareSupplies.com and write it up! Thanks in advance!
Posted by Jeanne Lowry on July 30, 2014 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment
On June 21st, 2014 the charity organization Crohn’s and Colitis UK posted a picture of one Bethany Townsend. As of this writing, the post has received nearly 250,000 likes, easily catapulting it to the status of viral. What was Townsend wearing in this popular photo? A bikini, an ostomy bag and a stoma cap.
Other sites, including Huffington Post picked up on the photo and the short article about Townsend, but failed to go into an explanation of what these items she’s wearing are and what they’re for. This led to a huge uptick in searches online for the word “ostomy” as people strove to understand why it was that Townsend needed bags to survive.
So here’s the short and sweet explanation: Ostomy bags are the term for any bag placed over a surgical opening on a body, generally in the abdomen region (you can see some examples of new bags here). The uses for these bags are to help with the work of organs that aren’t functioning properly or have been removed, such as all or part of the large intestine or the bladder. In cases such as Crohn’s disease, colitis, cancer or other issues, a surgeon will create a direct connection from the working parts to the outside of the body – creating a stoma (aka opening). Waste from the small intestine (or part of the large intestine or bladder) is dispelled through that opening, generally into a bag.
Ms. Townsend appears to be wearing an ostomy bag, and a stoma cap. The ostomy bag is there to capture the contents being emptied from her small intestine. The stoma cap, the smaller of the two items, is likely there to capture any small output from that particular stoma. As that stoma likely doesn’t produce waste on a consistent basis, it doesn’t need a full-sized bag. This is an assumption, of course, and everyone’s experience with stomas differs, but that’s a basic explanation of bags and caps.
It’s great to see such a positive response to Townsend’s photo, and to see so many people reply with proud pictures of themselves sporting ostomy bags.
Posted by Maria Garcia on August 27, 2012 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment
Hollister New Image 2pc Flextend Skin Barrier
This Hollister product skin barrier has built-in convexity which means added security and skin protection for recessed, retracted and flush stomas. It Eliminates pressure on tender post operative abdomens with the exclusive Floating Flange. Avaliable at Total home care supplies.
FlexWear skin barrier provides skin protection for an extended wear time. It fits comfortably, sturdy and reliable which we know is very important to our customers with ostomy care needs.
It is tape bonded and cut to fit for your convenience
Sizes : 1 3/4 (44MM)FLG, 2 1/4 FLANGE, 4″FLANGE 2PC, 2 3/4″ FLANGE
Posted by Maria Garcia on August 16, 2012 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment
We can help put your worries at ease about your colostomy supply needs . Total Home Care Supplies has a selection of Hollister products that are easy to use, flexible and gentle.
You can feel secure with the 2-pc Convex Flextend Barrier . It has added skin protection for recessed, retracted and flush stomas. This product will help eliminate pressure on tender post operative abdomens with the exclusive Floating Flange. You may wear this ostomy product for an extended period of time without discomfort which will keep you at ease.
Cut-to-fit avalible in these sizes.
1 3/4″ FLANGE , 2 3/4″FLANGE, 2 1/4″FLANGE
Posted by Maria Garcia on under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment
For individuals with sensitive skin or limited dexterity this Hollister Adapt Barrier Ring is Sting free. Total Home Care Supplies offers this ostomy accessory as an alternative to paste products.
The shape of the Hollister Adapt Barrier Ring can be changed to fit the shape of the stoma. Allowing it to fill in depressions and evens out skin contours under a skin barrier. Using other tapes can be a hassle but these are perfect and flexible to fit right where you need them to!
Hollister Adapt Convex Barrier Rings are also available.
Posted by Morgan Mooney on August 6, 2012 under Promotions | Be the First to Comment
TotalHomeCareSupplies has another Summertime Special Offer! First, take 5% off all Prevail Brand products using the Promo Code: TRYPREVAIL. Next, our site is going through a few minor system updates, and with these changes comes a slight increase in ostomy product prices. For this inconvenience we are offering 3% off all ostomy products with the Promo code: OSTOMY3. We appreciate all of our customers and thank you for choosing TotalHomeCareSupplies.
