Stories

I am thankful that I haven’t had to change my stoma bag in a public toilet ( except my work one but that doesn’t count) as there are often no shelves, no hooks and no mirrors. Does anyone have a different way of emptying their bag? Or any tips to help make things easier?

Going to events, such as concerts, weddings, family gatherings or house parties with an ostomy can be a bit scary at first. But with a little bit of preparing anything can be done.

Having a stoma will not stop you doing anything at all once you are fully recovered and that is very important to understand. It will not shorten your life, nor will it will not stop you eating your favourite food.

Having a stoma will not stop you doing anything at all once you are fully recovered and that is very important to understand. It will not shorten your life, nor will it will not stop you eating your favourite food.

I raise awareness every day about living with a stoma - a life I know full well that not everyone can accept as I do; but my love is for my life that I now get to live with my loved ones.

Clare shares how using the correct ostomy products for your needs is essential in managing your stoma.

Aneica shares a little note that will hopefully give people courage, strength, hope and faith who may be facing stoma surgery soon and those who are having trouble with their stoma.

Alisa shares how having an ostomy has improved her quality of life and enabled her to have experiences she would never of had without having surgery.

Clare shares how the ostomy community on and offline has been vital for helping her adjust to living with a stoma.

Getting a stoma bag often builds character and shows what truly matters in life.

Clare looks back over the last four years since she had her stoma surgery.

Staying in is the new normal for Alisa with the Covid-19 pandemic. Here’s how she is still managing to continue nursing studies and look after her mental health from her home.

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.

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.

Alisa looks back on her first year with a stoma; embracing the positives and the lessons she has learned.

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.

Keith shares his experience of going back to work after stoma surgery and how a change in career has changed his life.

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?

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.

1 in 500 people here in the UK currently have a stoma, so how many celebrities have one?

Getting this ostomy made it possible for me to travel again, date, and apply for university.

Changing what you can change must make you feel more positive and that is why I have decided to stick to this.

I may have an illness and wear a bag but I don’t want to be labelled as the girl that’s sick.

 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 you see.  I have learnt to dea...

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.