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Posted 3/9/2010 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

I've been perusing peoples post's and have come to realize: I need a PHD to understand half the definitions...Im positive I can't be the only one that looks at some of the "big word wednesday's" and shakes their head in total confusion.

Perhaps we can start a definition post of all the possible words we come across?

-Allie

www.oscartheostomy.blogspot.com

Posted 3/9/2010 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
These are medical abbreviations but are helpful to know:

CA - short for cancer/carcinoma (not California!)

NPO - nothing by mouth or officially nothing per os.

PRN - as needed

Great topic!
Posted 3/9/2010 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Allie~any in particular?
Posted 3/9/2010 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Colectomy, CI, subtotal (in any of it's derivative's) proctocolectomy, cholecystectomy....just to name a few...

-Allie
www.oscartheostomy.blogspot.com
Posted 3/9/2010 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
*raises hand* oo oo, i dont know any of the answers! LOL

i really dont know any of the technical names and you would think i would
Posted 3/9/2010 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
summerstorm...really?

okay, Allie, here's a start (feel free to correct if I get any wrong):

Colectomy: removal of entire colon
CI: Colonic Inertia (constipation due to weak muscles)
subtotal colectomy(in any of it's derivative's): removal of part/some of the colon
proctocolectomy: removal of colon/rectum
cholecystectomy: Gall Bladder removal

any others?
Posted 3/10/2010 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
well i thought i knew 1, 2 and 4 but i wasnt sure, and didnt want to give her the wrong answers! but i was right, lol.
Posted 3/10/2010 5:29 AM (GMT 0)

My definition of the proctocolectomy is the removal of the colon, rectum, appendix wink  and anus...but ALSO it's FREEDOM!!!!  yeah   

smurf 

Posted 3/10/2010 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
take down?

-Allie
www.oscartheostomy.blogspot.com
Posted 3/10/2010 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Protocolectomy doesn't always include an ostomy. I had my colon and rectum removed but don't have an ostomy. This can get confusing!

Takedown is for those of us who have had either a temporary ostomy or temporary colectomy. It simply means the closure of the ostomy and the return to passing waste through the anus.

Sue
Posted 3/10/2010 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
There's a great book someone on the crohn's board rec'd. 100 Questions and Answers about Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: A Lahey Clinic Guide by Amy Barto and Andrew Warner. Somehow, a bunch of us got free copies. Does anyone remember how? Anyway, it's available on Amazon and it's a terrific, easy to understand FAQ book with a great glossary. Even though I was diagnosed 25 years ago, I found it extremely helpful and great for helping my spouse understand terms too.
Posted 3/11/2010 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Good one about "takedown". Sometimes the terms we often use are medical slang nurses and doctors use.

For example, I had two drainage tubes on either side of my abdominal area, for 10 days post-op. I had to empty two attached small plastic bottles and record how much drainage I had in a 24 hour period. The nurses called these bottles - "grenades".

At my first post-op appt. my surgeon said - time to get rid of your grenades. At least I knew by then what the heck he was talking about!
Posted 3/11/2010 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Heres one...peritonitis.......that's when the colectomy goes wrong and the surgery sutures leak digestive fluid into your abdomen. Then they fly you by helicopter to a big hospital for more emergency surgery. Been there and lucky to be alive.

Dan
Posted 3/11/2010 5:47 AM (GMT 0)
LOL @ grenades!! I had those!!! LOL
Ok...are "reversal" and "take down" the same thing??
Posted 3/11/2010 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
generally:

Take Down is used for a patient who is going to an internal pouch from an ileo

Reversal is used when a patient is going from ileo to regular(or adjusted) plumbing
Posted 3/11/2010 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
i have one too

ron=smartie pants *big grin*
Posted 3/11/2010 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
LOL @ summerstorm!!!!!
*shakes head @ Ron...* <- insert a groan as well! LOL

-Allie (Allison77) = really, only my mum calls me Allison....
www.oscartheostomy.blogspot.com
Posted 3/12/2010 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hey here's a question, why is an ostomy nurse referred to as an ET nurse?

I probably was told the answer long ago but I can't remember the explanation.
Posted 3/12/2010 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Enterostomal Therapy Nurse = a nurse that cares for stomas

but, I think they are now/or also called WOC Nurses = Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses
Posted 3/12/2010 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
"For example, I had two drainage tubes on either side of my abdominal area, for 10 days post-op. I had to empty two attached small plastic bottles and record how much drainage I had in a 24 hour period. The nurses called these bottles - "grenades".

At my first post-op appt. my surgeon said - time to get rid of your grenades. At least I knew by then what the heck he was talking about!"

Otherwise known as a JP or Jackson-Pratt drain.

Actually I'm glad this thread got started. I started reading this forum after my first surgery for diverticulosis wherein I woke up with a diverting colostomy and appliance which, prior to the surgery, I was told was a minor possibility. That was the first surgeon who then sends me to the colorectal/cancer superman second surgeon to finish the job, fortunately successfully.

Anyway, after reading the threads here and reading all the terms, I started asking for the terms applicable to my case. All I got from the two of them was the very scientific, "You were a mess!"
Posted 3/12/2010 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Newbag - lol at your superman second surgeon nickname. Picturing a GI doc walking into the operating room wearing a cape now......

After my first surgery - 5.5 hours long, 15 inches of colon + 90% of my sigmoid removed, GB taken out, temporary colostomy created - I was a mess. When I asked my surgeon what all they ended up doing to me because I went into with the "possibility of a temp ostomy" but didn't know for certain until I woke up in recovery and patted my stomach, he said.....

"You were the blue plate special yesterday!"

Got the impression there were interns watching behind the plate glass windows. Oh lovely I thought. They then paraded these interns in my room for a few days post op, someone was always lifting my gown. I had zero privacy.

And then they jump started my period, 10 days early. My surgeon said - and oh yeah you're going to start your period. I said - nuh uh, I'm not due for 10 days......he said nope, I saw your ovary.....bla bla bla.

The nurses had to use an archaeic sanitary belt and pads on me because I had so many incisions, tubes and cathedar coming out of me. LOL One young nurse looked at that belt and said - I have no idea how to use these things! I raised my hand and said - well, I do, da** it. LOL

I chuckle now at the layman terms I heard back then too. As if we'd never figure out the correct terms that applied to our situations.

Next.........
Posted 3/12/2010 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
Even the nurses at the hospital don't know the correct terms. 99% of them refer to my ileostomy as a colostomy. I don't know why it annoys me but it does.
Posted 3/12/2010 2:02 PM (GMT 0)

Pam I would be super annoyed as well, and my thought is that if they do not use the proper vocabulary are they really compitent enough to be my nurse?

I have had two experiences from two different surgeries where nurses were extremely insensative and minimized the seriousness of my situation.  And you know what?  A small portion of my motivation to specialize in chronic illness as a licesed therapist is so that I can go back to this hospital and lobby for specialized mental health training for nurses.  I'm sure we can all agree that any time you have an emergency surgery it can be traumatic and very difficult to handle emotionally.

I did have a few extremely amazing nurses as well, and they deserve a gold star for being awesome!

smurf
Posted 3/12/2010 2:19 PM (GMT 0)

RobinByrd said...
Pam I would be super annoyed as well, and my thought is that if they do not use the proper vocabulary are they really compitent enough to be my nurse?

I have had two experiences from two different surgeries where nurses were extremely insensative and minimized the seriousness of my situation. And you know what? A small portion of my motivation to specialize in chronic illness as a licesed therapist is so that I can go back to this hospital and lobby for specialized mental health training for nurses. I'm sure we can all agree that any time you have an emergency surgery it can be traumatic and very difficult to handle emotionally.

I did have a few extremely amazing nurses as well, and they deserve a gold star for being awesome!
smurf

The nurses at my hospital know so little about ostomy care. They would try to help me in the early days and I was better at changing things than they were. They would give up frustrated within minutes. Most of my nurses were very nice, but some of them were very unsupportive. The youngest nurses were the nicest, while the older ones were not always very nice to me. I don't know if it's coincidence, a difference in training, or just getting burned out after years of working. I was in for so long (about 6 weeks) that I really know some of the nurses pretty well. After that long, they become a little more concerned about making sure I am ok.
I have home nurses now and one of them is always asking "did you have a bowel movement today?" and I say "I have an ostomy". He forgets every single time. It's a little annoying because if he can't even remember why he's here, how useful is he?
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