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
New year new me?
Changing what you can change must make you feel more positive and that is why I have decided to stick to this.
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What are the signs of a blockage?
The signs and symptoms of a blockage, and advice to help deal with it.
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Aneica
Quitters never win
I may have an illness and wear a bag but I don’t want to be labelled as the girl that’s sick
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Aneica
Dealing with a noisy stoma
When I am with my friends and family we just laugh and carry on, which reduces my anxiety levels and I completely forget about it all.
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Tips on how to deal with ostomy pouch ballooning
Ballooning is a term you might hear in relation to your stoma pouch but you might not understand exactly what that is or how to deal with it. We have some hints and tips on how to manage ostomy pouch ballooning.
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Lauraine Clarke
Time for change
I miss the old me, but she’s gone - it’s time for change. I hope 2020 will help me find and embrace my new normal.
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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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