Macdonald's Prescriptions and Medical Supplies
WOC Clinic


Fairmont Medical Building
Phone: (604) 872-2662 ext 1 746 West Broadway Map & Directions
Clinic Hours
Mon – Fri: 9:00am – 6:00pm Saturday: 9:00am – 4:00pm Sunday & Holidays: Closed
In-Person, Online & Phone

Ostomy Product Search

Ostomy

Resources for Ostomy Patients



Support Groups


Vancouver United Ostomy Association (UOA) Ages 20-50 Group

A casual gathering for people between the ages of 20-50 who have had or are awaiting ostomy surgery (ileostomy, colostomy, and urostomy). A place to share your experiences, learn from each other and meet new people.

Meetings currently by Zoom: To join or receive meeting notifications, please email unitedostomy2017@gmail.com


B.C. Pouch group

Considering a J pouch, or have one already? Please consider joining this group if you have questions or would like to be a resource for others. Ostomy nurses are available to answer any questions you may have.

Email bcjpouchgroup@gmail.com
Meetings are by Zoom every 2nd month


B.C. Continent urinary diversion

If you have a neobladder or Indiana pouch or are considering getting one, this group will help to answer questions and provide support from others. Ostomy nurses are available to answer any questions you may have.

Email bcurinarycontinentdiversions@gmail.com
Meetings are by Zoom every 2nd month


Vancouver United Ostomy Association (UOA)

Visit the UOA website

ZOOM meetings: contact the UOA to receive the invitation with the meeting address, time, and date.


Bladder Cancer Support Group

This lower mainland group is the only bladder cancer patient support group in British Columbia. It is an initiative of Bladder cancer Canada.

Frequency: Every third Tuesday from 7:00 pm., an online ZOOM meeting. Once the pandemic is over, we plan to go back to in-person support group meetings.

Audience: Bladder cancer patients, family, friends, caretakers. The meeting is held to share participants' experiences in a friendly environment while maintaining confidentiality

Contact: To attend the Zoom online support group meeting, please contact Joe Aiga at joeaiga-bccvan@shaw.ca or (604) 313-6336


Fraser Valley Ostomy support group

An informal gathering for people who have had or are awaiting ostomy surgery (ileostomy, colostomy, and urostomy). Meet new people and share your experiences or sit back and listen. It's up to you!

Next Meeting: Contact fraservalleyostomates@hotmail.com


Terminology


  • Abscess - a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body
  • Adhesive – a type of glue used to help an ostomy appliance to adhere, comes in liquid, spray, or pad format
  • Adhesive remover wipe (ostomy) – a wipe that assists with the removal of adhesive/paste on the skin without leaving an oily residue
  • Adhesive remover spray (ostomy) – a spray that assists with the removal of the ostomy appliance without leaving an oily residue
  • Adhesive strips - see barrier extenders
  • Adhesions - formation of scar tissue between loops of bowel in the abdomen
  • Appliance – a pouching system worn over the stoma to contain effluent (stool) or urine
  • Barrier Extenders - are separate pieces of hydrocolloid, transparent film or tape that are shaped to fit around your ostomy flange/baseplate
  • Barrier rings – flexible and moldable rings that fill in creases and help to improve wear time
  • Baseplate – see flange below
  • Burping – the ability to release gas by uncoupling a two piece pouching system
  • Closed pouches – a pouch/bag that cannot be emptied. Used by colostomates
  • Colectomy - the removal of all or part of your colon
  • Colostomy – a surgical opening from the colon to the surface of the abdomen to form a stoma
  • Concave – a flat pouching system that curves outwards to conform to a rounded abdomen
  • Connector – an adapter that connects the urostomy appliance to a night drainage system, either a catheter bag or a bottle
  • Convexity – outward curving of a base plate/skin barrier. The convexity helps the stoma to protrude or to fill in dips where the abdomen has creases
  • Crohns disease – an inflammatory condition that affects the lining of the digestive tract (mouth to anus)
  • Deodorant drops – drops used to mask the odour of the effluent/stool
  • Drainable/open bags – a pouch with an opening at the bottom through which the contents are drained
  • Enterostomal Nurse (ET) – a nurse who has specialized training in wound, ostomy, and continence
  • Faceplate – see flange below
  • Filter – allows gas but not odour to filter out of the pouch, commonly blocks for ileostomy patients
  • Flange – the flange/base plate is the part of the ostomy pouching system that adheres to the skin. The pouch is then attached to the flange/baseplate. It is part of a two-piece pouching system
  • Flange extenders - see barrier extenders
  • Folliculitis – inflammation of the hair follicles due to bacteria or fungus
  • Granuloma - extra tissue that develops around the stoma where the skin meets the stoma and sometimes on the stoma
  • Hernia –when an internal organ (like the bowel) protrudes through the wall of the muscle or tissue that normally contains it
  • Hernia belt – a belt that is worn to help prevent a hernia from forming; it is available in opening or no opening
  • Ileal Anal Pouch Anastomosis - see J pouch
  • Ileostomy – surgical opening from the ileum ( small intestine) to the surface of the abdomen to form a stoma
  • Ileum – the final section of the small intestine
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS) - a chronic inflammation of all or part of your digestive tract. It includes Crohn's and Colitis
  • Irrigation – a procedure for those with a colostomy that instills water into your stoma to regulate your bowels
  • J-Pouch – internal pouch made out of the small intestine and connected to the anus
  • Lubricant – used to help the stool slide out of the pouch more easily
  • Night drainage bottle – a reusable bottle that connects to a urostomy at night to allow the urine to drain
  • No-tape appliance – an ostomy pouching system that has only a hydrocolloid adhesive
  • NSWOC – Nurse specialized in wound, ostomy and continence see ET or WOCN
  • Obstruction – a blockage in the intestine resulting in watery or no output
  • One-piece – This system has the bag and adhesive base plate (also known as flange, wafer, or skin protector/barrier) combined as one item
  • Opaque – A non-transparent pouch. Usually beige. Allows the contents of the pouch to be concealed
  • Ostomate – the term used to describe a person living with an ostomy
  • Ostomy – a surgical opening from the intestines or ureters to the surface of the abdomen to form a stoma
  • Ostomy belt – a belt that attaches to the ostomy pouching system
  • Ostomy paste - a gummy type of skin barrier material that comes in a tube that may be used to fill skin indentations (NOTE: not to be used as 'glue' to hold on a pouch)
  • Ostomy powder - a powdered pectin product that can be applied to irritated peristomal skin to protect the skin from further breakdown from the ostomy output
  • Pancaking – when the output collects between the skin and the back of the flange
  • Parastomal hernia - when an internal organ (like the bowel) protrudes through the wall of the muscle or tissue, around the stoma
  • Peak-a Boo window – an opening in the beige cover of the ostomy pouch to allow you to visualize the stoma or pouch contents
  • Peristomal hernia – used interchangeably with parastomal hernia
  • Peristomal skin – the skin immediately around the stoma
  • Pouch – the bag that the urine, effluent, or stool is collected in
  • Pouchitis – inflammation of the J-pouch (see above)
  • Prolapse – when the bowel telescopes through the stomal opening, making it longer
  • Pseudoverrucous lesions – also known as urine crystals see urine crystals
  • Skin barriers – a term used for either a flange or for skin prep (see below), a barrier that protects the skin from the output
  • Skin prep – a liquid that forms a film on the skin on application to protect it
  • Stoma - surgically created opening in the intestine that allows the removal of feces or urine, in the case of a urostomy, out of the body
  • Stoma measuring guide – a card used to measure the stoma size
  • Taped appliance – an ostomy pouching system that has both a hydrocolloid and a tape adhesive
  • Transparent pouch - the pouch that allows you to see the contents and stoma
  • Two-piece - This system has a separate bag and base plate, which are attached
  • Ulcerative Colitis – inflammation and sores in the lining of the large intestine
  • Urine crystals – sharp crystals that can form on a urinary stoma or surrounding skin, also known as pseudoverrucous lesions
  • Urostomy – a surgical procedure that diverts the normal flow of urine from the kidneys and ureters into a specially created stoma
  • Wear time - this is the length of time a product is worn due to choice or leakage
  • WOCN – wound ostomy continence nurse – same as ET

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