If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know I live with an ileostomy – a type of stoma formed from the small bowel – after losing my colon to Crohn’s disease. Read more about my stoma and my journey here. Now having a major organ removed isn’t exactly easy. Nor is it straightforward. The surgeries performed to create stomas aren’t quick or without their complexities. But hopefully the…
ostomy education
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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. If you are requiring advice regarding your own stoma, routines which might benefit you most, or products that suit your needs best, please contact your…
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Ostomy Uncovered – How to Resize Your Baseplate
Disclaimer: This information is based on my own research into this particular aspect of stoma care as well as some personal experience and should not be used as medical advice or a diagnostic tool. The suggestions given within are taken from sources laid out in the references header. If you seek advice regarding the things you experience within your own disease, please contact your SCN for medical advice. If you are looking for the entire…
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The Digestive System: Part IV – Digestion Myths & Ostomy Misconceptions
Digestion Myths & Ostomy Misconceptions Myth: Diarrhoea is a sign of an infection and you should just let it run its course Diarrhoea affects most people from time to time and has many different causes, including viruses, bacteria picked up from contaminated food, anxiety, food allergies and long term conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Whatever the cause, it is recommend to treat it early. Diarrhoea removes fluids and salts from the…
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The Digestive System: Part III – IBD Surgery
How does having surgery affect the Digestive System? Types of IBD Bowel Surgery Depending on the location of your IBD and the amount of inflammation that needs operating on, there are several options of bowel surgery. Most will be a resection of what is deemed to be too extensive to be helped my medical therapy. From these resections, there is an alternation to the natural or ‘normal’ digestive system. Some…
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The Digestive System: Part II – Having IBD
How does having IBD effect the Digestive System? Firstly, what is IBD? Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for the long term and sometimes chronic digestive conditions in which the intestine become inflamed. The main two types are Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Whilst both affect the digestive tract, they do so differently. So, what is Crohn’s disease and what makes it different to Ulcerative Colitis? Crohn’s disease is where there…
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The Digestive System: Part I – Anatomy
What exactly is the ‘Digestive System’?
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Ostomy Supporting Products – Information
Disclaimer: The information in this post is based on product knowledge from product information direct from the manufacturer and also personal use of products within my own stoma care. All experiences given here are my own and should not be taken as medical advice. If you require advice or support about any aspect of your stoma care, please contact your SCN in the first instance or your GP. If you…
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Ostomy Supporting Products – Powder
Disclaimer: The information in this post is based on product knowledge from product information direct from the manufacturer and also personal use of products within my own stoma care. All experiences given here are my own and should not be taken as medical advice. If you require advice or support about any aspect of your stoma care, please contact your SCN in the first instance or your GP. If you…