Today is my one-year anniversary from my ileostomy surgery.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone on this site for their helpful tips and hints.
I have been very fortunate to eat all the food I ate prior to surgery.
I have also returned to my favorite hobby: quad biking, trail riding, and camping with my family.
I did return to work 6 weeks after returning home from surgery.
I also returned to the hospital 5 months later to have all the remaining bits removed. No J-Pouch option available now.
I had some concerns with flying as my job required me to fly interstate on occasions.
Thanks to some of the posts on this site, my concerns were put to ease.
I have also had very little incidents with my wafers using some of the hints from this site.
Once again, thank you all.
I have been shy when it comes to writing posts over the year.
I will try more in the coming future.
Regards,
Mark

This is a remarkable community of 40,920 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.
Marjatta
This group has been my go-to during my loneliest hours whenever I've had a "bag blowout" at 3am and there was no one else in the world to talk to.
Because it's a global community, there's always someone here to lend an ear, provide advice, and just hold my hand if that's all I need.
Sure, there's also a lot of camaraderie, fun topics, and laughs, but the main reason I come here is for the total acceptance I get from the members. No one else on the planet could possibly "get" what I'm going through, not even my loving husband or supportive family.
The "Meet an Ostomate" forum is definitely a one-of-a-kind family, which I am very proud to belong to.
M
xo