Just saw the PA who assisted the surgeon with my revision and discovered the reason that I have both an innie and why they didn't repair the parastomal hernia - they could not find the fascia that they would fasten it to! Guess my fascia was really torn up during the emergency surgery in 2023 that started my saga and has basically gone into hiding Anyway, I am healing, but she wants to see me ...

January after 5 years and a prior attempt that was unsuccessful due to the surgeon finding everything inflamed… my Crohn's was active, and I had no clue. Prior scans and blood work showed all was normal. Connected the small intestine to the rectum. It's been a learning curve. Something not used for 5 years is now performing double duty. I have urgency under control, but I still leave folded ...

What's the best solution for redness and irritation around the stoma before applying the wafer.

Hi to anyone who is interested, but I just got the call...!!!

Was walking into the front door with a bottle of vodka when the phone rang. My surgeon's nurse called with the outstanding news of a reversal date...April 1st...!

I questioned her about April Fools' Day, but she assured me it was no joke.

You have no idea what this means to me...I have been waiting for a long time (I have had ...

As providence would have it, my husband has also needed a bag of sorts (he's had a few bladder cancer procedures recently, requiring him to wear a catheter bag for several days in a row each time).
To see the two of us wandering around the house in our bathrobes, kissing each other goodnight - while bumping bags - has been a great source of mirth and merriment around here.
On a more serious ...

I put together a great stoma emptying device. Works great in my car, hiking, and flying. You all have seen this jar. As a patient, I have two. Hollister disposal bags fit perfectly. I shoved a few extra bags in the bottom. All you need are wipes for the pouch and hands.
Note the red circle. I drilled two tiny holes on either side with my Dremel, so the bag expands in the jar. Hope IGGIE reads ...

Trial and error has led me to a system of emptying and cleaning my pouch that makes everything feel better. I saw another post about using warm water in the pouch after emptying to wash it out. I will say it takes several times of doing this (put water in, holding the pouch up, swish it around, then empty) to get it clean. I do this until the water runs clear when coming out. I also use a deod ...

Hi!

I'm still new to having a colostomy bag and trying to figure out my life. I have stage 4 colon cancer and also breast cancer. I currently am feeling fairly normal and healthy, a little tired. Pre-surgery and diagnosis, I was pretty active. I love swimming and had just got this cool paddle board. While I'm still feeling good, I'd like to keep doing the things I love. Any advice? Any good ...

New member/colostomy recipient (5/25/21) here. Hi!
My doc said that my remaining 4" of rectum would collect mucus. Shortly after I got home from the hospital, a blob of mucus landed in the toilet, but only that once.
Frequently, I have a powerful urge to eliminate normally from the rectum, but no means to do so. It feels like I'm going to soil my drawers, but nothing ever happens. Is this norm ...

Well that was no walk in the park. I had my surgery, spent about 3 days in the hospital, came hope and started vomiting. A lot. All the time. Every time I ate, when I went to bed at night, when I went to the doctor's office. I went back in the hospital and they stuck and NG tube up my nose and down my throat. I hate those things. Anyway they said my ostomy didn't wake up after surgery. That is ...

Since we can't be like "able-anal-ed" folks and "take a dump," we need a saying of our own. "Draining the bag" just doesn't cut it. Some candidates to consider:
Trapshooting. Has a nice ring to it. Imagine: "Hey Sally, back in a jiffy... gotta do a little trapshooting."
Turboturd. For the ostomate in a hurry.
Dash-of-splash. Similar to turboturd, but with some recoil.
Easysqueeze. When you kno ...