I have to share this update. I am so excited about this. I saw my VA psych Dr. who does my depression medication and discussed with her about my dificult stomach pain issues. As we were talking about things I could do, I mentioned that I had been taking the 800mg of Ibuphrophine that the VA famously gives for every ailment. She looked at my medication list and asked if the tablet was coated? I remembered that it was and suddenly it dawned on me that this medication has not been making it into the troubled area due to the absorbing issues that I have since getting the ileostomy. She looked further into my meds and saw where I was prescribed liquid Ibuphrophine during the time of my throat surgery. I took it because I couldn't swallow pills for several weeks. She asked if I had any left and I said I still had two bottles and one refill. I had never even thought of using it rather than the tablet. She told me how much to use twice a day and I have been using it for two days. I have no pain around my stoma! Who would have ever thought that this was the simple fix that I needed. As it gets better, I will use less and soon I won't have to use any! I just had to share this as I am so releived.

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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