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.

MY OSTOMY IS MY NORMAL. It follows, then, that my ostomy is normal. My dictionary says that normal is the usual, typical, expected. Precisely. It’s all I know. It’s there when I get up in the morning, it calls to me after every meal, and it lies down with me every night. The best day of my life was when, years and years ago, in some long-forgotten moment of my past, I came to regard ...

Got my samples yesterday and changed it this morning; already so much more comfortable! They bend with me when I bend, which the more convex products were not doing, which then led to leaks and a general mess. The video nurse told me that there was zero chance of any convex product ever pushing my stoma to being an ‘outie,' so it would be better to go with a smaller convex product that would ...

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?

Hello everyone, and I'm trying to figure out a few things and just ask a few questions first! Is that okay?
How's everyone feeling? I'm never here, but I came in to say hello to everyone, and maybe we can text and chat about a couple of things on my mind!
1. Does anyone do protein shakes? What do you use? What is your diet? I have issues with everything I eat, and I'm not new; I just haven't ...

My husband underwent a sigmoid colon resection and loop colostomy on July 2, 2025, and is starting chemo for colon cancer on August 1, 2025. We just met with a cancer dietician said he needs to have 120 grams of protein per day. She recommended I make him some smoothies with protein powder blended in. After doing some research I ordered a small sized jar of plain Naked Whey on Amazon, I wan ...

Hi! I hope everyone is doing well! Just wanted to check in and give an update. I do have daily pain where the hernia used to be when I apply pressure, and sometimes I will get this sharp pain under where the stoma used to be. It goes straight down to the side of my pubic area, but it is only sometimes, and I'm not sure what causes it. I also still have rectal pain, but only sometimes, when I p ...

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 ...

It's been a while since I've posted - been on a social media sanity break. When I did check in, I had over 260 unread posts, and instead of trying to reply to them all, I thought I'd say welcome to all the new folks on the site!
You have found yourself in a club nobody wants to be in. But in my case, as with many others here, we would not be alive without our stomas, so here we are.
When I had ...

With the TIES Solution, the patient can live a life without the need to constantly wear an ostomy bag.
The solution is a titanium port with a lid and is implanted in place of the conventional ostomy. The lid bears a hatch that allows the evacuation of the waste without removing the lid. A bag holder that does not touch the skin allows the fixation of the bag when the waste needs to be evacuate ...

Have had this for 2 years! Like my bag! Anyone else?