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Is there a special trick to finding and opening a private message?  I'll appreciate any answer even if it starts with, "Yes Dummy".

Thanks

Mike

Apologies if this question is miscategorised but it is not directly related to the stoma per say.

I've had a discomfort in my stomach for the past week (possibly a bug) and along with it a slightly pressuring urge to go through my backend. I can't say I've encountered this before (since I'm usually illness-free otherwise) but is it common to experience this sort of thing when you've got some kind of stomach bug?

My main output has been mostly fine since this started but sometimes it can be a little erratic.

Hello...

Marvin is searching for his girl, it seems by any means "Lets put a diferent spin on this".

We all are travelers, I say that because we started in one place and ended in another.

Unknown terrirority can be scary and the ride can be exhausting at times.

Hey. there are many destinatitions, but we are traveling together.... we are not alone.

1963 hits Archive/Hitch Hike/Marvin Gaye

Angelicamarie

Having difficulty logging in.  Is it just me or my computer?  Never had a problem before.

Thanks,

Mike

Merry Christmas

At the beginning of the year, most of us declare new resolutions for the coming year.

I only know today, for tomorrow is not promised.

I try to be a good person and be kind to all.

I try not not to be selfish and appreciate what I have and not what I don't

I appreciate nature and all its beauty, even while driving a lonely hwy to the right and left there's wonder.

I try to accept the things I cannot change though it may be challenging at times.

Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose but I've been able to move on.

In saying that, "I wish all you Joy, good health and peace."

Angelicamarie

No wonder people have such misinfomed and disrespectful attitudes towards people with ostomies, and worsened by ostomates who use the term, as well. 

I find the use of the word "bag" to describe an ostomy pouch, demeaning and disrespectful. 

To me, its my pouch, part of the appliance I wear, a result of life saving surgery from a debilitating and killer illness,  and deserving of more respect.

I have a scope wednesday and i'm just curious how that goes with a stoma? Also did you have to do all the prep?

BTW, I'm no stranger to scopes this is my second one this year but the first since surgery.  Crossing my fingers that the Stelara is working.

s/f looking for a s/f. If interested send me a mesasge.

So am I the only one who feels a mite angry and a lot frustrated coming out of remission.  I liked remission.  Crap.  I went in for a routine checkup scope only to find out my tummy aches have been me coming out of remission.  Because I wasn't diagnosed the first time until I was on deaths doorframe, what the heck does this mean? (The first round, for 3 years I was told the tummy aches and chronic fatigue were really me being OCD and Depressive.  Dumbasses)      Ulcers & polyps.  when do they become fistulas?  How do I stop it?  friggin fragg.  I can't go back on Humira.  It suppressed my immune system, sure, but I looked like crap.  And working in a hospital, the last thing I need is to be on a drug that waves at every germ and scream "Over here!!! She's immuno-supressed!!!"  I think I'm more pissed that I can't find a doctor with a bleeping answer!   grrr.

Hey guys,

just need some advice. I had to have my surgery in emergency circumstances due to severe Ulcerative Colitis - so there wasn’t much time to discuss it!

Since having it, it’s been about 5 weeks now, and I’m recovering really well. But it seems as more weeks go by he’s avoiding me more and more.

The first couple weeks after surgery he was talking to me normally like we usually do and then I moved and you’d hear a bag movement and he’d freeze. And he just said he just needs to get use to it as it’s new to him too! And I appreciate that as it’s massive change for him and for me.

 Then due to work he had to go away for a week or so so I didn’t see him or really hear from him. So when this usually happens we hang out when everything’s settled, or if it’s still mad busy we’ll make time to literally call each other even if it’s just on his journey home. It’s been like that procedure for a year! However, since then he came round once, I made him dinner and he I just presumed he was stressed from work. But then bits like taking the tray out of the oven, I asked him for help cause it just felt too heavy. And he just froze because I’ve never really asked for help before. So then after dinner, with zero talking he just went home. I spoke to him that night and wanted to know what was on his mind cause I feel like his feelings have changed for me. His response was he doesn’t know if he can support me.

with that response, is it worth staying and putting up with feeling like this? Could it just be his way of dealing with it or is this just rejection? 

Thanks! X

Anybody in the mood for some Christmas music?  lol  I always play this CD in my car around this time of year.  It's John Prine's Christmas Album.  If you like John Prine and country rock, I think you'll love it. Go to Utube and type it in.   My favorite song on thre is Silent Night All Day Long..and I loves his take on Silver Bells and I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus too.  Heck, I like all the songs on that album.  If you haven't heard it, give it a try and let me know what you think....and Merry Christmas a little early.

Linda

The ADA defines a person with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that Substantially limits one or more major life activity. This includes people who have a record of such an impairment, even if they do not currently have a disability.

Last year I went to wal-mart and quickly found a handicapped parking space, and yes I have a handicapped placard.  After parking and exiting my vehicle, there was an angry women sceamimg at me.  Her window was rolled down and she said I took her handicapped spot.   She assumed that I was faking because she didnt know what existed underneath my clothing required special attention.  Nor did she know that as soon as I entered the store the waste that I carried had to be empied.

After my purchases I exited the store and there was a note underneath my windsheild wiper."it read" I'm handicapped and your not! that was a space reserved for handicapped only. She looked for a visable disabilty, but not all are, Just because people can't see, they presume your prentending.

The reality is we didnt do this to ourselves. some were born with the problem, some encountered it early and late in life.  Were not alone and if we choose we have each other.

Take Care

Angelicamarie

THE WINTER SOLSTICE.

The winter solstice brings good cheer
within the Northern hemisphere.
For Capricorn has turned the sun
and now it’s on its homeward run.

This date’s easy to remember
near the end of each December.
Before the Christian holiday
and its commercial overplay.

This year it’s on the twenty-first,
when I fear folks are at their worst.
Meeting, eating and indulging,
drinking, stinking, stomachs bulging.

I do not like this kind of thing
where there’s a spike in ‘kindnessing’
and people make it pretty clear
it’s just for these few days a year.

It’s good that we should have a choice
should we want something to rejoice.
To celebrate this solstice day
I try to take myself away.

With no more lengthening of night
and strengthening of the daylight,
there’s many that asseverate      (affirm emphatically)
this is a day to celebrate.

This solstice means dark days are done,
the solar year has just begun
and we are looking forward to
a brand new spring that is now due.

No matter what the winter brings
this solstice helps us think of things
like thoughts of flights to sunny bays
with shorter nights and bright, light days.

B. Withers 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Lets face it we all are fall in different catergories. (men and woman)

What do I Mean?  Widows/Widowers

                           Married

                           Seperated/Divorced

                           Single

Ok lets talk, I have listed 5 traits below

                           Hygeine-Cleanliness is a must!

                           Confidence- Self Assured regardless of what others think!

                           Authentic. true to self (genuine)

                           Reliable-A trusted soul!

                           Appealing.. In the eye of the beholder

I need to break this down a bit...When I wrote this post. I probably wasn't as thorough as I should have been. So.......

I mean no matter what category we fall in we find or found some things about our love interest quite captivating, "oh Yeah"

example 1. After he showers, rather he's wearing cologne or not-he smells so doggone good.

             2. He's not concerned about the doubts of others. he knows what he capible of.  I love it!

             3. When he tells me he going to do something, I can trust that it will happen.

             4. Sometimes we miss the boat, it's not what shown outside, its inside... no matter how much time has passed. He's sexy as hell!

 Ok this may be the end of that relationship, but one likes what one likes! "really"

 Surely there other traits but these are some thats important to me. How about you?

                           Lets Talk!

Angelicamarie

hi everyone my names stephen i had an ileostomy bag in april last year, as my crohns decided to give me one final good kicking on the inside, but hey ho its not all bad i no longer have to plan toilet routes if i want to go out, or have to suddenly rush off to the toilet, so its def helped my life the only thing that saddens me is i no longer feel sexy when my clothes are off as i miss my flat tum, but i suppose it could be worse, so keep my chin up and carry on, i love music its my life and im a singer and bass player in a band, although i can play some guitar 2, well i just wanted to say hi to everyone so hello

Hi you all,  I 'am having a problem with itching under my pouch.  I use a one piece Hollister,  I like the way it fits, and haven't had any leaks for over 2 months,  But sometimes after I change  it   within a day or  two  I am itching.  I tried using a smaller  pouch  and I itch  around the barrier. I have also some little  blister like irritations  I have used  several things to try and stop this or heal the irritation,  Any ideas.

looking for a winter friendly recipie :D

Hello, my name is Kerensa. I am the sole 24 hour a day caregiver to an ileostomy survivor. My husband, Henry, has been visiting this site for quite a few years. He is often brought to tears learning of the stories shared here; the most prevalent being divorce and loneliness.

I want everyone on this site to know that you are NOT defined by your ostomy. You are NOT unattractive because of your ostomy. You are NOT redefined by your ostomy!

There is a children’s book titled Everyone Poops. Well, that’s true only when they are alive. The book does not describe when and how people or animals poop, just that they do. Well, I for one am thankful that my husband still poops. I am thankful that he is still with me. I am thankful that he is partner in our marriage. My care giving of Henry does not come without personal cost.

The things that I am not thankful for as a caregiver are just as important for me to share as the things that are because they speak to the whole, which in my case has very little to do with Henry’s ostomy or his inability to care for it.

I am NOT thankful that he still blames me for making the decision to eradicate his intestines when he was in a coma. I HATE the hate in his eyes when it is a difficult change out. I HATE that he feels guilty about my supposed sacrifice to keep him alive on a daily basis, trying to keep him positive, holistic gardening and cooking skills to make sure his PH balance will not become too acidic so as not to breach the seal prematurely. Anyway, whether I am reaching ostomy survivors or caregivers, PH is EVERYTHING.

Waking up every two hours to check his output does not bother me, but most of the time, I cannot get back to sleep. This, ironically, bothers him more than me…again with the guilt misappropriated.

It is important to know, as a caregiver, that it is not necessarily YOUR responsibility to upkeep the patient’s self-esteem. However, I believe that it is VERY important that the “patient” does not ‘feel’ any different. One should always pay attention to ones physical abilities, which do change, but it should not define you as a man, a husband, a partner, a women, a wife. If you need help in this regard, please seek it…whether you are the caregiver OR the patient. I only hope that my words give some comfort to both groups. In NO way does this message intend to hurt any feelings, it is only offered as encouragement to a demographic population that is not understood and may not feel that their voice is being heard.