I’ve been missing you all because life has been big. I have lots of stories we can laugh (or cry) together through. I’m going to post a list of stories. Tell me a story that’s happened recently in your “perfect” life. Then pick a story you want me to tell. This should be an amusing, fun, and humbling experience. I can’t wait to spill all the tea. We can be human together. 🤗 -A bad hair...

To be honest, I never wanted to ever have a colonoscopy. I guess I knew that someday I would because its a great preventative test but I wasn't there yet. That is until all this stuff started with my stomach and bowels. That forced me over the yuc...

Hi Friends!      I have surgery coming up on April 14th to repair a recto vaginal fistula at the point of anastomosis. (Where my sweet ileostomy started) If the surrounding tissue looks good my surgeon may reverse my ileostomy. (I know, shock and disappointment..) 🤦🏼‍♀️ I'm also in need of a having my midline incision taken down, reinforced, and repaired. I have a few questions I hop...

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 ...

I might have to get some chickens so I have an excuse to get this very cool gypsy chicken coop! 😍🐤🐤🐤 Yes, I'm at work bored today! LOL 😂

My weekend was incredible. Never felt more "normal!" (Had a seven year hiatus) The Massage: I chose 50 min Aromatherapy. I lay on my stomach and back, did nothing different w/ my bag. For the comfort of the very accepting young masseuse (I offered, she didn't care), I put a small towel under and over my bag, on my stomach, then on my back. I have a bad back, curvy spine, but she was light on i...

Hello to everbody! I haven't been to this site in many years. I've been meaning to sign up again, but I have been busy living life and never quite got around to it. For any longtime members, I am the person who started the "Ostomy Tips" thread way back when. I'm looking forward to getting re-aquainted with you all, as well as meeting new members!   Paul

THE THINGS THAT WEALTHY PEOPLE DO with their money astound me. Some go in for flashy jewelry, rings and Rolex watches and lots of gold. Some spend money on expensive cars, big boats, and houses much bigger than what they need to actually live in. Others hire nannies to care for their children, maids to clean their homes, cooks to make their meals, gardeners to tend their yards, and a variety of...

So, I’m literally less than 24 hours post ileostomy surgery sat here in my hospital bed typing this. Hello from Stoke Mandeville Hospital. 

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in my early 30’s but had probably had a couple of flares in my 20’s ...

It was just a simple dinner. Baked pork chops with mushrooms and potates. It smelled great when I took it out of the oven and we ate and watched a little TV. Afterward, my husband went to bed but my stomach didn't feel right so I was going to wait...

I know this topic has been posted many times...but does anybody have any terrible dating stories about trying to date with a ostomy? I have read about the ones where people don't mind etc..but I feel like those are few any far between. I just wanna know that I am not alone in feeling like I will never meet anyone.  I had numerous hospitalizations over the years and have not dated due to my illn...

ACCEPTANCE OR ADJUSTMENT ?
 


When trauma happens and you’re struck


in mind and body and you’re stuck


with feelings that you can’t control 


and umbrage about your new role. 


 


Acceptance is not on the cards 


because the concept is too hard,


...

No, i’m not talking about our bags. I’m talking about how we see our lives and our futures. Our sense of purpose and contentment. And our sense of accomplishments we’ve all made over the years. Do you see yourself, your life, or your future as half empty or half full? Why do you see things the way you see them? What make you smile? What makes you cry? And by now you’re probably wondering…why ...

Yes, I know it’s a bit weird, but I just felt like writing this down 💩 💩. Back in September/October 2013, I had a very severe flare up of what I was then diagnosed with: ulcerative colitis. Only a few days after this, 2nd November 2013, I ha...

I am integrating myself back into society after a very long pause. I dont want to go back to the bank where I worked in a call center in a high stress dept. I'm curious what everyone does for work? I'm hoping for ideas :) Also any woman my age need a friend to chat with. I could use a chat buddy these days. It would be nice to chat with someone who understands the assignment. 

Well, tomorrow is the day I have been waiting for! Surgery to remove part of my colon and hopefully be able to repair my bladder.


I had reached out to the two doctors at the beginning of this. The ones the blew me off. I never heard back from the...

Just want to say that, as a confirmed bachelor in his 50s at the time of my ostomy in 2009, I was doubtful I'd find the love I'd always wanted. Well I did, at the young age of 62, and we've been married for 6 years now. She'd only ever met one person before, a co-worker, with an ostomy, and was apprehensive. But we hit it off, and have a wonderful life together, and yes the intimacy is very goo...

THE TOPIC HERE IS ACTUAL MEATLOAF, not the recently deceased singer/actor, may he rest in peace.  My meatloaves have typically been blah creations, slapped together when nothing else is available.  But this week, I hit on an additional ingredient that made it really good:  hoisin sauce.  We have used this with stir-fry for years, but otherwise it just sat on a shelf in the fridge.  It is made f...

Hey everyone. I was starting to become active on her back at the end of last year. I had some very severe complications from a variety of medical issues. Doing a little better now and wanted to get back on and continue chatting with all your nice folk. I have made a few friends and am always up for more. Feel free to send me a message. I will respond accordingly. Thanks you all! ❤️ Glad to ...

OK, so here we go: Apparently I’m Grey Brain The Mercenary Of Hope!

So, I ended up in the hospital for a couple days. smh


Not only was I dehydrated but my blood work was all over the place. I was low in just about everything so I had a couple days of fluids and a bunch of different pills or shots to get my number...

I was baking a batch of cookies yesterday, a chore I usually find onerous.  I like cooking as there is an element of creativity to it, but baking is basically just following instructions, boring....anyway, I digress.  As I often do when baking, to make the time more enjoyable, I put some music on, nice and loud.  I chose a selection I had not listened to for a few years, The Best of The Temptat...

I’ve been to the hospital a lot as we all have. My question is this, if you have a roommate when you watch television do you wear headphones or keep it at a low volume so as not to disturb your neighbor? I do or don’t watch tv. On the GI surgical floor those are the rules, printed and everything. I’m on what’s called the medical floor and it has just opened up, it’s not new or swanky it’s jus...

Hello Friends,      I’m sitting in the calm of a sleeping house all prepped and ready for surgery. It’s currently 1am here in Washington state. We’re a tad behind the rest of the world. 😉      I’m not sure if a bowel prep is better with or without an ostomy. I had the grand pleasure of putting 2 Liters of soapy (go figure 🤷🏼‍♀️) water into my stoma. I have a loop ileostomy, so th...

JUST BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING that felt good, we went out to dinner Saturday night. We usually save that sort of extravagance for special occasions but, I guess, we just decided to manufacture a special occasion. So off we went to our favorite mom & pop Italian restaurant. “We won’t need those menus,” I told the waitress. We always get the same thing. Why experiment when you know what ...

I had a funny thing happen the other day. I was just sitting on the couch and my  stoma let out a fart that would have scared any teenager! My spouse turned around as if in shock.... I thought it was hilarious!  I can't be offended from much anymore, but it is amazing to see others reactions!  

Hey friends!


So I am eligible for the j pouch reversal, but I’m very conflicted. As someone who had severe UC, I can imagine that I will possibly face complications with pouchitis, and honestly I don’t miss being on the toilet 6+ times a day, whi...

THERE WAS A DAY WHEN houses had mailboxes mounted next to the front door, and the mail delivery person walked up and plopped it right in there.  Today, notwithstanding that I live in a residential neighborhood in the middle of a fair-sized city, we have to have what used to be referred to as ‘rural mailboxes’ planted out at the road and the mail carrier putters up in a small specialty vehicle a...

Hi Guys, Well........here's one to brighten your day! A little background first.....being a short-gutter I change my barrier every other day, in the morning when I get up. I have a ritual to do this, as timing is everything in my world. I stop eating about 1:30am, then re-hydrate from 2:30 to 3:30am, then hit the sack around 4:30am. Then it's up at 7:15 or so, and on with my day. Because I’m b...

Hey Friends!      Help me tell a story?? I’ve been focused on healing lately, and what’s better for the soul than a good laugh? (Maybe great friends, and a huge hug? I’m sending you all one now. 🥰) Without further ado, I’m going to start a story. Then y’all can add on. (I’m so excited! 😂) Just a couple rules.. don’t let the story end, and make sure the person above you is added to the sto...

Simple enough question, right? I think as civilization progresses it’s expected that the masses would increase their intelligence as well…..only makes sense, right? But I think I’m concluding that while the smartest people continue to get smarter, the rest of the world is actually getting less smart. Here’s my case in point; Normally I try very hard to not be in public during normal times of t...

So yesterday, as the day went on, my catheter began to really hurt me. I couldn't get comfortable or ease the pain. I told my husband over the phone that it was to the point that I felt like my body was saying it needed to come out.  I called my u...

Good morning/evening So it's that time of the year where were being forced to spend extraordinary amounts of money on gifts. I know Christmas is supposed to be about spending time with family and loved ones. So to have a bit of fun what did someone buy you for Christmas that you hated or was funny. For me I would have to say the worst gift I received was bath salts that I couldn't use due to f...

I'm not usually an angry or aggressive person. If you notice in my earlier blogs, I tend to withdrawl rather than lash out. But the combination of the surprise of what surgery was planned, the lack of communication WITH ME, my lack of having had a...

Had a great week last week with my appliance, I managed to go 6 days mostly out of laziness without changing. Saturday I changed, Monday at the surgeons office I sprung a leak and did a quick but I thought effective change, just now I was reminded...

We saw some pretty cute dogs on here recently so I thought it might be fun to show our pets. 😍🐕🐈🐎🐖🐑🦙🐐🐇🐁🦜🐠

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...

Well, I made it through my big surgery. My colon "was a mess" but my bladder didn't have as much damage as originally thought. I have to have a foley cath. until Friday and it's been an uncomfortable thing to deal with but I finally see a light at...

Some of you know that in 2018 I left my abusive spouse after 15 long years trying to make things work. I moved into my own apartment, got a job and worked very hard to become debt free. During this time, I gave my then spouse two years to get counseling and work on the issues. After realizing that he had done nothing, I divorced him in 2020.  A year later in April 2021, I moved out of the apart...

Hello I will be flying for the first time with my pouch. I usually carry a bag with emergency changing supplies when I leave home. Of course this bag includes small curved scissors. Will it be allowed on a plane and if it’s not do you just pre-cut a pouch and pray it’s the right size. My stoma size fluctuates, so if guys have suggestions, they are welcomed and appreciated. I know a lot more th...

Hi everyone😃❤ I was just curious what everyone's plans for turkey day were? Anybody doing any travel? (Be safe). I am just having a quiet (or should I say loud 😛) dinner with my family.  What is your fave thanksgiving day staple food? Mine is definitely the stuffing🤗. Momma makes it every year. The recipe has been passed down for years through my family. No stovetop for us (although...

WE ALL HAVE OCCASIONAL CRAVINGS. I had two yesterday, glutton that I am. We headed for a local seafood restaurant, hungry for shrimp. Being Sunday and not long after local churches disgorged their worshippers, the place was packed. Even though we’re both vaccinated, eating in a crowded restaurant with a bunch of unknown, unmasked & jabbering strangers was too much for me, so me ordered take-out...

I would say some pretty good advice. 💛💚❤️💙🧡💜

Anyone else watch the eclipse last Sunday night? Just starting…a little more…and even more…and the finale….Sorry for the sideways pics, I swear I was standing straight up when I took them. 😁 guess my techno ain’t so great after all. 😩😁

So Henry had the Diva list for great singers of years gone by. So who would you have for your top five male solo singer's? Mine would go something like this. 1 George Michael, 2 Bob Marley, 3 Elvis,4 Ed Sheeran,5 Tom Jones. XX

Hi all! Though I’ve never met anyone else with an ostomy in person, I am grateful to have chatted with some folks online that have helped answer my questions and provide me with sense of community throughout my journey. I was directed here by some...

So seeing as quite a few people want another icebreaker-type game, I thought long and hard … ok, maybe I just typed icebreaker questions into Google and scrolled and clicked on links until I found something and then thought, “duh? Why didn’t I think of this ages ago?” Anyway, how about something like a game of kiss, marry, kill. Let’s make it so that we have more than one gender in the options ...

To all women, A sincere happy International Women's Day... Thought this might be the appropriate day to voice the disturbing, yet not surprising, frequency of women's experiences with dating (with an ostomy) compared to that of men's. It's more than unfortunate that almost exclusively women have faced the "oh you have an ostomy?.... is that what I think it.... umm... ok, i'll call you... maybe...

Ok..I just remembered what someone told.me two days ago and I just had to ask. Someone told me that there is a fetish for people with stomas. Like a Pornographic sub genre out there.  I told them that while I know that there is some crazy 💩 out there ..that that couldnt possibly be true. There is no way in God's green earth that I am even going to think of looking that up. But has anyone eve...

A day leak free?


fav internet radio station?


"Mi Soul" App, 3 station in one, Mi Soul,


Mi Groove & Mi House, you will be hooked


i promise!


night - large brandy & port with slice of lemon & block of ice!


medicinal.


sleep - an hour before mid...