I have had a colostomy since June last year due to suffering severe endometriosis for several years. Sadly, complications occurred during surgery, resulting in a stoma, which I have recently had reversed—very recently—and I am in recovery at the moment. I wish I had reached out for support sooner when having my ostomy, but I didn't have the courage at the time, and I am not entirely sure if I am able to be on this site now due to being reversed. However, it has been and still is a very challenging time physically and mentally, and I thought as a young woman it would be nice to perhaps speak to people on here. I am not entirely sure what I want from this site yet, but I thought it would be good to meet like-minded people, make friends/relationships, chat, and even maybe meet. Also, even just to get advice would be lovely, so yeah, hello :) 💕🌺
Hello and welcome to the site. This is a great place to share and make friends along the way.
MeetAnOstoMate is a remarkable community of 41,407 members.
“Every morning with my coffee, I read here and feel wrapped in warmth - I hardly post, but it still feels like family.”
“Our oncologist literally wrote down the link; they said more patients need this website.”
“This place pulled me out of the dark. I went from lurking to living again.”
“At 3am, someone’s awake somewhere in the world. I’m never alone here.”
MeetAnOstoMate website turned out to be a lifesaver for me. I say this because, for me, this ostomy journey was a devastating event both physically and mentally.
Here, I found folks who understood my feelings even better than my family or friends could. Only a fellow ostomate can understand how you really feel.
Information sharing is key, as well as support and understanding, to ultimately bring more harmony into our ostomy life journey. I found here, virtually no ostomy questions that are not touched upon. Questions which some might feel, may be too trivial to contact a doctor about or even too shy or embarrassed to ask their own doctor about. They are all addressed here.
For me, anonymity was very helpful in seeking answers to each phase of this life changing medical and mental event. Sharing initial trauma feelings, ongoing support and finally acceptance was what I found with my membership here. I am not sure what my mental and physical attitude would be today without having found this site.
Additional benefits included: finding products and ideas to help with daily maintenance, innovative ideas and as a bonus - some great humor.
After all “laughter IS the best medicine”.
I have been a member for 3 years, an ostomate for 4 years - yes, I certainly wish I would have found it immediately after surgery but so very thankful I finally found it when I did as I truly believe it turned my troubled depression and situation into a more positive attitude and acceptance.
Sincerely,
An Ileostomate nicknamed Justbreathe 🫶🏼
Learn more about ostomy accessories, and when to use them.
Welcome Gaia
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ waves ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From a fellow creative in mid Wales borders
You've found a good site - caring, sharing folk - members of all ages and many reasons why we are here - no need to feel alone - there are others with whom you can share and feel affinity as others come forward.
BW
Virtual hug - key away and don't feel afraid of expressing yourself!
Jayne
Airport Security Tips Living with an Ostomy with April | Hollister
Welcome. I am currently in the process of deciding whether I want to take the risk of having a surgeon reconnect my intestines or take the smaller risk of having him do a more simple process of just fixing my current stoma. Mine is quite inverted and in a skin fold with a hernia behind it all, so my skin is a disaster area. I can get a Convatec bag to stick on the outer rim, but closer to the opening just won't stick because the skin is so sad. My colostomy arrived because I had an intestinal blockage caused by radiation scarring after my hysterectomy 5 years ago. I still have part of my rectum, but the scarred part is also adhered to my bladder, so things could get worse if I try to reconnect by going around the scar tissue part.
So, I would like to ask you how the surgery to reconnect went and what your recovery is like?
Welcome! We are happy to have people around who've gotten reversals. We do get a fair number of people seeking advice on reversals, so your input would be invaluable.
Check out the social and humor topics. This can be a fun group of people.
Hi Gaia, Welcome to the site, stoma or not! You are still going through a transition, and as long as you need advice and/or support, we are here for you.
Terry
Learn about convexity and 4 myths surrounding it.
Thank you :) I always wanted to go to Scotland; it looks beautiful. x
Hello x lovely to meet you x virtual hug, it's really nice to be able to speak with like-minded people as my circumstance was pretty unexpected too, and as much as I am grateful to have been reversed, it still feels very scary and early days, so it's really lovely to be able to meet people who truly ‘get it' xx and of course always wonderful to meet fellow creatives xx
virtual hugs xx
Hello, lovely to meet you. Bless you, it really sounds like you are going through quite a journey too. I really feel for you, definitely happy to chat more about it if you'd like to. Maybe drop me a message if you are able to?
To be honest, my reversal was always kind of on the cards, but I nearly had to have an ileostomy beforehand for further healing, so I was lucky to wake up with a reversal. But it was a very big operation involving hernia repairs and other complexities. It was a very big operation involving lots of other aspects due to my endo, and it's still very early days for me, hoping it will all be okay. But yes, definitely happy to chat more on message if you like. x