When this is over may we never take for granted: A handshake with a stranger Full shelves at the store Conversations with neighbors A crowded theatre Friday night out A routine checkup The school or work rush every morning Coffee with a friend The stadium roaring Each deep breath Life itself When this ends may we find: That we have become more like the people We wanted to be We h...

So what’s it all about? Most of us are born, live any number of years, then we die. So what’s it mean? Did we take someone else’s place? Will someone take our place? Was it mostly fun? Was some of it too difficult or was it a breeze? Some are born...

It's been three weeks since I got my life saver (as my mom calls her) and I still don't know how to deal. I'm always having some kinda accident where the poop leaks out from all the sides, the anxiety is getting too much, the crying and waking my ...

Hi All ,   


I was watching a documentary about 911 last night and I had a bit of an epiphany , I was in Ireland at the time because we were having a sort of a family reunion in Ballina, Co Mayo, my home town . My New York family and my Washingto...

The year 2020 has been an unpredictable ride through world politics, the pandemic, numerous protests and many more difficulties that had made living life quite hard for most. Let us embrace 2021 with much-needed hope and happiness. Just, K.  

hey Bob I see you have a new hat I like it and that looks like a nice coat for keeping warm taking care of the aminals, Best wishes and stay safe

Hello everyone! I've had my ileostomy (Penelope haha) for a few years now. I've recently wanted to start eating healthy and getting into shape. However, I have the type of personality that, if something is overwhelming to me, I shy away from it. Trying to figure out healthy eating with an ileostomy, well, was overwhelming to me. A coworker of mine suggested to try a forum, so here I am :)  Doe...

Hi Guys,   I always thought it odd that so many osotomates are from the UK.  Just from a percentage of the population sort of thing.  I noticed it on here first, when I look at the ladies pics....but I also noticed it recenlty on the "other" ostomy dating site.  I was looking at the "new members" pics and the majority of the gals are from the UK.  What am I missing about ostomies and Great Bri...

No more from me about people  who don't have enough sense to save their own lives , I just wish they would stop trying to take the lives of others who are actuall trying to mitigate the current medical disaster. Just leave the sane people in peace...

Hey Ostomates..........sorry for my absence!!  But thanks for all the messages and emails!!  No, nothing bad has happened, just always really busy this time of the year.  Got to get the farm ready for winter and I'm by myself.......so just tons to do and not much time to do it. But I got hay put up this past week and I closed the pool yesterday......so I'm on the downside of the fight now.....a...

Here is my third round of Jeff Foxworthy style "You Might Be A Redneck" situations. Again, these are mostly original as far as I know. I've enjoyed all your comments on rounds 1 and 2. To further this series, I'll have to go back to the drawing board. So that's a maybe for future installments. Thanks for following along so far.........hope you get a few chuckles, or possibly a good laugh.   1...

It's said that hindsight is 2020, though 2020 was far from a hindsight let's all hope that 2021 will become more than that. Being a New Year is now approaching let's Pray that the numbers 2021 will become more fun and prosperous for all.
Charleston...

The Single Ostomate



If you are single, you have a bit more of a challenge. Dating is hard enough when you have little or nothing serious in your past. But now, you have a medical past that has affected your body, mind and spirit. It can take some...

Hi to all my adventurous ostomates...    Im headed to see my son and 3 highly active grandkids next week and my Son  tells me we're going to Kings Dominion (a amusement park) to ride the coasters . The last time I'd been there I vomited on workers shoes , and sweated like crazy and had to stop riding the rides . I was taken by ambulance to a Virginia hospital where I was diagnosed with low pot...

Hello Everybody.


Some rhymes focus upon, and are relevant to, a specific subject or problem such as stomas etc. However, sometimes a rhyme seems to have relevance to a number of subjects simulataneously.  I felt that 'After-Effects' was one such ...

If that's you.....here's what you do.  Head over to your nearest Walmart........even if you need nothing or have no intention of spending a cent.  Walk into the appropriate clothing section for you.....and stand behind a rack of clothes that's facing the checkout lanes.  And just watch.  If you do that for 10 or 15 minutes I guarantee you will leave the store feeling better about yourself.  I d...

A CONTEMPLATIVE INCIDENT.


Last night there was an incident,
which turned into an accident,
that made me contemplate my life,
my stoma, sicknesses and wife.


It had been quite a normal day
with nothing much out of the way,
and nothing to make me alarme...

Has anyone ever have to make their own ostomy because you ran out and there was no place to go to buy one?

8/11/21 greetings and salutations to old friends and  newbies... Have I been missed? Where you at Bob- my brother in arms-...  Yes been  awhile.  membership is now renewed for life time and wanted to touch base.  Warms my heart seeing you all still out here fighting the good fight.  and  goodness, the amount of new members is incredible. Glad to see word is getting out.   I have a lot of catch...

My point here is not to argue a point.  It is to ask you to do due diligence in researching some of the facts that the Anti-Vaxers have found to be true.  I'm not going to give you the answers.  You find out and someone give what they have looked ...

W. C. FIELDS WAS EXPRESSING an aversion for innocence when he said: “Anyone who hates children and animals can’t be all bad.” Fields unwittingly was touching upon the very reason that I like animals better than people: their inherent innocence. The company of a good dog or cat, in my experience, grows into a bond that is simply absent with most humans. Even watching a movie, one becomes inured ...

KINDNESS: CARE & CONSIDERATION.



We live in a society 
where people’s impropriety 
can sometimes go beyond what’s right 
even when it’s out of sight. 


If we are to live together 
we must all consider whether 
everyone should do their bit 
and not let s...

Hi Gang,   With all the discussions COVID is producing...........such as do masks work (current day Europe would indicate they do not)......who came up with 6' as the correct spacing for social distancing.......so 5'11" is unsafe....but 6' is fine???  Have you seen those ridiculous face shields they're selling that are open on all sides???  If you smoke....inhale and put your mask on in front ...

I wasnt real enthusiastic about working out prior to surgery Feb9 21. I would really like to join a class of Pilates or Yoga, something. I know some people who worked out previously have started working out again after they recovered. ( I dont know them personally but on social media )Please share any advice or experiences as I am really not trying to get a hernia because I want a flatter stoma...

Hi guys , I was never much on Religion ,  well not exactly true . Until I was maybe ten years old , around that time  I began to question things and the logic of some things which people believe , sight unseen  .          "  Faith " is  the key I ...

Wish there was a vaccine for Zack's ailment . Resources  that should be available for   people like this brave child  are being filled by Covid denyers and Antivax  deluded people .

I am considering surgery to have my illestomy removed. I would like to know from others who have done this if it was successful or unsuccessful and problems that may have occurred. Thank you

I have done alot of research into why a lot of us have chrons and colitis.

After doing my research, I found out the following. 

From us being a baby to now, we had some kind of dairy. The dairy such as milk or cheese is hard to digest. It cr...

This will be short  but I have to say it again. 


I see all these in the news who are dying one after the other because of stubborness , parents dying and leaving four kids . On their deathbed admitting that they were wrong not to take sensible pr...

Well it was really date afternoon, went to the movies and saw Respect. It was really good, lots of music with an interesting story. Now just waiting for our dinner reservation.

Life is Complicated Sometimes in people’s lives , things don’t happen the way you want them to . 

I've had my ileostomy for a week and I've been having terrible anxiety I'm not sure how to deal, it's all so new to me, i could really use some advice 

II just flew back from the East Coast and boy are my arms tired  ....lol..just a giggle will do !!  . My arms actually are tired . I was working with my Brother P.  On my Sister's house in Alexandria , Va . The work went very well  and all it cost...

I hate my urostomy. When I found out the doctor removed my bladder for a little 0.6 superficial nodule without a root and the rest of my bladder was totally clear, I realized he lied to me. How could a cancer doctor do this. I want him investigate...

When Covid first started I thought it would be worse than what it has been. It has been bad and it's likely to be with us forever but controlled. I thought ( at first) is this the end of the world as we know it? I wondered what would happen if 50 % of the world died? I thought if I survived how would people like us manage if we couldn't get pouches/bags? Before I had time to think of an answer ...