Inspired and a follow up to my 2017 post “When Does Having an Ostomy Feel ‘Normal’?” and my 2019 post “This is Not My First Choice“ In a very similar vein to my post on ‘when does having an ostomy feel ‘normal’?’, today I want…
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A Guide to Summer with an Ostomy
Inspired and an follow on from my 2018 post “Surviving the Summer with an Ostomy: A Guide” Disclaimer: This information is based on my own personal experience since my ostomy surgery in August 2016 and is not intended to replace medical advice from a trained professional.…
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Frustration: When nothing feels like ‘good news’
Inspired by my 2019 post “Pain: When does Acute turn into Chronic?“ The shock on my face when I was told I was needed at SAU – our Surgical Assessment Unit – for a consult on a large peristomal hernia was a classic moment; right…
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Reflecting on 2020 – The Six Month Update
Inspired and an follow on from my 2019 post “Reflecting on 2019 – The Six Month Update” Gosh, it feels as if it’s taken a long time to get to the end of June but also, where has it all gone? Most of 2020 has…
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The Mental Struggles of Chronic Illness
I’ve thrown alot of curve balls lately. So many. Too many to count. I secretly thought this lock down malarkey was going to be a breeze – in simple terms, being at home for months on end, I’ve done that before! – but no. My…
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Life Lately | Lockdown Update
There is something else to be said about trusting your guts… I think if I trusted mine, I would be in serious trouble. But if you look at abit further, a little deeper, there is some truth. My guts are a barometer of pain and…
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Coping with Anxiety While in Isolation
We are in unpresented times. But dealing with anxiety in isolation is not unpresented. Anxiety affects everyone differently and can be brought on by different situations or experiences. It is our body’s natural reaction to perceived danger, focusing our attention and giving us a rush…
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Growing Through your Diagnosis
What’s nice about being an adult and living with IBD is making all your own medical decisions. I remember sitting in my hospital bed and being given my morning medication and being told to take it right then and there. I was 23 years old. …
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Should We ‘Celebrate’ our Medical Anniversaries?
anniversary / noun – the date on which an event took place in a previous year. Today marks the fourth anniversary since my first IBD surgery. Part of me feels really nostalgic for that surgery – it was my first, I had no idea what…