To recap, I have an extremely inverted stoma on a soft belly crease and I had a horrible time with the bag I was using always coming off just enough to let output get underneath the adhesive and destroy my skin. I tried glue & purple stuff & nothing worked. The thing that changed the equation for me was changing the device I was using. Thanks to the Convatec video call, they realized I needed ...

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 ...

I was wondering if anyone knows if our life is decreased in any way by not having a colon. Obviously, we are living longer due to life-saving surgery. I was just wondering if ostomates are missing out on vitamins/minerals that may have a negative effect on our long-term health.
I know I won't be dying from colon cancer.

Has anyone on here had a tattoo done around their stoma? If so, did you have any problems?
I'm having one done on 1st Feb and the only thing I'm a bit dubious about is the chances of my colostomy becoming active while the guy is doing the tatt.
Fingers crossed everything will be fine.
Kezza

How long should I go between appliance changes? I have a colostomy so I know that differs greatly from having an ileostomy due to frequency and consistency of output. I've heard that the longer you go between full changes the better it is for your skin. Just curious as to how long some of you all wait.

I just suffered through a severe rash that came up all of a sudden and made it impossible to apply a flange. It's gone now, but I thought I'd pass along a suggestion... I keep pieces of my aloe plant in the freezer. When I could, I would take a piece out and rub it on the rash - very cooling and healing, and the rash healed very quickly. Aloe gel might work, but it also might sting due to othe ...

Happy two months to Leroy the stoma! Yes, two months since the surgery that saved my life and led to me finding out the people who cared when I needed care the most and are there for me as I make my recovery in more ways than one.
I thank those people quite a bit for supporting me, especially after my now-ex-partner walked out on me when I got out of the hospital. I have gratitude coming out ...

I have lost track of whom, but for the last year or two, I have been informing Canadians they are eligible to receive a disability tax credit if they have a stoma that is non-reversible. I have a stoma and need ostomy supplies, which qualified me. I get it, and so can you. See below for CRA info saying everyone with an irreversible stoma automatically gets this DTC (Disability Tax Credit).
I d ...

Since my stoma nurse decided to let me trial my Coloplast SenSura Mio two-piece bags, I still have quite a bit of ConvaTec wafers and high drainage bags left over.
I would prefer to donate them rather than just throw them away.
So if anyone uses these and would like them, and you are willing to pay the postage, I'd be very happy to see them go to another home.
The wafers are:
ConvaTec SUR-FIT ...

I was pleased to be able to read the study report of the previously closed clinical trial of the TIES III 'continent' implant device, which I have copied below courtesy of publishers NHS Health Research Authority.
Prof. Jayne makes the point that as the clinical trial was stopped early—a decision reflecting the need to redesign TIES and continue potentially as a single-arm open study [[it wa ...

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).