The Social

WE ALL HAVE INTERESTS that we enjoy pursuing and, likewise, things that we avoid doing. Just as you might look for an excuse to do what you like, avoidance techniques employed to NOT do stuff can get fairly inventive. “Anything not worth doing,” said Elias Schwartz, “is worth not doing well.” I am very good, for example, at not mowing the lawn. I am willing to pay someone else jus ...

Hey everyone,

I am Aaron. I’ve had my permanent ileostomy since January 2023. It’s been a crazy ride, but everything is going well. I was diagnosed with UC in 2012 while I was active duty. Got out in 2013 and UC pretty much controlled my life. Since having my bag, I’ve been able to return to a pretty much normal lifestyle.

I named mine Sylvester Stalloma, he’s now my ring man fighting through this labyrinth called life.

for the most part he’s well behaved apart from the odd battle cry he lets out at 2am some nights, startling me into action in the darkness, I think he does it just to remind me that he’s still there fighting my corner.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4TCBd2F7VZE8gbTUaVwpEQ?si=J8dBGfGISL6lxBZdDAwxGw

When told that I have a urostomy, some people's immediate reaction is, "Oh yuck! Fancy peeing into a bag!" My reply is, "Oh yuck! Fancy carrying pee inside your body. How unhygienic is that!"
How do you respond when people act in this way? Apart from telling them to "Foxtrot Oscar."
When you have an ostomy, you have to keep your sense of humor (SOH).

These are the Horoscopes for the week of June 16, 2025

#CardDivo #ZodiacSigns #Horoscopes

https://youtube.com/shorts/WXO9CMblRuc?si=RDNRn9vy1IneCPip

I’m just starting my Dysmotility work up and my doctor has already mentioned possible surgery, which would result in a temporary ileostomy. Not sure if I’d be a candidate for an IRA and colectomy as my rectal function has not yet been determined.
I have lots of questions and have been reviewing this platform for a while now. I’m in awe of everyone’s strength, resilience and support of ...

I’ve got a lot of questions but I’m going to see what this site is about first. Nice meeting everyone.

Hi all,

Name is George

Just joined this site and enjoying reading through the forums.

Had my stoma for 16 months now after an emergency op in Jan '24. Plan was to see if my colitis would settle down and reverse which it hasn't. Now waiting on a date to remove everything and be left with a permanent bag.

Ultimately I am fine with that in thr main. Having the bag is life changing. No ...

YEARS AGO, WHEN MY DAUGHTER LIVED in Brooklyn, I flew from Utah (out of Vegas) to NYC to visit her. There were a couple of places that I wanted to go while there and we took the subway. I’ve never lived where there are subways and she decided that she needed to coach me on my behavior. “Don’t look at anyone, don’t talk to anyone,” she advised seriously. As a film fan, I’ve seen ...

I've had my colostomy since 2008-2009 and use Convatec's Natura+ two-Piece Drainable system and with 2" Durapore "waterproof" around the perimeter. The tape provides some additional adhesion and time of containment against leaks. I've found that system to be the most convenient and easiest to use. I really like the snap off, snap-on flanges.

However, I find that the Convatec wafer's tape, by ...

Hello

Two years ago I had my surgery and have an ileostomy. I’m still learning how to live with it and most recently I went on my first vacation and started to go out and try to live my life again. I’m still filled with fear and anxiety but I’m trying, I would love to get to know people who have similar experiences as I do and help when I can. Thank you for excepting me in this wonder ...

Lawyers joke that an “expert” is someone from out-of-town. They arrive to testify regarding their specialty and, just because they came from, say, Washington, D.C., they have an extra measure of credibility. Jurors are impressed that they came all that way just to help them understand what happened in the case.

But everyone ought to be an expert at something. White collar or blue, urb ...

WHEN I REACHED THE CORNER of Walk and Don’t Walk on my morning stroll the other day, imagine my surprise when I bumped into Jimmy Buffett. “I thought you were dead,” I told him, embarrassed. “Hey, I’ll never stop singing,” he said, and broke into a verse of ‘Margaritaville.’ “You certainly haven’t lost your voice,” I said, then added: “I have a couple of your CDs.” ...

Hello mates, I'm a musician from São Paulo, BR. Ostomate since february this year. Been dealing with rectal cancer since 2020, had quimo, radioterapy and 2 surgerys. In the first one (2021) i had a temporary ileostomy for 4 months, and in this second surgery which was february 6 i ended up with a definitive colostomy on the left descending colon. Onde month ago a had the results from a g ...

THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING, the first day of summer, the first day the baby walked, these occasions get all the plaudits and the second day gets nothing. Nobody remembers or even cares about the second of anything. It’s a damn shame. Who remembers the second time in their life that they had sex? Or the second time they drove a car? It’s only the first time that achieves recognition and ...

ALL OF US HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION called consciousness. Part of our subjective life, of course, is our memories, a subject which for me appears to be a kind of fetish. Maybe it is something that just is a part of old age, our memories quite naturally proliferating like subterranean tubers as we get on in years. Charles Baudelaire told us in his Les Fleurs du Mal of this quite common p ...

This is me, on the outside I look confident and outgoing, when in reality I'm severely introverted, extremely shy and absolutely hate social activities, and a failed marriage and quite recently a breakup has made it all the more worse. I know people with stomas etc and they are so outgoing and full of life and yet I struggle daily, I'd love nothing more than to find that special someone but he ...

So what’s everyone doing today I’m jonesy nice to meet you

Many words have multiple meanings. The word TIP, for instance, could be the extremity of something, or a gratuity for someone who has done you a service, or a bit of practical advice. It’s a homonym, which doesn’t mean that it’s gay.

The word ACCIDENT has more subtle variations. It can be a car crash; it might mean most any unfortunate, unforeseen incident that occurs unexpectedly ...

Hello,

My name is Lisa. I am a three-year survivor of stage 3B rectal cancer. Following the removal of approximately one-third of my rectum, I’ve been living with Lower Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS), which has been gradually worsening. Despite trying a range of interventions, including multiple medications, a gluten- and dairy-free diet, and various natural remedies, nothing has provi ...

Hello,

Just home from hospital with Ileostomy today. Looking support as I navigate this new way of life.

Looking forward to hearing everyone's tips and tricks!!
Thank you,

Megan

So pleased to have found this resource, I’ve been an Ostomate since 2012..after diagnosis f colorectal carcinoma..

Found it hard going at first, no local Stoma Nurse access, no local support group, living in rural Australia..living alone, no family support..Community Health did try to assist but not their specialty..

Hello everyone! Hoping this message finds you well. I currently have a j-pouch after suffering from ulcerative colitis in my early 20’s. My first pouch failed but I was fortunate enough to find a surgeon who was able to create a new j-pouch which I have had for 15 years (first pouch 13 years). Unfortunately, my pouch is again failing and I am facing a permanent ileostomy. Does anyone have an ...

Just joined this site and hope to meet others close to me in Puyallup/South Hill, WA area.

I have an ilieostomy for over a year now and doing well.

Hi
I’m Ali. Today I had my first appointment with my stoma nurse. It all went well and I’m excited about getting a colostomy.
It’s been a tough 4 years so the stoma will change my life for the better. I have a rectovaginal fistula so fingers crossed the stoma will solve the issue as my next surgical option sounds pretty horrendous.
This is a picture of me trying to look as excited as t ...

Saw the website showing August in Florida.
Might be a good idea for meet and greets... and grits?
Anyone interested in attending?
These conventions are eye-openers. It would be my first.
Thoughts?

Hi I am Stewart from Brooklin, Ontario I had an ilestoma in February 2025

My name is Cindy. I have a colostomy for 2 years. It is still hard to accept having this. I would be open to having any comments you might be willing to share with me.

THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER SEEN for any endeavor was in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The King said to the White Rabbit, “Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end, then stop.” How could it be any simpler? It doesn’t matter what activity you’re talking about; this easy maxim applies. Of course, it helps if you know what you’re doing. Most ...

Hello everyone! I’m Brittany and I’m new to the forum and colostomy care. I’ve had my bag for about a month and a half now and hope to learn how to take care of my stoma and surrounding skin better. This has been a new and challenging journey, but I know with the right support it will get easier.

NO ONE WOULD CONTEST that Winston Churchill was a master of the English language. His written work product was enormous, in addition to his careers as soldier and politician. It has been estimated that he wrote 8 to 10 million words in over forty books, plus thousands of newspaper and magazine articles. His work included a six-volume history of W.W. I, a six-volume history of W.W. II, and A ...

I CAN’T SAY FOR SURE, but I suspect that my love of cartooning and cartoonists began with my exposure to the great World War II artist Bill Mauldin. His Pulitzer Prize winning work depicted two archetypal GIs, Willie and Joe, as they dealt with the dangers and numbing routine of Army life. I pull his wonderful book Up Front off the shelf every once in a while, and always enjoy it immen ...

I TRY TO AVOID the guy who lives around the corner. Unfortunately, I encounter him every once in a while when he’s walking his two poodles. He’s one of those people who, when you greet him with a ‘How’re you doing?’ he thinks he has to tell you in excruciating, long-winded detail. If you’re unfortunate enough to get trapped into being in his presence for anything longer than a h ...

Hi, I'm new here and thought I would introduce myself. I'm Carol from Texas. I have had my colostomy for 7 months now. It is permanent.. in October of last year I became very sick. Thought I had the stomach flu. Couldn't hold even water down. It began after my doctor advised me to drink magcitrate for constipation. I had a lot of abdominal pain as well. I was rushed to the ER by ambulance on d ...

I NEED MORE BOOKSHELVES as my book collection continues to grow. “Get rid of some of them,” my spouse suggests, all the while knowing full well that’s not going to happen. All those books, they’re alive, and the authors are alive too inside of them. All I have to do to converse with them is pull their book off the shelf and open it up. I look for the places in the pages that I mark ...

THE BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER SEEN for any endeavor was in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The King said to the White Rabbit, “Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end, then stop.” How could it be any simpler? It doesn’t matter what activity you’re talking about; this easy maxim applies. Of course, it helps if you know what you’re doing. Most ...

Horoscopes for the Week of June 2, 2025
#CardDivo #ZodiacSigns #Horoscopes

https://youtube.com/shorts/LZXptN5-Lro?si=RehLGysx6VFloTN_

I just had to have a colostomy. I'm nervous about a lot of things and would love some "make my life easier" advice!

Hi all,
Being a gay ostomate, I met a really sweet guy. We got on so well together, lots of fun and laughter, plus we had a lot in common. Five weeks into our relationship, I told him I had an ileostomy since I was 13 years old and told him why I had to have it. Since I told him, I haven't heard from him since. I now feel stupid for telling him and really, really hurt. Having an ileostomy for ...

A CAT THAT LIVED WITH ME liked to sleep upon a book. For true comfort and maximum scholarship, the book ought to be at least 200 pages thick. At my computer one morning, my cat – Fancy Pants – jumped up and settled down upon Mencken’s Notes on Democracy. Mencken wouldn’t have minded his gem of cynicism and clear thinking being put to such non-partisan, utilitarian use. Cats neither ...

New here. Urostomy 10 yrs due to end stage Interstitial Cystitis. Nice to meet you!
( ‿ ) ( ‿ ) ( ‿ )

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.

Currently under care but would like to meet people with like condition, because most people don't understand our struggles that ostomy people suffer and was the reason my wife asked for divorce after 8 years with my intestinal problems and 24 years of marriage with 4 kids.

I used to be very active, jet skis, dirt bikes, 4 wheeling, camping, professional country dancer and more.

Well…I originally thought Snow was a Princess, but now that Snow is a little bigger, she is not a Princess, but Prince Snow. He can be so sweet and loving, but there are days that he is our little demon brat cat. Hopefully, once he is fixed, he will calm down. I love him dearly.

The Big Scare
At church today, Mrs. B suffered a terrible calamity. One that rendered her temporarily speechless. A church friend behind me reached over to wish me a happy Easter and shake my hand. I leaned over to bid him holiday wishes too. Mrs. B nudged my leg. She was pointing toward my pants zipper. Hmmmm. Did I forget to pull it up? Nooo.
Then she hissed, "Your thingy is showing." "Thin ...

Loving all of the beautiful spring colors
Haven't painted in years. Love how this turned out

Greetings.

I'm amazed to see I've made over 3,000 posts on MaO. Alas the day has arrived for me to stumble off into the fading sunset.
I've got many adventures ahead.

A return to the Galapagos Islands. An amazing experience when I was there in 2005. Very well maintained and protected by Ecuador.

Another visit to Moorea and Bora Bora Tahiti. Our favorite South Pacific getaway. B ...

Will be taking a little break from this site for a little while … but just wanted to express my thanks and gratitude to people on here who have been supportive and kind within my own journey , it’s been a great help and I’m really pleased I joined this site for several reasons … I am sure I will check back in soon but for some personal reasons I am just taking bit of a short break , w ...