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
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!
Aneica
Difference between my planned and emergency ostomy surgeries
After 3 years of living with Ulcerative Colitis my body decided to reject every medication available to me at the time, in 2014 I was told I needed surgery one day and a few days later... I was giving my consent for the operation and wearing the trendy blue gown to be wheeled down to theatre.
ITS A START
How can ostomy surgery affect mental health?
When you get a new stoma formed there are various factors that impact on how you recover from a physical, mental and emotional level. Everyone is different and surgery can affect everyone in different ways. If you have a history of mental illness before you have stoma forming surgery, you are at greater risk of developing some further complications in relation to your mental health.
CLARE
My experience with dehydration
My husband regularly said that I wasn’t drinking enough even before my admission to hospital for fluids, but I was sure I was ok. I had my stoma for two years so far with no hydration issues but totally didn’t realise the impact of the very hot weather we have been having that has lasted a long while for the British climate. I was probably plodding along on the brink of dehydration for a long while.
Latest Articles
Aneica
My experience wearing stoma support wear
As the latest trend is all about getting fit and being involved in exercise, support garments for those living with a stoma are so important
Read More
Ways to look after your mental health following ostomy surgery
We share some tips on how to ensure that you keep as mentally well as possible following ostomy surgery.
Read More
Top tips to help you self assess your stoma
Whenever you are living with a stoma it’s really important that you are confident and competent at identifying when and if there’s a problem.
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Andy
Surviving the first couple of weeks after stoma surgery
I often think back to the early days of my operation and wonder if I could have done things differently to maybe help speed up recovery, make life for myself easier, and so on.
Read More
Clare Mee
Living with a stoma: Is it a good life or just a different life?
I am all for saying my stoma saved my life, and it did. But I would prefer not to have it at all and be well. That is not going to happen so I accept my life and live it to the best I can.
Read More
Things to have in place before going into hospital for stoma surgery
There are a few things to think about to ensure you have a stress-free admission into hospital for stoma surgery, during the surgery and discharge home.
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Evaluating the skin around your stoma
Managing your peristomal skin, or the skin around your stoma, is probably the most important thing to ensure you have a good stoma care routine.
Read More