A New Guide aims to help you find the right words to talk about your ostomy By Joga Ivatury, M.D., MHA The Speaking Stoma Guide is the first health communication guide for people with ostomies. This work was coproduced through collaboration with ostomates worldwide, UOAA, clinical experts, and health communication experts. This guide is freely available here on UOAA’s website, encompassing 11 communication topics areas including managing pouch leaks, communicating with friends and family, and intimacy. This work has been inspired by our experience working with ostomates. We recognize that talk ..read more

By Robin Bergstein Berman The latest episode of Larry David’s, Curb Your Enthusiasm was called “The Colostomy Bag” and during an attempt to be humorous, his usually (awkward and despicable character) made disparaging comments relating to ostomates. At least it opened up room for discussion… It’s the first time that I posted on my Facebook page about my one-and-done Ileostomy surgery 48 years ago and I received nothing but words of support. I shared below why I found the episode harmful: “Being an ostomate does not define me.” Says Robin, 63, and has had her ileostomy for 48 years, finding hea ..read more

Surviving colorectal cancer, reversal complications, and living with faith & perseverance In June 2018, Osmani Gonzalez began a new exercise program to help him lose weight and kickstart a healthier lifestyle. Two months into his new routine, the then 42-year-old began to experience abdominal pain. Gonzalez assumed it was due to his workouts, but the pain foreshadowed a much more severe issue. His discomfort only worsened over time, and in August 2018, Gonzalez, who was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Hialeah, Florida, was rushed to a nearby hospital with a swollen abdomen. To alleviat ..read more

By Jeanine Gleba UOAA Advocacy Manager Each year the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) hosts a Spring Public Policy Forum.  UOAA has been a member of this coalition for many years starting with our co-founder the late Linda Auckett.  DDNC’s mission is to work cooperatively to improve access to and the quality of digestive disease health care to promote the best possible medical outcome and quality of life for current and future patients.  Many in the ostomy community brought them to this surgery because of digestive medical conditions such as colon cancer and inflammat ..read more

After ostomy surgery, it’s natural to feel sensitive about how your body has changed and be concerned about how it might affect intimacy and your sex life in the future. Wherever you are in your journey, your sexual well-being is an important part of who you are. Sexual well-being is an important part of everyone’s life, regardless of whether you are in a committed relationship, enjoying or thinking about dating, not sexually active, or unpartnered.2 It covers many areas including body image and self-esteem, sexual function, reproductive health, emotional and physical satisfaction, and can im ..read more

By Lynn Wolfson It is amazing what a boost one can get from dressing to feel and look good, especially those of us with ostomies. I know that when my hair is cut into an easy style that I can maintain, my nails are done and my clothes fit, I feel beautiful. When I feel beautiful, I am happy and share it with the world. As an ostomy support group leader, I often hear from new ostomates struggling with what to wear after surgery. Many people may have their own style and should explore options to keep wearing the clothing they love. Too many others seem to lose confidence and motivation to dress ..read more

“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” – President John F. Kennedy By UOAA Advocacy Manager Jeanine Gleba UOAA Executive Director Christine Ryan During UOAA’s annual call to action in 2023 for state proclamations recognizing Ostomy Awareness Day, one of our advocates, Anne Iahdini, a fellow ostomate living in Massachusetts, contacted her State Representative, Rob Consalvo, and so the snowball effect began. Representative Consalvo’s legislative aide Emily Carraro responded with a resounding ‘yes’, resulting in a resolution being adopted by the Massachusetts House of Repres ..read more

Choosing Ostomy Surgery Before I got diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, I had zero health issues throughout my life, except for high blood pressure. Fast forward to age 26 and I started experiencing a lot of blood in my stool with no idea why. I can be a stubborn person so I didn’t tell anyone what was happening; not even the people closest to me. A few months went by and my mother noticed blood in the toilet pretty consistently and asked me about it. I told her that it had been going on for months and that I didn’t know why. We ended up going to our local gastroenterologist and they did ..read more

By Sarah Biggart (Convatec me+™) Frequently I speak to callers about the challenges of caring for an ostomate with memory loss. Often time, people who were previously self-sufficient, independent ostomates become pre-occupied with their pouch; sometimes even pulling on it, which could cause numerous issues1,2. This could be in the future for some of us, and a reality some caregivers are facing now as they care for and support loved ones. If you are assisting a loved one, and you see them tugging, pulling, scratching or playing with their appliance, the first thing you should consider is that t ..read more

Sleep is vital for health and healing. Hormones released at night are responsible for cell growth and repair. We also need quality sleep for healthy cognitive functioning and so we can complete everyday tasks. A lack of sleep can lead to confusion, delayed healing, immunosuppression, elevated blood pressure, decreased pain tolerance, and many other negative effects. If you have an ostomy, your quality of life may be impacted by the condition of the skin around your stoma (i.e., your peristomal skin), and issues like pouch ballooning and leakage. One area often not given much attention is how h ..read more