Take yourself back to your first few weeks with your stoma, did you have regular appointments to see your nurse; to ensure your bag was cut correctly, the products were right and you were okay? If the answer is yes, that was a very basic stoma review. I have covered Appliance User Reviews (AUR’s) previously here, but whereas an AUR is a document that goes to your delivery company (DAC)…
2021 question
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“Why do you need B12 injections?”
I frequently get asked about my need to have regular top-ups of B12, via injection with my GP practice. As a result of my first IBD surgery back in 2016, I require B12 injections due to deficiency. Before I get into my own situation – the hows and whys – let’s answer some common B12 related questions – 1. Why might people with IBD be deficient in B12? Anemia is…
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“Is having a stoma a fix or cure for IBD?”
If I had a pound for every time I got asked this immediately after surgery or whenever I meet someone new who doesn’t know my background to my stoma, I swear, I’d be RICH. Let’s go through this question methodically, shall we? What is a stoma? A stoma is an opening in the abdominal wall to divert the bowel and its waste into a medical device. The word ‘stoma’ comes…
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“Does having IBD scare you?”
Let me take you back down memory road to the day after I was diagnosed with Crohns disease. “I sat on my hospital bed, in the new ward, waiting for the doctors to come and do their rounds. I would meet my consultant for the first time – excellent, when I looked and felt awful – as well as a specialist nurse. Why did I need a special nurse? Was…
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“How important is hydration with a stoma?”
Summer can be a challenging time for ostomates. The hot weather can cause some issues if you’re not aware of them. Without parts of the bowel to absorb alot of water, ostomates – particularly those with an ileostomy – can be more susceptible to dehydration if they over hydrate with the wrong fluids or go too long without fluids. It’s a balancing act and no one gets it perfect, trust…
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“Are supplements helpful in IBD?”
More than half those with IBD have deficiencies in vitamins & minerals and we get most of these from the food we eat. Clemmie Oliver of the NALM Clinic said it best; “micronutrient deficiency (vitamins and minerals) is associated with a prolonged and more complicated course of disease in people with IBD as micronutrients play hugely important roles in our bodies, including supporting and regulating our immune system, gut health…
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“What are infusions like?”
Intravenous simply means ‘into a vein’. Medicines and other fluids can be given directly via a vein into your bloodstream. A fine tube, called a cannula, is inserted into a vein, usually in your arm or hand, using a needle. The cannula is then connected by an IV line (a long, thin tube) to an infusion pump that delivers the medicine or fluid. Infusions are usually given by medical staff…
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“What does an endoscopy feel like?”
Basic definition: An endoscopy is a procedure where organs inside your body are looked at using an instrument called an endoscope. An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light and camera at one end. Images of the inside of your body are shown on a television screen. Endoscopes can be put into the body through the mouth and down the throat, or through the rectum. An…
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“Is mental health overlooked in IBD?”
How often when you get asked “how are you?” do you answer with regards to your mental or emotional health? I get it, it is tough to really answer with a honest one. Especially when you’ve come to see a doctor about a physical problem. But what happens when you’re physical problem is overshadowed by your emotions? Such as a chronic illness? How do you ‘separate’ the emotional from the…