Adjusting to Life with an Ileostomy Since 1990

Just a quick hi to everyone - 'hi'

I had my ileostomy in 1990 because I had either Crohn's or colitis. Having the stoma is just a part of normal life for me. It has brought back some memories of my illness reading through some blogs on here, and I wish people who are still poorly a quick recovery. x

Hi Lincs, just to say welcome to the site. Maybe you can give tips and ideas to the newbies on here. This site is really good, and people on here are always willing to help and give their opinions on how they get on with their way of life and coping with their ileostomy. TC, ambies.

Hi Ambies, yes, what a great site and I'd love to be able to help others - and learn new things myself, too. Not sure how long this site has been up, but I have been missing out, I think. Thanks, Ambies, and you take care. x

Always good to hear from others who are leading a normal life. I am hoping that will be me soon, am having surgery in the next few weeks to sort out all the things that went wrong during my original surgery last year. Looking forward to a normal life again so thanks for sharing hope. x

Good luck honeybblunt, get better soon x

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hi Kent, always especially good to see a local on here. Well, local by Meetanostomate standards... Look at all these UK women waving at you! I can see you're going to be very popular! Have a good day.

Thanks Angelinthemaking. It looks like a great site to meet people for friendship and for helping if I can, and to pick up any tips etc myself x

Feel free to ask for any tips or links; we're all in this together. There's always a listening ear. Hope you're getting to know the site a little more. Take care, ambies.

I will do ambies; there is such a lot to look at, especially about swimming, as I don't go anymore. :( When I first had my stoma, all there was was a magazine that came out around 4 times a year, and making contact with others was quite slow. How things have changed! :)x

Hi, if there's a reason you don't go swimming anymore, then there are plenty of ideas and tips for swimming, be it wearing smaller bags or just having the confidence to go again. When I'm on holiday, I always go in the pool for a swim and have no problems. Yes, I know what you mean before this site, only having magazines 4 times a year. Thank goodness for the site; it's opened many doors for me in gathering tips and making friends. I have just written a poem about the site; it was posted 2 weeks ago. If you missed it, it's on my blogs under Osteomate. TC, ambies.

I guess the swimming thing is a confidence thing - appliances were prone to come off easily when I first had my op, so I will pluck up the courage and go again. I just joined full membership, but the chat is still the same as before - is that right? Does it take time to swap over? Thank you x

Have you tried signing out and then back in again? Maybe then the change will happen, ambies.

Tried that but still not right, chat works ok but not showing everyone who is online. Been told it might take 24hrs to re-adjust so see how it goes 2mo. x