The Social

My happy retirement days of lounging on the couch have ended. Mrs B innocently asked me earlier this week to hang a string of Christmas lights behind the garage. Eager to "git er done" and return to the comforts of couch potato life... I broke out the ladder and made quick work of this domestic task. Just as I snuggled back into the cushions.... She... was back. In her hands... more damn light ...

G-Day Ostermates,
Just thought I would introduce you to a Tiger Snake that I nearly stepped on.
It turned into a good photo shoot.
Regards IGGIE

GRETA GARBO ALWAYS MAINTAINED that her most famous quote – “I want to be alone.” – was a misquote. She claimed that what she actually said was: “I want to be let alone.” Being a famous person with worldwide recognition, she was likely tired of the constant inconvenience of harping reporters, photographers, and fans. But even those of us without fame appreciate quiet times alone wit ...

So, this morning I was on the expressway after meeting a friend for brunch, and my bag started to leak at 70 mph. As I reached into my glove box, I thought "You might be an ostomate if...you carry chuck pads in your car!". Anyone else have any ostomate signs?!

Hi

first time on this site.
I have had my Ileostomy for 7 months now. My stoma usually expands and contracts throughout the day. We have had hot humid weather and I have had blow out after blow out from adhesive failure. The upper part is still expanding and retracting, but the lower part has stopped retracting since the heat, making bag changes challenging. I am trying to stay in the air ...

Hello everyone,

My name is Shirley and im new here. Just wanted to say a big hello.

When I look back on everything I went through since I started on this ostomy journey I have to laugh. Not saying I still don't get a little overwhelmed with what I went through. 13 surgeries, several abscesses and MRSA will do that to you. But I tend to focus on the funny side of it. I can tell you the exact moment I lost all dignity and nothing would ever bother me from that point on, and yes ...

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, living into one’s eighties is really an amazing accomplishment. I just turned 83 and I never expected to make it this far. I suppose I’m like Yossarian in Joseph Heller’s great novel Catch 22. “He wondered often how he would ever recognize the first chill, flush, twinge, ache, belch, sneeze, stain, lethargy, vocal slip, loss of balance or lapse of memory tha ...

I'm feeling proud of this exotic looking vegetable that I just harvested from my garden. Anyone grown one of these before? When I bought the seedling, it was labelled 'cauliflower', but I don't think so! It seems to be a variety of broccoflower. Steamed some, then served it with a little butter and fresh squeeze of lemon, delicious! Sort of like cauliflower, but sweeter. I've got ...

I am a 70 lady with a bag on my side. I an 5’ 2” long brown hair blue eyes all my teeth. Medium size I don’t smoke and rarely drink. I like to go fishing and to the flea market on Sundays. My kids are grown and live with their family. My spouse has been floating around as he was creamented 3 years ago 12/31/22

I am one week in to having an ileostomy bag, and I am having persistent leakage problems. My stomach is sunk into my abdomen and I can see that waste is going behind the bag. I have tried one piece and two piece pouching systems and I am still having problems. Any advice?

Hey all!! Hope you're all well and had a great year!
It's Christmas time again and everyone seems to be in a rush, no time to look around or have a moment to appreciate just being alive.
I can say I've finally taken a moment today, I've been to the Christmas market in Birmingham (UK) and loved it.
I'm not a Christmasy person but it can be pretty. Also the food is just
As you can see by my bri ...

I gave a looped ileostomy (18 months)
Normal porridge thickness. At night I gave to empty every 2 hrs and many times watery. Eat small meals, nothing 3 hrs before bed, and hydrate well.
(64 ounces). Any advise?

So it feels like after spending some time focusing on my physical healing I am becoming more brave and growing my confidence interacting with new people. This is such a relief after spending so much time wondering if I would ever be as social as I remember being before. I'm so thankful to all the people around me showing small gestures of kindness and openness to me. Its allowing me to heal my ...

KIND GESTURES 5. (creating a way)
I wish to tell you, if I may,
of my walk beside a waterway.
This is my walk by winding stream
where I relax and dare to dream.
This walk for me is regular,
because it is spectacular
in scenery and ambience,
as well as in convenience.
It took me years to cut this walk,
aside this stream midst clay and chalk,
following the water course
with pick and shovel, a ...

THERE ISN’T ANYONE on this website who hasn’t benefitted from the professional experience and expertise of a nurse. I would go so far as to say that there have been occasions when I relied more on a nurse’s knowledge than that of the attending physician. A nurse is a living example of the combined value of formal schooling and practical experience. So I was both surprised and disgusted w ...

These are the Horoscopes for the week of December 1, 2025
https://youtube.com/shorts/2ivViTSxJa8?si=fppvZzn-86aoQl9O

I've had my ileostomy for 3 years after a bout with colorectal cancer twice. I was interested in meeting people in the same situation that I'm in. I'm curious about how people date with in Illinois and how people treat them knowing this.

Ho Ruddy Ho!
There are more coming - when I find the time to put them together.

Hi Fellow Ostomates
I just wanted to tell you about my recent two-week hiking and cultural tour of Japan with World Expeditions. I wondered how I would go with my ileostomy, but it was absolutely fine. The flight was pleasant enough, and using the toilet was easy. I took a cup in with me in case I needed to pour some water down the toilet (they only have air in airplane toilets), but with care ...

I love to fish . And I love serving God . And like to play cards. I have been married for 48 years and have 5 wonderful grandchildren..

Hi all, I am new to the site thought it would be a good place to get advice and meet people who have lived through what I have just started!
I had emergency surgery to remove my colon after a several week fight with Ulcerative colitis and like many of you awoke to this new strange addition to my life.
I am 1 week out of hospital after being in for 4 weeks, lost 16.5Kg from a fit 70Kg down to ...

KIND GESTURES 4. (USA)
I’ve been seeing what people say
in and around the USA,
and thought I ought to write a rhyme
to capture these concepts in time.
There seems to be a precedent
being set by this new president,
aimed at reversing all the hate
that has swept their fair land of late.
This president has told us all
he doesn’t want to build a wall,
or let more people die in vain
because of ...

I'm curious — has anyone here been pregnant with a stoma? How did it go? Was it extra challenging, or just another one of those “figure it out as you go” adventures?
My main worries are the usual suspects: keeping up the energy, the growing belly changing how the appliance fits (because my stoma already has a mind of its own!), and the whole idea of being pregnant after being sick for ...

Happy Monday guys. Lovely to connect with you and learn from your posts -holy moly this is a steep learning curve !
I apologise in advance for such a gloomy introductory message. I'm usually a bubbly, happy and positive person but my recent life has literally been a sh*tshow.
I'm 11 weeks post emergency ileostomy and split from my partner who I was living with last week. It took me a while to ...

Hi everyone, I am making a Christmas Stocking for my stoma who's name is "Stomy". You may think I am crazy, but I talk to my Stomy every day. I am going to stuff his stocking with stoma supplies to make him feel the spirit of the Holidays. I had a cat and she died 2 years ago and I still put up her Christmas Stocking and fill it with a note for her telling her that I hope she is ok and I will ...

Hello all, very new to this kind of thing. Ive had my ileostomy for 15 years now due suffering from 20 years of ulcerative colitis.
Recently separated from my wife after 25 years and concerned ill now be alone forever due to the attachment to my belly. I think im just seeking reassurance that there is a chance that there are women out there that can look past the bag.
A little deep for my intr ...

Hi all, I am now a 42 year old woman. I was diagnosed 9/4/23 with stage 3 rectal cancer after a hard fight with insurance to approve appropriate testing. I went through 6 weeks of radiation, 8 cycles of chemo. Everything was looking good after, until my colonoscopy in June 2025, there was a lesion at tumor site, tested positive. I underwent surgery for a permanent colostomy and "barbie butt" p ...

Just wanted to say hi. Only just registered here. I had emergency surgery in February this year after a severe bout of colitis. They tried treating it with antibiotics for 3 days then things turned much worse so they ended up doing an emergency ileostomy.
I'm hoping to get to know you all and get some advice etc.
Hope that you are all as well as can be today.
Tony

I am a Grandmother with 4 Grandkids ages 4,7,9,&17. I am recovering from a year of chemo/ radiation, chemo, 7 surgeries, and all the sides effects that cone with it. I want to go back to work. But medically I can not. I am depressed because of it. How do you handle the urgency that comes w having a colostomy& an iliostomy. I can not handle the urgency all day and part of the night. I love gard ...

So my Colostomy surgery was just over a month ago, so I’m really new to all this. I actually had two surgeries one to remove a huge tumor, part of which was successfully removed, and the colostomy surgery which was a surprise. So getting used to everything.

WHEN A RETIREE’S FEET hit the floor getting out of bed, his first thought is… What am I going to do today? He may not have to go to work regularly anymore, but he still needs to have some order in his life. “First things first,” said Doctor Who, “but not necessarily in that order.” Remember, you’re not working a nine-to-five job anymore, so you’re not required to punch a timecl ...

BACK WHEN I WAS A KID there was an old couple a few doors down named the Hamlins. Their house was about thirty yards in from the corner and the corner lot that went with their house was the last remnant of an ancient orange grove that had given way to what was now a residential section in southwest Miami. Their tiny grove consisted of about sixteen trees, all valencias. In season, these wonder ...

KIND GESTURES 3. (no show)
Some kind gestures are for show,
so that other people know
that a person is inclined
to be compassionate and kind.
This showiness is a charade,
for these same people find it hard
to maintain their false façade
when they’re alone and caught off-guard.
This ‘show’ is like a classic ‘con’,
where folk don’t know what’s going on,
but might suspect what the ...

I am now relying on my Stomy. He helps me every day to get rid of what I ate and drank the day before. His name is Stomy and I can depend on him every morning. I just want to find people who share my journey through the rest of my life here on Earth. I would love to find people who live in New Jersey and possibly love art. I am an artist and I love crafting, I also love cooking and anything cr ...

Hi my names Rachael I’m 48 i have a gothic side to myself I have 23 tattoos and fell asleep getting 2 of them done I live alone if you would like to chat come say hi I’m also very open and honest about myself some people call it over sharing but I have to be as I have things that can’t be missed lol and no I’m not a pirate

I want to grow my hair out but I’m afraid that when I empty my bag with long hair that it is going to get into my ostomy bag. I originally cut it because after surgery it was falling out like crazy but now it’s all good. I just don’t know. One minute I want short hair and the next I want long hair. What do I do?

THERE WAS A TIME when I lived a life of reckless abandon, when I threw caution to the wind and regularly risked life and limb with no thought whatsoever for my health or safety. It was in elementary school in the Fifties. I walked a half mile to school all by myself, with no adult supervision. I rode my bicycle without a helmet. I drank water straight from a hose. Those were perilous times. I ...

Hi! I am Yasmine! I have been struggling with Crohn’s disease since i was 14 and i’ve had an ileostomy for almost 10 years now. I’ve been through soooo much but still have hope :)

Early this morning our Paradise Shelduck couple arrived home, having been gone since spring.
My John was hoping to start ringing down a large conifer which is putting to much shade on my fruit orchard. But since he doesn’t want to disturb them, he has decided just to let “Honky and Tonky” settle home, as they are super relaxed and he doesn’t want to bother them with his chainsaw.
We h ...

KIND GESTURES.
Within this rhyme I’ll try to list
kind gestures, so you get the gist
of the sorts of things we know
are kind, but rarely ever show.
The friendly smile, that’s there, then gone
so, anyone who’s looking on
might miss the meaning of the smile,
yet know not why it was worthwhile.
The hand upon a shoulder laid,
to show that someone’s a comrade,
who’s there to support and ...

Hi,
First post on here so, please be gentle. I was wondering, has anyone found a way of keeping that darn bag out of the way when they are having one of their most intimate moments? I've used techniques such as holding it under a t-shirt, etc... What do you do? It just plain can get in the way sometimes...
Thanks in advance.

KIND GESTURES 2. (sham)
For gestures to be ‘really’ kind,
one thing we need to bear in mind
is, what sort of motives lie behind,
the acts of people so inclined.
We know some people plot and scheme,
to try to show that they’re not mean,
whilst underneath we often find
these very people are unkind.
Some people give to charity,
whilst they maintain disparity,
which makes their gestures no ...

In China in 2017, Gui Junmin decided to cryogenically freeze his wife Zhan Wenlian, after she died of lung cancer. Then in 2020, Gui began dating again. At the heart of this headline-grabbing tale is that very human inability to know when to let go. Cryogenics and biohacking both try to maximise human lifespan. There is no proof that it will ever be possible to bring someone who is frozen back ...

So, ugh, I was married when I was 17 (36 years), got the ileostomy, and was single after 3 years! WTF!?

In the spirit of main stream media censorship, the following term will be actively sanitized to protect delicate ears and snowflake hearts.
An ostomy "bag" will now be known as an "Alternative turd receptacle."
Wait.... my producer has informed me folks might be "triggered" by the word "Turd."
We shall revise the offending sentence accordingly.
An ostomy "bag" will now be known as an "Alternat ...

I started beading cuz it’s all that my family an friends do my hobbies was driving my fast cars

Feeling down today. It’s been a rough week with Stella the stoma. But one thing that makes me smile are the fur babies. So let’s see them.

Need to try and be more active in the social aspects of life, but find it such a struggle........but today I managed to get to a reggae festival for a couple of hours.

SOMETIMES THINGS JUST don’t make sense. You can’t explain it and it would give you a headache to even try. Of course, the less consequential it is, the less it matters. Why does the word LONG have only four letters, but the word ABBREVIATED has eleven? It doesn’t make sense but, then again, who cares? The thing to worry about is something like why some people believe nonsense, accept it ...