I have been living with horrendous complications from my August 2017 colostomy. I've had to deal with leakage problems due to my numerous hernias. I have tried every company out there to no avail! No one could seem to help me. I was so desperate, I called the Ostomy Association for assistance. They referred me to a top-notch ostomy nurse at Scarborough Centenary Hospital, Toronto. Immediately, she told me I needed a soft convex flange from Salts/Argyle who actually make their flanges for hernias!! You can mold the flange around the hernia because it has slits all around. OMG, it worked!! For the first time in months, since I developed my hernias, I don't have to worry about going out, nor do I have to change my flanges sometimes three times a day! Anyway, just thought I'd share this exciting news for anyone who has problems with hernias. I know it seems kind of silly to be so excited about something like this but you all probably understand

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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
Learn about the common issues and symptoms that warrant a call for assistance.