IT'S A START
Bringing comfort and clarity to the what, why and how of an impending Ostomy surgery.
A stoma shouldn't define you, it's
just a small part of a bigger life.
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
It's a start
The ABC of Ostomy
There are three main types of stoma, colostomy, ileostomy and urostomy. A colostomy or ileostomy can either be temporary or permanent. A urostomy is always permanent.
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!
Clare Mee
My experience with dehydration
I know that having an ileostomy means that I don’t absorb as much water as I used to, as the large bowel did most of that. I have never been a great water and fluid drinker so knew that I would have to change my ways.
A Bigger Life
Caring for a loved one with a stoma and dementia
There are many causes of dementia and people with dementia can become disinterested in their usual everyday activities and they have problems controlling their emotions. They can find social situations quite challenging. A person with dementia can lose that understanding and empathy for others and situations
Saleem Juma
Fighting frustration with an ostomy bag
I have to do this every 2 days with the way I work out, it started happening after my most recent surgery. Since I have a massive scar running down where my belly button used to be (they took that out too), I have to cut my pouches in a much different way than they used to go on and the way the sweat sneaks in there while I’m working out. Well let’s just say I deal with a lot of bag changes.
Latest Articles
Aneica
Experience of working with a stoma
After a few weeks I had no problem telling the staff at endo about my condition and that I had surgery and Ulcerative Colitis (which has now been upgraded).
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Lauraine Clarke
When life gives you lemons
I’ve had about 30 operations and procedures since 1985 when I first became ill. I’ve always bounced back. I remember when I had my ileostomy in the late 80s, within a few weeks I was being dragged up some mountain by my husband!
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Talya Goding
Adapting to life with a problematic stoma
I have come to realise a new respect for others who have difficult stomas and the troubles that it brings, I am no longer in the mindset that everyone has the same stoma journey and that not all stomas are equal, just like humans, we all are different.
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Andy
My experience of a one piece and two piece ostomy bag
I’ve based this blog on my own observations with both types, and I’ve tried to be honest with the pitfalls I have encountered. This does not mean though that you may have the same problems. We are all different after all, and with different shapes and sizes, but hopefully they will at least give you a guiding point.
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Advice for teens
Whenever you think about people living with a stoma, there might be the impression that it's only a problem, disease or something to do with old age that causes people to have a stoma.
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Caring for a loved one with a stoma and dementia
This article shares hints and tips on how to help a loved one with dementia who has a stoma and is trying to manage it independently.
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Clare Mee
My experience with dehydration
I know that having an ileostomy means that I don’t absorb as much water as I used to, as the large bowel did most of that. I have never been a great water and fluid drinker so knew that I would have to change my ways.
Read More