IT'S A START
Bringing comfort and clarity to the what, why and how of an impending ostomy surgery.
JOURNEY STAGE
NEW WAY FORWARD
The first 90 days. Helping hand, with you through recovery, adjustment and easing back into being and feeling yourself.
TO A BIGGER LIFE
Settling in. Support, ideas, encouragement and experiences all on offer. Lifetime members welcome!
FEATURED ARTICLES
To a bigger life
Introducing: A Bigger Life Community
We have developed a new ostomy community on abiggerlife.com to create the opportunity to connect with other ostomates, clinical advisors and share experiences about living with a stoma.
A Bigger Life
Video: Living a bigger life with an ostomy
We’re here for anyone around the world whose life has been touched by a stoma, offering support, advice and encouragement. Whether you have impending ostomy surgery or you’ve been an ostomate for 50 years!
Keith
A positive outlook makes anything possible
I’m lying here tonight and I’m so thankful for our wonderful NHS. Just over seven years ago a surgeon skillfully removed my colitis ravaged bowel and gave me a stoma for life. It’s a quality of life I could only have dreamed of when I was so ill.
Clare
Weighing the pros and cons of revision surgery
I have a very irregular shape to the base of my stoma and I have always had trouble cutting the wafer hole correctly. If I manage it the odd time, I need it to be placed absolutely correctly. How does everyone else manage who have strange shapes? I know that I need further surgery for stoma revision but am quite anxious about the outcome. I have some pros for stoma revision but also a few cons.
Andy
Needing the toilet when you are out and about
At some point after the birth of your stoma, you will want to venture outdoors – it’s totally natural and expected that you will be anxious about being too far away from a toilet. A public convenience can often have small cubicles, making changing, emptying or cleaning up difficult. Here are a couple of options for anyone in the UK that might help you feel more confident when you are out and about.
Latest Articles
Clare Mee
What’s it like when your partner or close family take on a carer role?
Do you take it in your stride, or do you feel embarrassed that you need care of any kind by someone so close?
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Importance of stoma site marking
One of the most important aspects to the role of the stoma care nurse is the siting of your stoma. Especially in the early discussions whenever you are meeting your stoma care nurse for the first time, they will talk to you about where the stoma should be sited.
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Keith Thomas
Winning with a stoma
I have made it my mission to embrace my second chance at life, not allowing having a stoma to become a barrier to me doing anything
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Tips for good stoma pouch adhesion
Achieving good pouch adhesion helps to prevent many problems. We created a handy guide of tips to achieve good stoma pouch adhesion.
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Jennie Higgins
A day at the spa with my stoma
Yes, you heard right! You can totally have a nice relaxing day at the spa with a stoma. Jennie has had a few pamper days recently and has come away feeling refreshed and energised. Here are her top tips for enjoying a spa day with a stoma.
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Andy
Getting rid of odour- a review of what has and hasn’t worked for me.
I’ve gone through many different fresheners so thought I would share what is available and what I recommend to use.
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Clare Mee
Toilets – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Having a stoma means toilets play a big part in our lives. I have used some really lovely clean ones, but also some dreadful ones that I really didn’t want to use but had no choice.
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