My skin is on fire, and honestly, I'm in tears every time I've changed it today. I changed it within 1 hour after getting home from the ostomy clinic. The new bag they tried, she said, was actually for a urine ostomy. That was a joke. In fairness, she thought the adhesive would be better for my skin. So to say I'm frustrated is an understatement. It was an emergency surgery, so my stoma is flat.

This is a remarkable community of 40,830 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.
iMacG5
When I found this web site, I didn't think its name had anything to do with actually meeting an ostomate but I later learned there were some folks who did meet and develop relationships. How good is that? That wasn't my intention. I definitely didn't want anyone to meet me. I felt broken and wasn't prepared to express those feelings. I thought it was a place where ostomates wrote about themselves, posed questions, shared thoughts, told jokes and, sometimes, just vented. I thought of it as a community of folks with similar interests and various degrees of experience. Mostly I found some of the most caring, selfless, wise and understanding people I ever imagined. I was so impressed with some of the writings; not because of their literary value but the way in which they addressed such a very complex environment. I read hundreds of exchanges and admired the way folks cared for each other. I became hopeful with my own situation and looked forward to the next day's offerings. Certainly some contributors stood out with their experience or particular skills in addressing some things but it seemed like a total effort with synergistic results. I felt blessed to have found this site. I still do.
Mike
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Hollister
Most contraceptives are equally effective for people with and without stomas.
Learn more about contraception or family planning methods with an ostomy.
Learn more about contraception or family planning methods with an ostomy.
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Hollister
If you’re expecting a child, it’s an exciting time for you and your family. And there’s no reason why having a stoma should negatively affect your pregnancy.
Learn about what to expect during pregnancy.
Learn about what to expect during pregnancy.