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So, my latest CT shows no recurrence of cancer, but also says this: “Stable additional findings including left lower quadrant colostomy with parastomal hernia and multiple fat and bowel containing midline ventral hernias,” which sounds like my stoma is indeed the mess that I thought it was. Leaning more & more toward reversal.

Mid December 2024, , I had perforation of sigmoid colon with 6.5 “ removed and with stoma due to diverticulitis. Was considering retaining stoma as a 83 yr male but have hernia at top and small fistula at bottom.First colorectal surgeon is recommending reversal and I’m obtaining second opinion May 7. Because of these 2 factors, it seems that the reversal is basically required especially d ...

Hey everyone, I'm pretty new to the ostomy world, (surgery was 11/24)

I've sampled a lot of bags and I think I've settled on the Coloplast 1 piece drainable system.

I ordered some samples from Coloplast directly and the 13/16 size seems to work out best.

Now here's the issue, I ordered from Edgepark. And even though the box says 13/16, inside were 15/16.

At first, i didn't reali ...

I am near an impasse on finding a wafer that will work with my retracted stoma. My surgeon says it is too early to consider a revision, as I have had 2 surgeries in the last 7 months, the most recent in January. He, and others, recommend irrigation. I am NAZI stubborn, refusing to try. My caretaker says I am unreasonable. Truth is, I fear it won't work for me, fearing that I will have sto ...

YEARS AGO, WHEN MY DAUGHTER LIVED in Brooklyn, I flew from Utah (out of Vegas) to NYC to visit her. There were a couple of places that I wanted to go while there and we took the subway. I’ve never lived where there are subways and she decided that she needed to coach me on my behavior. “Don’t look at anyone, don’t talk to anyone,” she advised seriously. As a film fan, I’ve seen ...

Anyone love food and dogs? Anyone want to meet for a coffee and some conversation or laughs? Seeking to simply connect. Friends or ForMore. Just taking each step as a slow roll.......

Because everyone IS different, we must make our own path….jb
suspect this one could be Beachboy jb

It's been awhile since I've posted. Hope everyone is doing well. I've been living life, limiting social media stuff and my phone. Been a wonderful respite.

I did go to Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds yesterday. It was unreal! Ready for some Spring #playball.

OVER THE EARLY YEARS, I had a few odd jobs. Just out of college, I drove a cab on the night shift in Miami, where I grew up. I thought that I was going to get robbed or killed by one fare, but he gave me a big tip, which was a relief. I did a stint as a pizza chef. It took a while for the oven burns on the tops of my hands to heal. For a few months, I participated as part of a doctoral th ...

Today I was given a barium enema to test for reconnection. Everything looks great so we will be proceeding in May. However, since I came home I’ve been passing what feels like bowel movements. It’s mostly the solution but I feel like there was some bowel in there too. If I’m still doing this tomorrow, I’ll be contacting my doctor. Has anyone else experienced this?

My rectal stump was something I never gave a thought about. It was there in case I wanted to undergo reversal.
Well.... there's a whole lot more to it.
About 2 years post op, my stump began bleeding, and I was pooping out blood. Not a huge amount, but enough to get my attention. I visited my most excellent gastroenterologist. He inspected the stump with a scope. Explained I had inflammati ...

I saw my doctor today to address problems with my new retracted stoma. I have pancaking constantly. He and the stoma nurse recommended Benefiber supplement. I really do not get much fiber in my diet. I also drink nearly a 1/2 gallon of whole milk every night. Doc and nurse said that was bad, but I love it so much. Please share your experiences with pancaking and suggest what has actually ...

Cruise review
Celebrity Reflection.

This is my personal opinion based on decades of cruising experience.

This was our 35th cruise, 2nd time on this ship. Our first cruise was in 1989. We were fortunate to catch the "tail end" of the grand cruising experience. It used to be soooo wonderful. Now.... just a cheap motel that floats.

Completely impersonal. Used to be you met fellow tra ...

Hi folks, I'm looking for some advice. This morning when I was changing my bag ( ileostomy) I noticed a blister on my skin where the outer edge of the bag seal is. I tried to position the new bag away from the blister but in order to cover the stoma correctly, I wasn't able to do this. The seal is right on top of the blister. Just to be clear -the blister is not near the stoma but on the fa ...

SOMEONE ASKED ME what I love in life. Much to my amazement, it turned out that most of the things that popped into my mind were foods. I love tapioca pudding, and Blue Bell brand ice cream, and grilled hot dogs, and stuffed cabbage, and Jelly Belly jelly beans, and See’s peanut brittle, and Seda halvah, and eggs over breakfast potatoes. “There is no sincerer love,” said George Bernard ...

I had my surgery for rectal cancer a month ago and am still having problems with the bag leaking. Is this normal?

I have been keeping in shape by riding a stationary bike. Now that it is spring, I will be going outdoors. I am searching for the best way to secure the pouch while riding. I tried a stealth belt, which didn't fit properly; probably my error in ordering it before watching the YouTube videos on how to measure. At any rate, their customer service number doesn't work, and they are dealing with so ...

I am a colostomate with a retracted stoma. I have lost most of my descending and sigmoid colon and my rectum. My stool is often soft and mushy, causing leaks. The softer my stool, the worse the leaks, and the worse my irritation and maceration. It is a bit better when my stool is firmer. Is anyone having success in firming the stool when they are lacking the descending colon?

Getting to the point whatever I eat hurts drinking is ok I can feel it but doesn't hurt like food even went onto soup and noodle soup but that flippin hurts now really don't know what to do other than a n e but then they will do unesserey test as usual because I am already waiting for appointment from gastro I have now gone bk to 6 stone like before when I had surgery and tpn so not in a grea ...

Morning all ~
I have an ileostomy and would like to know how much water intake I should have each day? They talk about dehydration with having an ileostomy and I wonder how much everyone is drinking.
Thank you
Susan M

Hi there, I'm from Indonesia.
I have found that a lot of resources on the internet regarding ostomy care are irrelevant to me because I cannot find any of the products.
For example, I have been trying to search for a bag deodorizer, and no one sells it. I need to import it, and I am frankly too poor for that. I know they're not really required, but I share a bathroom with my siblings, and I th ...

NORMALITY IS A MYTH. We’re all of us outsiders, struggling to get through life as best we are able, given our unique circumstances. Having an ostomy only accentuates the individuality each of us brings to the struggle. The all-encompassing concept of being ‘normal’ is much too general a term to be applicable to people because it means ‘average’ which is a statistical model that co ...

I am a colostomate for 2 years. I have used a closed bottom 2-piece system from the beginning. I prefer to take the bag off, empty it, and rinse it out, then snap it back on. 6 months ago, I started using bag liners—it's even easier. When I am traveling or working (construction), I can change the bag liner, throw away the old one, and put in a new one. Much less handling.
Here is the problem ...

I had my ileostomy about 5 months ago. I was prescribed Loperamide (Imodium dispersibles) to thicken the contents of the stoma. I take 8 tablets daily, i.e., 16 mg daily. Will I have to continue to take Loperamide long term, or will there come a time when the dosage will be lowered or I will not have to take it at all? I would be grateful to hear from others in a similar situation. Thank you.

My son had an ileostomy mid-January. Still struggling mentally. Also getting pain at the moment when urinating. He has had a few UTIs since the operation. Only had 2 days' notice about the operation, so it was quite a shock for us all. Due to Crohn's.
He is 42 and has a fiancée and 2 children. How long does it take to feel like yourself again and get your confidence back? Anything I can do as ...

HONESTY IS MY DEFAULT POSITION. If I suddenly find myself compelled to have to deviate from the truth, to avoid insulting someone, for instance, it causes me discomfort. Making something up when I’m writing doesn’t count; it’s called fiction. I don’t really kill and cook mourning doves, for example. But this idea of being honest is something that I drummed into both my kids as they ...

Hi! I'm curious if anyone has any tips for changing a bag alone. Usually, it takes someone else to help with measurements and any extra flow while trying to change. My bags only last 2 to 3 days, and then they leak. Thanks.
Peace

Hi all, in my search for a replacement barrier ring since Safe n Simple switched to a different manufacturer who is getting the formula a little different and caused me a leak, I've contacted several companies for free samples. I spoke with a rep from Coloplast today who said that rings actually can cause leaks, and he recommends using a convex bag with an opening that's right up against my st ...

While back I posted about coming across some trees that were being tapped for maple syrup and not being able to look at maple syrup in the same way again. They look like they were wearing wearing ostomy bags. It's that time of the year again up here in New York State and came across them again and this time I took some pictures. After reading my previous post Alex T labeled them OstoTrees. ...

Arrived home late last night from our 20-day odyssey to South Florida and the southern Caribbean.
I have a sigmoid colostomy with a mild parastomal hernia. Use a Hollister 2-piece system with a Coloplast Brava barrier ring. I wore a support belt all the time. I only took it off to shower and change the wafer. Most showers were with the bag on. I dried the bag and wafer using toilet paper. It w ...