WA Ostomy Association in Mount Lawley, Western Australia | Non-profit organisation

WA Ostomy Association

Locality: Mount Lawley, Western Australia

Phone: +61 8 9272 1833

Address: 15 Guildford Road 6050 Mount Lawley, WA, Australia

Website: https://www.waostomy.org.au

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• Medical and health
• Non-profit organisation
• Medical equipment supplier

25.01.2022 From Bowel Cancer Australia Facebook page: We were saddened to hear of actor Chadwick Bosemans passing last Friday. The highly acclaimed entertainer, who played Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Black Panther, was diagnosed with Stage III bowel cancer in 2016 and passed away at the young age of 43.... Although the rates for bowel cancer have been declining among adults over 50, the rates continue to rise in adults under 50. Young-onset patients are also more likely to be diagnosed with bowel cancer in Stage 3 or 4, when the disease is harder to treat. It is a common misconception that bowel cancer is an old persons disease, but the reality is that you should never be told that you are too young to have bowel cancer. No one knows your body better than you, so listen to it and if something isnt right make an appointment to speak with your doctor as soon as possible. Being young does not make you immune to bowel cancer. Chadwick Bosemans untimely death reminds us, more must be done to help save young lives. Heres a recent post shared by our friends at Fight Colorectal Cancer , we couldnt have said it better ourselves.

25.01.2022 Great meeting last night! The Next Mandurah Support Group Meeting is 7th October 2020. Looking forward to seeing you then

25.01.2022 Christmas Raffle at WAOA headquarters Next time you collect your orders, bring some spare change to buy a ticket (or more!) to go into a draw to win a hamper valued at over $100 thanks to ConvaTec... Proceeds of the raffle go towards Rural Ostomate Support WA $1- one ticket $2- two tickets $5- eight tickets Raffle to be drawn Friday 18th December

24.01.2022 Happy Mothers Day to our ostomy-mums and mums of Ostomates Happy Mothers Day to our ostomy-mums and mums of Ostomates

24.01.2022 https://newsd.in/world-toilet-day-2020-date-theme-and-sign/ Did you know, today November 19 is World Toilet Day? This is an official United Nations international observance day to inspire action to tackle global sanitation crisis

24.01.2022 . WAOA is open for the collection of supplies. However this will be rather different for a while: Social distancing will be enforced Only 2 people inside at a time... We will sign for your parcel There will be no toilet access To help reduce queues because of these restrictions we will be open each weekday as below: Monday 9 4 Tuesday 06.30 am 4 Wednesday 9 4 Thursday 9 4 Friday 9 4 and our usual 4th Saturday 9 1 pm + New Members and General Support Meetings Stomal Therapy Nurses (STN) will be available on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 1. No appointments will be needed just tell us you want to see the STN. PLEASE NOTE: 1. You can still have your parcels posted if you choose this option. 2. Try to come at off peak times (not 9 10 each day) 3. Dont come if you are unwell We will all need to be patient with each other until we get back to a fully staffed workforce (we are continuing the 2 shifts for the time being as a safety measure) Thank you

23.01.2022 WAOA acknowledges the essential role of nursing in the community. 14-20 September is Nursing in the Community week Thank you for all the hard work you do Community Nurses ... #NursesWhereYouNeedThem

23.01.2022 Containers for Change is a great initiative to return eligible drink containers for a 10c refund per container, helping to reduce litter as well as recycling these products. You may keep the refund or donate the refund to a charity. If you’d like to donate to WAOA please quote C10326918 Use this link to find your nearest return depot and to see what containers are eligible... https://www.containersforchange.com.au/wa/ Big thanks to those who have used their refund to donate to WAOA so far!

22.01.2022 I am pleased to be able to report that I survived the flights and had a very successful and worthwhile trip to South Hedland. I saw a total of 6 ostomates inclu...ding one at home. Many had issues that I was able to rectify and were related to their skin or product . I was horrified to hear one ladies story who describes having her surgery as an emergency and being discharged over a weekend with a couple of bags she was instructed to washout. She was told to contact the STN at RPH the following week. Due to the weekend she was unable to do this for 3 days and once she received her bags taught herself how to look after her stoma via U tube! The problems didn't stop there for her. Like many rural nurses the surgeons are transient and as such she hasn't seen the surgeon who performed her operation again, and has seen a total of 5 surgeons before being able to arrange her reversal. Its awful to believe that things like this are still going on in our Western Society. To address this I have written to the coordinator of nursing at the hospital to express my concern and suggested ways that this can be managed in the future. A short term solution is for new ostomates to have a telehealth appointment with a STN in Perth prior to discharge and a long term goal to have a STN qualified at the hospital. On a positive note we had a full house for the stoma education and have identified a nurse who is interested in undertaking the STN course. I am hoping to get to Northam by the end of the year but my initial plans to visit Esperance in January may be thwarted by lack of available accommodation unless of course I fly .............................................

22.01.2022 1. WAOA Stomal Therapy Nurse Introduction and Terminology Video https://youtu.be/B3-Kdd8eX5g WA Ostomy Association distributes ostomy products and provides support to its 3,500 members all over the state. It is run almost entirely by volunteers who in the main have Ostomies themselves. A Stomal Therapy Nurse Service is available at the association to assist with problems you may have in relation to your stoma, skin and or appliance. Bowel & Stoma Health is an extension of thi...s service by taking the clinics out to the rural areas all over WA and providing education to the nurses. Where possible contact your own STN at your hospital in the first instance as they know you and have direct access to your medical history and the doctors. New ostomate and ongoing support meetings are held at WAOA as well as regular meetings in Mandurah, Albany and Kalgoorlie. We have direct access to an Exercise Physiologist, Dietician, Reiki practitioner, Reflexologist, Relationship Counsellor, Chinese Herbalist, Mens health and Social workers/Councilors, please contact us for referral. To add to this support, we have put together a short series of videos for your information and reference. For further information please dont hesitate to contact us either by telephone, email, letter or via the website. Different Terminology and products An ostomy is a surgical opening into an organ to divert the direction of its contents, the prefix tells you which part of that organ has been used. For example, a colostomy is formed from the Colon, an ileostomy from the ilium. An ostomate is a person who has a surgically created ostomy. As for our friend the stoma its a Greek word for mouth or opening therefore its the opening of your ostomy onto the skin. It is your bowel turned inside out so can bleed readily due to lots of superficial blood vessels similar to the gum in your mouth. A fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway that connects two organs that do not usually connect.

22.01.2022 So with the permission from the girls parents here is 3 amazing little girls Salts Healthcare AlderHey Childrens Hospital ConvaTec Stoma UK #kidshavestomastoo #keepcalmitsjustabag

21.01.2022 10. Ostomy Accessories Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1yp3E6vPMk&feature=youtu.be Products and Accessories... There are over 2,500 different products available on the scheme as all stomas are very different, as individuals are- there isnt one product that fits all. Your STN at the hospital has more than likely shown you a couple of different options. The main differences of appliances are - one or two piece , cut to fit or precut, - convex or flat, closed or drainable, see the section on your type of ostomy for further details. We are well supported by the companies who supply the products, they are more than happy to send you samples and often have displays of their products at the association. The company reps frequently support our rural visits so that as many ostomates and nurses can be kept up to date. The government spends over 22 million dollars a year on the accessories that are available to each ostomate through the Stoma Appliance Scheme. We are one of the only countries that doesnt have to pay for their products, so we need to limit the use of extras where possible. The least you put on your skin the better for your skin and the easier it is to look after. Your stoma nurse may have suggested that you use stomahesive powder around your stoma followed by a skin barrier wipe. This assists it to heal in the early days but shouldnt be needed beyond the first 6 weeks after surgery. Other products you may have been advised to use are remove sprays and wipes (you are only able to order one or the other not sprays and wipes in the one month), lube (for colostomates), seals which may prolong the wear time of your appliance, tablets or drops to prevent the bacteria in the stool creating gas, belts that attach to the bag to assist with security, sachets that thicken the output in the bag. It is advisable to speak to your STN before ordering any of these extra products so that you can be given the best advice and ensure that they arent overused and potentially cause skin problems.

21.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/112840200076045/posts/364391564920906/?vh=e&d=n

21.01.2022 Don’t let these beautiful warm summer days go to waste!

21.01.2022 Following recent news, what I want to do is promote the positivity of the ostomy community. To shine a light on the amazing people living daily with a stoma. No...t just living but thriving and doing AMAZING things. It isnt always easy, but when is life always easy? These are people I look up to and want to thank for supporting me through my surgery. And if you are facing or have had ostomy surgery and need somewhere to turn PLEASE get in touch. You are not alone. You can do this. @ste_w22 - he may be my boyfriend but before I met him he was making waves raising the profile of invisible illnesses, including having an ostomy. He has become a father and a stepfather since his surgery and continues to support others. @sahara88uk - Sahara has recently gone back to having a stoma after having a temporary one previously. She has won a Pride of Britain award, set up 2 charity support groups including @ibdsuperheroes and continues to fight for a cure for IBD @lisakateostomate - this lovely lady had her surgery about 6 months before me. It was seeing her get back to work and enjoying life with her ostomy that helped me see it was still possible @rocking2stomas - an inspiration to me. This beautiful lady has not one but two stomas and works so, so hard to fight for better care and awareness for ostomates @carolinebramwell - Caroline has a stoma and competes in triathlons (crazy lady) as well as working for @iasupport @stomainateacup - one of the first stoma blogs I read, Shell has always inspired me to strive for more and be proud of my body @laurenhenderson1987 - founder of @pw_charity as well as being a teacher and a Mummy. Lauren and Purple Wings helped me so much following my surgery and she is still working hard to support ostomates following their surgery @colitis_to_ostomy - has become one of my best friends and our stomas were created on the same day. She works hard for her family and always continues to push herself in spite of her stoma @bagdaddysteve - Steve is an amazing man and one of the loveliest humans Ive ever met. He has travelled the world to help raise awareness and support for ostomates

21.01.2022 Isn’t Western Australia just beautiful? Share a pic of your favourite place, in land or beach, in Western Australia below Bonus points if your pic includes an ostomy somewhere!

21.01.2022 WAOA wishes all the fathers out there had a great Fathers Day today, despite the weather!

20.01.2022 4. Specific Urostomy Information Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uqSGVpO4tU&feature=youtu.be Urostomy/Ileal Conduit...Continue reading

20.01.2022 5. Changing your Bag Demonstration Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufgzcL6ouA4&feature=youtu.be How to change a bag ... This is something that you will adapt to your own circumstances but for an ileostomate and urostomate it would be better to change your bag first thing in the morning before you eat or drink so that your stoma is least active. Once your wounds are healed it is preferable to take the appliance off whilst in the shower enabling you to wash your skin under running water, if the stoma is active the output will simply get washed away. Do not wash the skin around your stoma with soap as this alters the PH and will make your skin more susceptible to breakdown. It is not a problem however if shower gel or wash comes into contact with the skin whilst washing other parts of your body. Have your equipment ready to apply your new bag as soon as you step out of the shower. See video for a recommended process.

19.01.2022 Knowing where toilets are is also important for ostomates This link will show you a map of toilets near you

18.01.2022 7. I Have a Rash (skin care) Video. https://youtu.be/mgMl6zWeaC0 Preventing skin and stoma complications and what to do if concerned?... Skin problems can be an issue for many but can largely be prevented by careful removal of pouches and minimal use of products/accessories on the skin. Your skin under your appliance should look the same as the other side of your abdomen. Remember that your stoma will shrink particularly in the first 6 weeks so remeasure your stoma at least once a week and ensure there is only a 2mm gap between the edge of your appliance and the stoma. It is also worth noting that sometime the stoma can get bigger particularly if you put on weight or develop a hernia. Speak to your STN with any concerns. See more

18.01.2022 It is that time of year again, when we celebrate one of our favourite weeks in the calendar year. This year from June 8th - 14th it is National Stomal Therapy A...wareness Week! . This nationally-designated week in June acknowledges and supports the person living with a stoma in our community and recognises the health professional and other support organisations involved in their care. . Our theme at Omnigon for this year is not all heroes wear capes, which is so fitting given the current circumstances taking place in the world right now. Here is to you, both Stomal Therapy Nurses and ostomates for being amazing people and the real heroes. . Stay tuned for more posts coming to celebrate this special week! . Special shout out to ostomate and graphic designer @emjayuc https://www.instagram.com/emjayuc/?hl=en for another incredible design to help support Stomal Therapy Awareness Week. . #stoma #ostomates #ostomy #ostomyawareness #ostomybag #ostomylife #ibd #ibdawareness #crohnsdisease #crohnsandcolitis #embraceyourstoma #boweldisease #ileostomy #colostomy #urostomy See more

17.01.2022 https://youtu.be/q5NVwzVAKOw 2. Specific Colostomy Information Video Otto To assist in understanding the surgery you have had done we can use our model OTTO. It helps to understand how things are connected and their names to help piece all things together. ...Continue reading

17.01.2022 Well done Lauren Lapkus! Well done for winning the money and raising awareness Crohns & Colitis Foundation

16.01.2022 Anyone is all walks of life can have a stoma. How cute are the littles ones sharing their brave story!

16.01.2022 This amazing little boy is called George, and he is nearly 4 years old. He was diagnosed with Hirschsprungs disease when he was born and has suffered throug...h many operations with his most recent one being having his Ileostomy fitted (which is his second one yet!). He is doing really well and loves his stoma, which he has named Willy Wonka - what a hero! Share some love for this incredible little human guys. See more

16.01.2022 https://youtu.be/mVoizKe6XCc 3. Specific Ileostomy Information Video Ileostomy Loop Ileostomy...Continue reading

15.01.2022 Ethan was born assumed perfectly healthy at 40 weeks, however did not pass stool for 48 hours which most people do not understand the importance of. He was ...home for three weeks and stopped feeding well and became extremely bloated. Rushed to hospital as he turned blue, he was diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease. Ethan was taken into surgery the next day to get his first stoma fitted. Unfortunately although the operation went as planned, his stoma prolapsed requiring surgery to remove another 15cm, as well as a loop stoma to help prevent any further prolapse. He spent 30 days in ICU until his parents could finally take him home! He celebrated his first birthday on the 15th of August and has not experienced any further problems, wearing his little bag with pride. His parents are over the moon with him and he does not deserve everything hes been through so young, but he is one strong little boy! My heart goes out to him and I wish him a healthy and happy life ahead. Show this amazing boy some love #Bagboysforlife &

14.01.2022 And please dispose of your ostomy bag in rubbish, not down the toilet

14.01.2022 Stomas Save Lives Stomas are not anything to be ashamed of! My heart broke hearing the news of patient #msp and it just shows we havent shouted loud enough ab...out the positive side of having a stoma, we havent reached out enough to help those struggling and we need to work harder to raise awareness and remove the stigma. Having a stoma isnt always easy and its hard to come to terms with initially but my stoma gave me my life back. In memory of patient #msp Im going to work twice as hard to show others life goes on after stoma surgery and the community is an amazing support network We can make a difference... Spread your positive message and tag me in it. Add the #stomassavelives so others can read your messages #stomassavelives #stoma #ibdawareness #colitis #ibd #crohns

14.01.2022 Mandurah Ostomy Support Group Returns!

13.01.2022 A beautiful poem written by a daughter to her mother as she "beat" bladder cancer, full of support and encouragement. www.beatbladdercanceraustralia.org.au #bladdercancer #bladdercancersupport

13.01.2022 Its lovely to be able to report that we have been open to the public for over a month at the association and although we are maintaining social distancing praci...tices and the staff are still working split days, there is a buzz about the place again. Having a stoma creates its own challanges but having to cope while isolated from others must be extreemly difficult. Our thoughts go out to our members in Victoria and other parts of the world so much less fortunate than ourselves. Our new members support groups are back and running as are our Mandurah and Albany regional groups. We are hoping that Kalgoorlie will follow suit soon. We have just returned from a very successful trip to Narrogin which had to be cancelled in April. 5 Ostomates were seen in the clinic and 10 nursing staff attended the Stomal Therapy education session. Louella from Hollister, Bronwyn from Dansac and Bell from Coloplast came to support and provide samples to the ostomates and nurses. Thank you once again to these wonderful ladies!! Looking forward there is a bit of catching up to do with the trips which were planned for the rest of the year- but we are hoping to make it to Karratha/Roebourne/Headland in Oct and hopefully Northam by Xmas. We are very excited to have found a psycologist with experience with ostomates, that is able to provide support to rural members via skype/facetime or other means . If you have a gp mental health care plan these sessions will be heavily reduced. Contact us for further information.

11.01.2022 What really is this surgery, an ileostomy? Having an ileostomy is where your colon/large bowel is surgically removed. This can be due to Crohns, Colitis, Di...verticulitis or cancer But what does this really mean having a 5ft organ removed from the body ? The large bowel also called the colon is part of the final stages of digestion. Its function is to remove waste (food left over after nutrients are absorbed by the small bowel and also bacteria) from the body. The colon is also responsible for absorbing water and electrolytes (salts, etc) in order to keep you hydrated. Therefore water and salt intake is so essential, especially for people with ileostomies as youre losing more water and salts than someone with a colon. But for me no colon is better than with one @thekidwithabag #ostomy #ileostomy #ostomates #crohnscolitis #crohnsdisease #colitis #cancer #awareness #hydration #ibdawareness #digestivehealth

10.01.2022 Hello again members We hope you are coping with these interesting times and are ready to spread your wings a little more as things open up. WAOA too is opening up for collection of supplies again from Monday 13th July. However this will be rather different for a while: Social distancing will be enforced Only 2 people inside at a time We will sign for your parcel... There will be no toilet access To help reduce queues because of these restrictions we will be open each weekday as below: Monday 9 4 Tuesday 06.30 am 4 Wednesday 9 4 Thursday 9 4 Friday 9 4 and our usual 4th Saturday 9 1 pm + New Members and General Support Meetings (July 25). Stomal Therapy Nurses (STN) will now be available on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 1. No appointments will be needed just tell us you want to see the STN. PLEASE NOTE: 1. You can still have your parcels posted if you choose this option. 2. Try to come at off peak times (not 9 10 each day) 3. Dont come if you are unwell 4. We will all need to be patient with each other until we get back to a fully staffed workforce (we are continuing the 2 shifts for the time being as a safety measure) Thank you for your patience and positive support. Lorrie and the whole team

10.01.2022 6. Hernia Prevention Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8zfp1ANpOs&feature=youtu.be What is a hernia? Can we prevent it?... A hernia is a prolapse of bowel through the muscle wall A peri stomal hernia is where the bowel behind the stoma has prolapsed through the muscle wall, causing a bulge, which can be quite prominent. To help prevent this from happening its important in the first 3 months after surgery not to lift anything heavier than a kettle. It is also a good idea to get into the habit of wearing a support garment such a belt when exercising. There are also undergarments that can be worn as everyday wear. If you are a member of the ostomy association you are entitled to 3 belts or 6 pairs of pants or a mixture of the two every year. It is best to be measured for a support garment by a STN who can discuss the best option for your circumstances. If you havent been given any instruction in hospital on core strengthening exercises it would be well worthwhile seeing an exercise physiologist to guide you. If you get a chronic disease management plan from your GP this visit can be subsidised. We can put you in touch with an exercise physiologist who has experience in those with abdominal ostomies. If you do develop a hernia the only way it can be reversed is by surgery and often the hernia ends up reoccurring. Surgery will only be performed if the hernia is causing problems with your output , blood supply to the bowel or giving you a lot of discomfort.

09.01.2022 Hi all Great meeting last night so just getting in early as I know its a busy time of the year. This will be the last meeting for the year so lets bring a littl...e Christmas cheer! Please bring a little plate of goodies to share in the spirit of the time of year! Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday 2nd December 2020 at the Greenfields Community Centre. Cheers K :) See more

08.01.2022 9. What about Intimacy? Video https://youtu.be/T-dRVUf0zFo Want to talk about sex?... Im sure sex isnt the first thing on your mind following such surgery but intimacy, hugs and cuddles are just as important if not more so at this time. If you have a partner, do discuss your fears about perhaps the bag leaking and what you could do to prevent these embarrassments. If you dont have a partner, then it certainly doesnt mean that you cant go on to meet someone when you have an ostomy. Obviously, it doesnt have to be something that you tell someone on a first date but it would be something to discuss before you become intimate. When you are ready there are pouch covers that can be bought to cover the bag (at WAOA or via insideoutostomy life), women can tie a silk scarf around your waist or wear crutch less pants. Some men like to wear the hernia support belt to stop the bag from moving around. There are also small bags that can be worn for short periods if you have a colostomy or ileostomy. If there are physical problems with sexual function- such as erectile dysfunction in men or radiation damage to a womans vagina there are things that can be done so, do consider approaching a sexual therapist/councillor. We have access to these at the association. Many ostomates have gone on to find partners, marry and have children. See more

08.01.2022 HNY Looking forward to seeing you all in February

07.01.2022 Attention Bunbury/Busselton members: Felicity Jones will be returning to her STN role in Bunbury part time for 3 months on 1st February.... During that time Ann Carter will fill in the gaps and cover Busselton. The Stoma Clinic in Busselton will change to Tuesday’s 1 to 4pm commencing 2nd February 2021. Thank you

06.01.2022 Tuesday May 19th is World IBD Day 2020 :)

05.01.2022 I spy an ostomy bag in there!

04.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/228735667216/posts/10158159796122217/?vh=e&extid=cNXpHXqaKSROKW8r&d=n

03.01.2022 Id like to thank our hard working volunteers, especially during these challenging times. Did you know WAOA is mainly run by volunteers? Happy volunteers week!

03.01.2022 WAOA is open to celebrate World Ostomy Awareness Day on Saturday 3rd October 9 - 3 pm. Come with your family to learn, tour, try a free Reiki or Reflexology session, meet other allied health professionals and meet our STN, company reps and volunteers. RSVP essential by Friday 25th September [email protected] ... Light refreshments available. Ostomy bears for sale. All welcome. From the WA Team

02.01.2022 8. What I Can and Cant Do? Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8P4WzeeTnY&feature=youtu.be What can /cant I do?... Once you have recovered from your surgery there shouldnt be anything that you cant do because of your stoma. There are lots of ostomates who go skydiving, swimming , surfing , travelling, running and even weightlifting. We do have travel certificates that are in different languages for you to use at airports to help explain what your bag is for. You do however need to be prepared to show your bag but are entitled to ask to go to a private room. Body scanners are now operating at Perth Airport and if you have emptied your bag prior to going through they may not be detected. However, it is probably easier to divulge to the security staff that you have an ostomy to pre-empt any problems. Always divide your appliances between your baggage and ensure you have enough spare in your hand luggage for several days, not forgetting to put your scissors into your main luggage. See brochure on travelling with a stoma. As a new member you are given a Disabled Toilet Card, if you need to change your appliance while out and about this could be useful as well as a Find a toilet app.

01.01.2022 Happy WA day to our West Aussie Ostomates! Its a day to celebrate all Western Australians, recognising our Aboriginal history, early European settlers and the many from all over the world who have made, and continue to make, Western Australia their home. Its a day for each of us to reflect and celebrate all the great things about our people, our lifestyle, our culture and our potential. Quoted from https://www.celebratewa.com.au/what-is-wa-day/

01.01.2022 R U OK?Day is Thursday 10 September and this years message is Theres more to say after R U OK?. Learn what to say next so you can have a conversation that could change, or even save, a life. Visit www.ruok.org.au/join-r-u-ok-day #theresmoretosay