Struggling to Find Nearby Colostomy Support Groups

I have had my colostomy since 20 Oct 2009.

It is now Christmas Day.

I have yet to find a support group closer to me than an hour and a half. Are we that rare of a breed that I can't have a support group within a 70-mile radius?

Although I love my online support and friends dearly, it would be nice to be able to get dressed and actually go to a place to speak to other people like me.

People who are shocked like me. People who are sad like me. Those who hate looking in the mirror like me.

I usually feel okay about my ostomy, usually. Though, there are days where I feel like a complete and total hag! If I feel fat, my ostomy makes me feel even fatter. If I have a zit on my face, my ostomy makes that zit even more prominent.

Funny, how this piece of plastic, no matter how well sealed, can make me feel like less of a person than the rest of the world.

I know that my ostomy will be reversed, maybe, and until that day comes, I have to deal with this with the grace and dignity that I was raised with.

My only request would be to have a group of people to discuss all these feelings with that I knew lived near me and actually cared whether or not I took a poo today!

Is that too much to ask?

Hey Hannah, got an idea for you. I'm in the same boat here; it's an hour to the nearest support group and frankly, they aren't from where I live. So, maybe you could talk to your stoma nurse about forming an ostomy support group yourself. Surely there must be people near you who feel the same way.

As for the emotional issues with having an ostomy, that's the toughest battle of all. How you see yourself is often contrary to how others see you. I have been going to the gym 2 to 4 times a week for the last 6 months, lost 13 kilos, approximately 25 pounds, yet my stoma is still the first thing through a door when I enter, and I can't shake that feeling. Stay strong, sweetie, as tough as it is some days, other days make up for it. Warm hugs, my friend.

Hey Hannah
If you want to email me then its ******

my facebook email is ******

hope you get this

Here too - I recently joined Swindon Ia group - great for fundraising and quarterly events - but no real support from anywhere else - would love to moan with someone face to face over a cup of coffee! Not much to ask for is it? xx

What helps me is telling myself frequently each day "one day at a time"

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