Wellness

[Mom in NY]

I live in Queens NY and am trying to get a Wound Care Nurse for a home visit for my son-in-law with a new ostomy just last week.  I have called for help and no one as yet has responded.  Can anyone here help me.  TIA

[Carmie]

I am so sorry that you are not getting the help that is needed for your SIL.

The care he needs is provided by a Home Health Care Agency ( HHCA) and is covered by insurance.  This type of service must be ordered by his physician.

Once the physician orders the service, usually a HHCA will make contact and set up an appointment to come into his home and provide the service.

If he has not been contacted yet, call his physician's office and advise them.  They need to get this started for him.

Unfortunally, you can't get the services for him yourself.  Sometimes you need to light a fire under doctor's office who in turn will turn up the heat at the HHCA to get things rolling along.

[151949]

Does he have a home health care nurse coming to see him? If he does you could start by asking her about a ostomy specialist - otherwise you should start with your doctor. 

Really a pretty poor surgeon would discharge a new ostomy patient without making some arrangements for the patient to learn to care for it.

[mardy]

My daughter had ostomy surgery 10 years ago at the age of 19. When she was released from hospital a nurse was assigned to come to our home for about 3 weeks to help with adjustment to a new lifestyle. It's standard procal from her doctor, plus a name of a wound nurse from the hospital was given. Even to this day she has called that number for advise when needed.  Definitely call doctor first then hospital if needed.  Good luck to your SIL it is a lifesaving surgery but also a continual life change.

[Mom in NY]

Thank you all for your help.  I will get right on this for him,.

[KLm]

Bless you @Mom in NY for taking this on for him. He is lucky to have someone go fight for him. You are fierce!

[Big Sister]

At some time in our lives we will all need a Patient Advocate and fortunately you are there for your SIL.  Good luck.

[sydsgma1]

There are nurses called enterostomatherapy nurses who work with osteo my patients. His surgeon should have set him up with one. 

These nurses specialize in working with ostomy patients and are a huge help. 

The United ostomy association is. Great support group. He is not alone. 

After er he feels better and adjusts to his new body, life will go on. I have traveled around the world, worked full time and sung professionally as an ostomate. Best of luck to him. 

[Gooday]

My DH has had a urostomy since 1992 as a result of having his bladder removed from cancer.

He met with the ostomy nurse prior to his surgery for his "marking" and then after the surgery.  Back then he was in the hospital for 2 weeks.  I don't know how long they keep you in these days.

In DH's favor was a H.S. friend of mine who worked at our neighborhood pharmacy who was a true life saver.  Osteomy care and products was his specialty.  DH continues to have the occasional accident but there are times it can't be help.

For those who take showering for granted, be grateful you don't have to do the prep involved with taking a shower and afterward.  You deal with skin prep and special tape, osteomy bags, all of which cause skin breakdown. 

However, DH is grateful he is alive, beat cancer and is the grateful recipient of a kidney transplant.

O.P. Help is out there and this should have been explained to you before your brother left the hospital.