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
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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).
Read More
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!
Read More
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.
Read More