Ostomy Topics

I changed my ostomy bag today… tell me, does this look bad?

Has anyone had a massage with a colostomy? My husband and I enjoy going to golf resorts with friends. The guys play golf and we ladies get the spa treatment, including a massage. We will be going for the first time since my surgery next month. I would normally be on my stomach for getting the back massage. I don't want to squish anything. Any recommendations, ideas?

Hi, I'm new here. I had an APR for bowel cancer, stage 1, so didn't require any treatment. However, I really struggle with my diet now as since having my colostomy, I just can't tolerate so many foods. Is this normal? Also, I have IBS, which prior to my surgery I controlled with a high-fiber diet, but obviously now I just can't have, and every 3/4 days my IBS flares up (once a day). Just wonde ...

Hi everyone, I just joined the site and need some advice. I had surgery for my end ileostomy in April. I am having issues with a prolapsed stoma getting more frequent. I'm not able to get in to see the ostomy nurse until Tuesday morning, thanks to my always “lucky” holiday or weekend timing for issues. Any advice on how I can get through the next few days dealing with this? Thanks in advance!

Hello, fellow ostomates,
I've had my colostomy for a little over a year now and began irrigating on a regular basis about a month ago. The sense I had from what I read was that you would instill all the water you were using (starting with 250 ml, moving up to 1000 ml), and then would have returns mostly during a 20-minute period after all the water was instilled. My experience doesn't match th ...

We got out of the hospital 9 days ago and we have to replace the bag twice a day because fluid from the belly button leaks under the adhesive and detaches the bag.
Has anyone had this problem?

Hello all,
I've had an ileostomy since 2016 due to FAP bowel cancer prevention and happily used Salts Confidence Be bags for years without issues along with their stoma ring. Unfortunately, I've been a repeat parastomal hernia patient 3 times.
Underwent surgery in March 2024 to resite stoma to the left side, abdominal wall reconstruction, and completion proctectomy.
Developed a rash using th ...

Hello everyone, I am new on here. I have had my ileostomy and Barbie butt for over 13 years. I am lucky enough not to have skin issues, etc. However, I can't cope with the inconsistency of my vitamin D levels and iron. I can't tolerate the supplements and have to rely on infusions. They, however, take ages to arrange, then ages for the levels to come up. I have been on the same roundabout abou ...

Hi, I am 43 and have had an ileostomy since the age of 18. This was due to a toxic megacolon and only 3 months diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. I am desperate to hear any advice anyone can give me about a recently diagnosed 10 cm right ovarian cyst. Because of the fact that I was operated on 25 years ago, twice. Once for the megacolon at 18, then at 21 I had a proctectomy to remove my rectum. ...

I'm jumping the gun here slightly as I'm not scheduled for surgery until next Thursday, May 30th, 2024, but I am scheduled for a Loop Ileostomy and I see that sometimes that leaves a stoma that is more in the shape of a figure 8. Online, I see videos that show tracing the shape with clear plastic, so that brings me to my question. Does one need to buy the clear tracing plastic separately or do ...

THIS IS LIVING ON THE EDGE. Notwithstanding my ileostomy, I just demolished an entire bag of BOOM CHICKA POP (“sweet & salty kettle corn”) in one sitting. Needless to say, I threw all caution to the wind, and the exhilaration which I felt was similar to what I imagine it must be like to jump out of an airplane. Maybe I’ll do that next, who knows? Life is all about risk, after all. I ...

Looking for other ostomates who are also vegan. Obviously, some challenges come with fiber. Who has experience, tips, etc.?

Anyone have a BCIR? Barnes Continent Internal Reservoir?

Looking for people with this procedure or contemplating it...
Read here from someone highly recommending this procedure for ostomates in lieu of J pouch. And having the bag...
Can't recall the thread or person posting it. Mentioned a surgeon in Florida who specializes in it... I don't understand the mechanics involved in this procedure but if it's something to get rid of this bag, then I'm all ...

WHEN YOU HAVE AN OSTOMY, your focus is different than people with regular plumbing. I rarely end a meal without immediately heading for the bathroom. When we eat out, which is usually once a week, I typically will visit the men’s room before we leave the restaurant. Like other ostomates, I have the toilet homing ability of an incontinent rock dove. Despite my negative feelings for public ...