Shark Week as a Distraction from Chronic Illness Recovery

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jelly
Aug 07, 2011 12:23 am

So if you want a good distraction from any of your Crohn's, colitis, or ostomy stresses... watch some Shark Week on Discovery! I'd rather be swimming with sharks than go through more surgeries! After 8 years of CD, I ended up with an (unplanned) ileostomy, still recovering, so I live in my room, knitting and watching Shark Week. Random question: Am I able to go scuba diving with an ostomy, with all the heavy gear and such???

budd002
Aug 08, 2011 1:17 am
I have wondered this myself as my brother is a diver and I have always passed on the invites. I'm thinking that we can go as long as we A) don't stay down too long and B) have an empty bag before we go. I'd go with the not eating for minimal output to be safe though.
Posted by: Audrey Warren

This site is a godsend. As a newbie (colostomy on Nov 8, '21), I look at it every day for a number of reasons. Reading what people are going through makes me grateful that my elective surgery because of a severe case of IBS-C is nothing compared to what they have been through and are still living with.

I don't have to go to the hospital for anything related to my ostomy. I feel sorry for those who do and am in awe of those who can use humor to describe their ordeal. I identify with those who express their fears. I especially identify with those who are depressed because I am clinically depressed and have general anxiety disorder. How ironic that having a colostomy eliminated some of the depression and anxiety that the IBS created. I've been widowed twice and I'm on match.com.
I immediately included my operation in my profile and am pleased to say it doesn't seem to make a difference.

And there is much humor on this site and it's one of the reasons I enjoy it so much.

I could name numerous things I've learned from reading people's comments/questions/answers.

After months following on a daily basis, my only negative comment is I don't like listing the most popular members.
It's not that I don't like these people; I do. It's that I think it elicits some "Facebook"-like banter or comments that are gratuitous.

I don't do any social media and think that its merits are overshadowed by too much negativity.

Meetanostomate is in no way negative. I just think the gallery of "popularity" detracts from what is an excellent website that deals with a serious issue that causes a myriad of emotions.