One of my first queries when I was getting ready to have my stoma made was, ‘but how will I sleep with it attached to me?’ And sure for some, this might not phase them at all; it would be a welcomed break from not sleeping at all or having very broken and unsuccessful sleep. But I worried, none the less. Would I squash it? Would doing that hurt? Would…
stoma life
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Travelling with IBD and a Stoma
Let’s get out there! For the majority of people who live with IBD, they have to travel. Either commuting to and from their jobs or taking trips; some will rely on the public transport network – trains, buses and coaches – to do this. While I have been a commuter in my own transport, the majority of my working life – and thus my time being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease…
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Stoma Life – YEAR THREE
What I’ve Learnt and Achieve in the Last Twelve Months with my Ostomy Year Three with Priscilla has been one of calm in the mist of chaos. I made the gutsy decision to say goodbye to my sassy stump and hello to the Barbie butt club. My mental recovery has and still is the hardest part of living with IBD and a stoma. It is a hidden undercurrent and blinds me…
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This is Not My First Choice
Monday. This morning I ordered my stoma supplies with my delivery company and my prescription with my GP. By next week I’ll be organising and putting away another months worth of supplies to get me through August. August. My stoma was created three years ago this August. The day before my partners birthday – we celebrated my ‘new’ chapter and his life. I was always very comfortable with my stoma.…
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The Importance of an AUR – Appliance User Review
** Warning: this post contains details about my stoma, it’s appearance and output. If you would not like to read, please stop now ** That ‘aha!’ moment Lately, I’ve been experiencing some quite bad leaks with my stoma bag. What started off as just because I’d change my bag after two days of wear, it soon became daily and then multiple times a day. Sometimes, it would happen before I’d…
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Surviving the Winter with an Ostomy: A Guide
Winter time can be a daunting and challenging time when you have an ostomy. Worries can focus around how routines change with the season, what you’ll be able to eat and drink during the festive period, whether you will be prepared for the ramping up of social activities and ensuring you have supplies to see you through and how to cope during a period of time when there can be limited…
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Pancaking and Ballooning – An Education
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 stoma care nurse for further assistance. What is Pancaking and what causes it? Pancaking is when the…
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Happy 2nd Stomaversary!
What I’ve Learnt and Achieve in the Last Twelve Months with my Ostomy Year One with a stoma came and went with great highs and terrible lows. I started Year Two by saying this: But what did the next twelve months have in store for me? I would be admitted to hospital a few days later, in horrific pain which turned out to be my bowel twisting. That’s what I’d…
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Surviving the Summer with an Ostomy: A Guide
Summer time can sometimes be a daunting time when you have an ostomy. Worries tend to focus around the heat, your supplies and how they’ll hold up and how to avoid being caught out or avoid a hospital admission. In this guide, I’ll be looking to the common fears new ostomates might have, along with some advice about how to lessen those fears and worries they might have. It’s also…