“This ileostomy is how I survived Vietnam.” If I said that, it would be true, but misleading, for I never got to ‘Nam. The Leon Uris novel Battle Cry, about a platoon of Marines in the south Pacific during W.W. II, had captured my imagination and I went to the local Marine Corps recruiter to see what I could find out. They gave me a standard test and I went home to decide. Then I got sick. After a total of five months in the hospital, ending with the surgery, I was 4-F. No Semper Fi for me. So, the ostomy became the way in which I survived that war. Otherwise, I am convinced, my name would have been on that heart-breaking black granite wall in D.C. I ended up protesting it rather than fighting it. My good sense, and my bad health luck, overcame my earlier gung-ho esprit de corps. Now I’m 77 and counting. Peace!

This is a remarkable community of 40,879 members.
You will get real advice from fellow ostomates who truly understand you - things you won't find in the books.
And it's not all about ostomy - there is friendship and relationships too.
Privacy is very important - your profile is not visible to the outside world.
Eagles2023
Yeah wow, this site helped so much, I mean really who do you know with this infliction? No one, felt so alone and disgusted by myself every turn.
But it ended up being so damn strengthening, I got fucking moving, really only another choice.
That's
Honesty
Truth
I was damaged by a procedure and ended waking with this, I understand all of you.. perhaps you had to have it, I get it.. doesn't matter either way.
Just wanted to share that