Our Ostomy Support Group has become a wonderful source of comfort, education, and positivity over the years. We are cohesive and I am proud to say that I have personally spoken with, or had contact with, each and every member at one time or another. In our one-on-one establishing of rapport, we discuss everything on […] The post THE VALUE OF INTIMATE CONVERSATION appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more

Visiting a dental hygienist last week made me think about the value of not only my dentition but the ability to offer a smile wherever I go. It probably comes from the confidence I reap from being responsible for the maintenance of my teeth, but I thought about how important they are in overall health. […] The post A SHINING SMILE: USE YOUR TEETH TO REMAIN HEALTHY! appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more

I love this thought because it expresses my view of people. For the most part, I am always ready to meet a new friend, and that is why walking into a room usually puts a smile on my face. There is much to learn from others, and expanding horizons comes with opening the door to […] The post THERE ARE NO STRANGERS, ONLY FRIENDS WE HAVEN’T MET appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more

Like so many who awakened Tuesday morning, March 26th, I was shocked to see a bridge sprawled across the river on my news programs. Disbelieving it was real, I stared in shock, as the reporter kept saying this was happening in Baltimore, Maryland, in our own country. This couldn’t be! The Francis Scott Key Bridge […] The post THE BRIDGE appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more

My guess is most would rather be both! But if you had to choose, had to accept only one is attainable in a situation, which would you choose? You are in charge, you realize, so which would it be? Many people seem to equate being right with winning, and that means winning at any price. […] The post WOULD YOU RATHER BE HAPPY OR RIGHT? appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more

We all want to be healthy for a myriad of reasons. Not the least of these is we do not want to be dependent upon the medical community. Truly, it is so frightening! Not only do we have to worry about what is causing us to feel poorly, but we have to navigate waters that […] The post ENGAGING WITH THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more

I loved when a new friend used this expression, her beloved mother Beatrice’s words. What a simple, yet important thought. Try something, take a bit of a risk, step outside your comfort zone, and go for it. All things are presented to us every day, perhaps multiple times a day. And yet, we define ourselves […] The post GO TO “TRY SCHOOL”…YOU NEVER KNOW! appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more

Having lived in New Jersey for most of my life, the seasons were always clearly defined. Even though it took weeks and even months for there to be a huge difference, eventually there were four seasons, and each one was unique in terms of temperature and humidity. Although living in south Florida means subtle seasonal […] The post STAYING HYDRATED AS THE SEASONS CHANGE appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more

My initiation into the world of medical issues came upon me out of the blue in my early 40s and continued for decades. I was caught in the web of ER’s and OR’s for over 20 years between my first major small bowel obstruction and ileostomy. My stoma came as a huge relief, as well […] The post HOW DO I GO ON? appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more

No, I am not starting a Book Club because I am far from a maven on what others might enjoy reading. I will leave that to those who read faster, are more discerning and/or just have a more interesting opinion on everything, than I do. But a wonderful friend sent me this book because we […] The post RECOMMENDING A BOOK: AM I DYING? appeared first on More Than My Ostomy ..read more