I have been away from this website for a short time. I decided to come back and see who's on here and what's going on. I'm looking for a friend who could turn into more than a friend. I'm lonely and hoping to find someone who has the same thing as I do so that it would not be an awkward situation.

Laugh at my experience and expense if it's funny to you. This is meant to be self-deprecating and a bit of a cathartic post. Maybe there's a tip in here somewhere for anyone who has acquired a stoma recently.
My first bag was put on while I was still in surgery. My second bag change happened with the wound care nurse in the hospital the day before I was discharged. The third was with my wife i ...

Just wanted to share a link to the UOAA Ostomy Academy on YouTube as Hubz and I learned a lot this morning about hernias! Another fun Saturday! Yay!
His surgeon mentioned that a loop colostomy has a slightly higher risk for hernia, so off to UOAA we went. I really didn't even know the structure of a parastomal hernia, so it was really hard to even understand how the hernia belts would work.
Th ...

I wanted to share that I had a big milestone today. I finally went back to work in the office! My employer went hybrid after the pandemic and requires at least two days in the office, but as I have a two-hour commute by train, I had received permission to work from home full-time after the surgery, and now it was time to go back. So far, everything has gone swimmingly.

I'm curious — has anyone here been pregnant with a stoma? How did it go? Was it extra challenging, or just another one of those “figure it out as you go” adventures?
My main worries are the usual suspects: keeping up the energy, the growing belly changing how the appliance fits (because my stoma already has a mind of its own!), and the whole idea of being pregnant after being sick for ...

Yes, it's true. I have double-checked this info. For anyone who was missing it or irrigates, this will be good news! There is no set date, but approximately by the end of 2026, it should reach the UK. It starts in Sweden about February first.
:)

I (21) had elective proctocolectomy and got my ileostomy 5 days ago because of my UC. I've had a lot of time to mentally prepare, and the benefits of living free of my UC by far outweigh the negatives of having an ostomy, so I, for myself, am pretty happy with the new situation so far. Pain is there but manageable, and I'm quite mobile already.
I am giving my best to be open about my condition ...

For many years, I was either unable to travel or suffered with Crohn's while traveling. Two weeks ago, I took my first vacation with an ostomy and was able to enjoy my time away. Not only a vacation, but a vacation at Disney/Universal with a ton of walking, rides, and all kinds of food. I did have some anxiety to start with, but it turned out to be misplaced. It was such a great feeling to be ...

Curious what has been found helpful for pursuing high-impact sports with an ileostomy. I was looking at Stealth Belt, which is expensive and has mixed reviews. I feel I can probably come up with a solution that is less expensive. Swimming, downhill mountain biking, running, volleyball, waterskiing, and backcountry skiing are my faves. Thanks.

So my running top from the ileostomy and internal pouch charity arrived, ready for doing the Sheffield 10K next year. Time to start training. No getting out of it now
I'm aiming to just complete it this time; next time I'll go for time

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share an update that I've found a good rhythm now two months post-ostomy surgery, and it feels like it's almost fully healed, for which I'm grateful. I've been putting ointment around the edges whenever I add a new bag, which helps. I've been eating more consistently, which creates better flow. I'm grateful for all of your support with learning how to listen to my ...