Hello my Osteomates,
I wanted to update, after 5 months I had my reversal surgery on May 2nd. I had a few blips with some incision issues and the bowels starting to work, but overall it has been a success! I finally started to have regular bowel movements about 3 weeks after surgery. I am still taking Miralax daily on the advice of my doctor, hoping to eventually discontinue the Miralax. For n ...

Hello again, everyone!
I had so much great feedback from my first question, I thought I would ask one more.
Eight weeks into being new to colostomy, things have been going very well, to be honest, actually a lot better than I anticipated for an elective surgery. Yes, I did choose this! I had an injury to my spinal cord at the C4 level in 2008. If anyone knows anything about spinal cord injurie ...

So heading back to Florida after the New Year with my grandson. Any advice on getting in pools and/or hot tubs? I use Hollister products for my wafer and bag. Two pieces.

Hi, I am 75 and 3 months post-ileostomy surgery. I also have a mucus fistula. I was in the hospital for 6 weeks prior to my operation as I was very ill, having had a bowel perforation, and they wanted to build me up before the operation.
I am still so very tired. I am getting out a little, walking, driving a short distance, having friends over for an afternoon, and even been out for brunch wit ...

Hey everyone!

Not trying to offend anyone here—just genuinely curious and slightly worried and looking for some wisdom.

I read online that the average age of getting an ostomy is 68, and some studies show people living up to 30 years with one! That’s why they call it a ‘full life’ but what does that mean if you get an ostomy at 35, life’s over by 65?

Also, can we make an inf ...

Hi everyone! I just found this site and I got my reversal of my ileostomy on Monday last week. I was wondering if anyone had any tips to help me out?
I've been struggling with finding foods that are good for me because I've been back and forth from the bathroom a lot more than I think I should.
If anyone has any advice or tips, feel free to let me know! Thanks!

I had emergency surgery in May (bad diverticulitis) and now have a colostomy bag. I'm adjusting to it, but it's hard. My main issue is changing my bag out myself. My wife has been changing my bag (she used to work with patients in the healthcare field) because I get sick looking at my stoma. I get queasy and just sick looking at it.
Is there anything I can do to get over looking at it so I can ...

Hi everyone,
I'm finally feeling well enough to start driving again, but the seat belt goes right across my stoma. Do I need to worry about that? Should I use a guard or something for protection when driving?
Thanks,
Lori

Any tips on pancaking? I'm a little over 2 weeks post-surgery..
Thanks

For years I used just a one piece pouch. I fought tooth and nail against using 2pc, I thought it would be uncomfortable. I tried it after last surgery and love 2pc. I'm looking to donate transparent 1pc pouches and a few accessories to someone in my area, Davenport, IA

Hello all! I’ve only posted here once, but I do check in every now and then to get some peripheral support. I’m constantly amazed at how everyone copes with this situation, some good, some bad, but mostly good. It’s a comfort to have a place to check in for a dose of reality and practical tips from fellow Ostomates..

My husband and I just did our first bit of travel after my surgery 14 ...

4 hours and 40 minutes away!

The realization that I've finally come to a point where I've changed my last bag (and from the clear liquid diet for the last four days, it appears I have even emptied my last bag) is a good feeling.

The peristomal and the umbilical hernias have kept me from doing much that would contribute to weight loss, so naturally I've gained about twenty pounds in these s ...

Hi all, I know IRA surgery isn't performed as much as J-pouch, but I still have 10 inches left of sigmoid colon and a current end ileostomy. Last week, I had scopes and was told everything looked great and if I wanted to pursue surgery I should. I saw Dr. Remzi in NYC last year and discussed a J-pouch, but he never mentioned an IRA which suggests to me that he preferred a J-pouch since that's ...

When I change my bag, I play smooth jazz for my stoma. It seems to help calm it down. Didn't know if I was the only person to do something weird during a bag change?

It was hard for me to bring this up worrying about people being judgemental but it's a much needed topic for ostomates in this position and I will never see anyone here outside the forum anyhow.

Found out I had Hep c in the mid 90's and suspect I got it from my ex husband who actually had a liver transplant.

Anyhow I was always afraid of the horror stories of how rough the meds were to ...

Hey OstoMates! I have a question for the men of this site that I'm hoping someone may be able to help me with!
My body is fairly hairy, in particular my abdomen, which is obviously where my stoma is located. Obviously, this can affect adhesion of the bags to the skin.
Do any of you have experience of having to remove hair around your stoma? I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it. I don ...

First off this is after the removed bag with just residue no-sting paste and wafer. As you can see for some reason the paste didn't harden after 24 hours (as it should have just peeled off) and didn't adhere to the damaged skin.

Apparently this is a product defect of some sort, quality control or some sort of environmental issue perhaps. A grave concern as I've been trying for months now and ...

As many of you know, I have been home on rest fighting tooth and nail this latest Crohn's flare. I have been feeling better and better every day. I have finally hit the 3-digit mark in my weight and the appetite is coming back, with some crazy cravings. I blame the devil's drug on that one.
However, this past week my guts have been rather loud with gurgling, but the thing that is getting on my ...

Hi, I am looking for people close to me who know what I am going through and dealing with an ileostomy. I am in Ashland, Kentucky; my area is considered the tri-state area of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. If you want, look me up on Facebook or Instagram, Luauna Daniels

My surgery for rectal cancer is scheduled for October 9, and I will emerge from surgery with an ostomy. Naturally, I have a lot of questions and my learning curve will be very steep. But, my immediate question is about clothing to wear with an ostomy. I would like to go shopping before the surgery if possible, but I'm not sure about what to buy. My typical work attire is khakis and a button-do ...