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Your stories
Speaking with others who have been through the same surgery as you can be invaluable but keeping in mind that everyone’s experience is different. You can help others by joining our community and sharing your personal stories and experience.
Welcome
Take a minute to meet our bloggers who share their tips and experiences of living life with a stoma
Meet the bloggers
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Using an accessible toilet
Keith Thomas
There has been more awareness in recent years of hidden disabilities, but many ostomates still face hostility when using an accessible toilet. Here’s how Keith handles that situation.
23 Mar 2020
Office working with a stoma
Andy Fletcher
Many ostomates can return to work following their surgery. Andy has an office based job and shares his experience of what it’s like working with a stoma.
20 Mar 2020
My first year as an ostomate
Alisa
Alisa looks back on her first year with a stoma; embracing the positives and the lessons she has learned.
4 Mar 2020
Sharing your experience with others
Keith Thomas
Deciding whether to tell people about your stoma is a personal decision. Keith has found it helpful to share his experience with others, and in doing so has been able to help other ostomates.
3 Mar 2020
Going back to work; in the driver’s seat.
Keith Thomas
Keith shares his experience of going back to work after stoma surgery and how a change in career has changed his life.
21 Feb 2020
Am I classed as disabled?
Clare Mee
Some ostomates think of a stoma as a disability and others don’t. In this blog Clare asks the question- is having a stoma a disability?
19 Feb 2020
Living with a fistula: friend or foe?
Lauraine Clarke
A fistula is a rare complication of surgery that sometimes affects ostomates. In this blog, Lauraine shares what it is like living with a fistula.
19 Feb 2020
In Good Company
Andy Fletcher
1 in 500 people here in the UK currently have a stoma, so how many celebrities have one?
30 Jan 2020
Nursing school with an ostomy: the beginning
Alisa
Getting this ostomy made it possible for me to travel again, date, and apply for university.
29 Jan 2020
New year new me?
Clare Mee
Changing what you can change must make you feel more positive and that is why I have decided to stick to this.
22 Jan 2020
Quitters never win and winners never quit
Aneica Duffy
I may have an illness and wear a bag but I don’t want to be labelled as the girl that’s sick.
10 Jan 2020
Dealing with a noisy stoma
Aneica Duffy
Having my little friend is second nature to me now, but it took a while getting used to him and there’s days I still am adjusting. He looks different compared to the stomas on the books or websites that…
9 Jan 2020
Time for change
Lauraine Clarke
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.
12 Dec 2019
What’s it like when a partner or close family take on a carer role?
Clare Mee
Does a family member or partner help with any aspect of your care since stoma or stoma related surgery? I ask because there are many ways in which you might need help for example, wound care, help with…
2 Dec 2019
Winning with a stoma
Keith Thomas
I have made it my mission to embrace my second chance at life, not allowing having a stoma to become a barrier to me doing anything.
26 Nov 2019
A day at the spa with my stoma
Ostomummy
Spa days are a great way to practice self care, and this shows you can totally relax and unwind on a spa day with a stoma.
13 Nov 2019
Getting rid of odour- a review of what has and hasn’t worked for me.
Andy Fletcher
Smells can be a big problem for ostomates, but with such a variety of odour eliminating products on the market it can be hard to know what to choose.
6 Nov 2019
Toilets- the good the bad and the ugly
Clare Mee
Having a stoma means toilets play a big part in our lives. I have used some really lovely clean ones, but also some dreadful ones that I really didn’t want to use but had no choice.
30 Oct 2019
Meeting the right people
Dennis Kent
Meeting the right people and testing a variety of products helped me find what worked best for me.
29 Oct 2019
Hi how is everyone.
Keith Thomas
Hi all on this Thursday. I hope I find you well ? I just wanted to say I am never far away from social media and if you just need a friendly hello. Give me a shout . Take care and speak soon. Keith.
24 Oct 2019
The Pre Surgery Nerves
Clare Mee
When you have a surgery date you feel relieved but then as it gets nearer you nearly talk yourself out of it
21 Oct 2019
Say NO to Dr. Google!
Lauraine Clarke
Google is great for many things but if, like me, you have anxiety issues, I would strongly repeat what my consultant said 35 years ago, leave the doctoring to the doctors.
10 Oct 2019
Don’t forget to look after yourself!
Caitlin McGinnis
Getting a stoma for many people will mean the end of extreme pain and illness, so it can be easy to forget that you still need to look after yourself.
26 Aug 2019
How friends and family can help after stoma surgery
Clare Mee
It can be hard to ask for help after surgery, and for family and friends it is hard to know how to help a loved one during their recovery. Clare Mee shares some tips for both sides from her own experience…
23 Aug 2019
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