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
A bigger life
Your guide to ostomy products
Whenever you’re looking after your stoma, all you need is a good pouch that sticks on well. However, there are instances whenever people do need to use some accessories.
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!
Tayla Goding
Adapting to life with a problematic stoma
Not everyone has the same stoma experience and some struggle more than others.
New Way Forward
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. Having a stoma can actually happen at any age right from new born babies through the whole of your life span to the elderly. You could perceive teenagers as having a harder time
Aneica
Experience of working with a stoma
In Feb 2018 I started as an Auxiliary Nurse in my local hospital, this was a big deal for me as I had applied for nursing courses at Queens University Belfast. I was doing three to four 12 hour shifts a week, I found myself comfortable coming to work and my ileostomy was no different than any other day once I got settled in.
Latest Articles
Why your stoma may change in shape and size
Beyond the first 6-8 weeks it’s not unusual for your stoma to change shape and size occasionally and there’s a few reasons for that.
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Clare Mee
What does having a stoma mean to me?
You just need to look at life through a different angle. Not someone who’s life has been changed for the worse and now less of a person, but as someone who can stand tall and say I have been through an horrendous time and come out the other end stronger and ready to tell my story.
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Aneica
Can a picture speak a thousand words when you have an invisible illness?
This picture was the day after I got told, my stoma is badly inflamed and ulcerated, but sure the show must go on. As stated in my previous blog I was upgraded from Ulcerative Colitis to Crohns Disease.
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Swimming with a stoma
Swimming a is great way of being able to undertake some gentle exercise, especially in the early months following your surgery.
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Your guide to ostomy products
There are lots of companies that create stoma pouches and accessories which work along side them. So, it depends on what product you use, what your comfortable with and what is available in your country.
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Caitlin
Health insurance and cost of ostomy supplies
It's not realistic to have these ridiculously high out of pocket expenses. It's just not manageable and extremely stressful. Please always be an advocate for yourself and fight for what you need.
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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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