Every three years ostomates worldwide, and their family and friends, come together to celebrate the resilience of the ostomy community. They help spread awareness on World Ostomy Day. This celebration falls on the first Saturday of October and corresponds with the yearly Ostomy Awareness Day in the United States.  World Ostomy Day was established in 1993 by Dr. Gerhard Englert, who sought to bring international attention to people living with stomas, with a hope to improve their quality of care and quality of life. At the time Dr. Englert was the President of the International Ostomy Asso ..read more

My ileostomy was a surprise when I woke up from surgery. Thankfully, I had some prior experience with ostomies and I had spent about thirty minutes grilling my provider about my ostomy diet and what I could and couldn’t eat after surgery.  The good news? I’ve had an ileostomy, now I have a permanent colostomy, and not much about my diet has changed. There is some important dietary advice to follow in the immediate postoperative period but after that, most ostomates are able to return to their former patterns of eating. Here, we will discuss some dietary advice particular to the different ..read more

Living with an ostomy affects the ostomate (the person with the stoma) as much as it does the caregiver (anyone helping to care for, or live with, the ostomate). For caregivers, whether they’re professionals, children, spouses, or parents of the ostomate, it’s important to learn how to provide proper ostomy support. Both the ostomate and the ostomate’s loved ones will typically experience major changes following an ostomy surgery. The good news is that becoming familiar with all that is involved can make a huge difference in everyone’s ability to transition well to their “new normal.” The Osto ..read more

If you’re a new ostomate or you’ve never traveled with an ostomy, the thought of traveling with an ostomy might make you anxious. While those feelings are perfectly natural, there is a great way to decrease anxiety and concern regarding traveling with an ostomy — preparation. Preparation will put your mind at ease, and you’ll quickly realize that having a colostomy, ileostomy, or a urostomy does not  mean you can’t travel — ostomates can enjoy travel, just like everyone else. But ostomy care does require a few extra steps, especially if you’re planning to travel soon after your ostomy sur ..read more

Let’s talk about ostomies and exercise. Can you exercise with an ostomy? Absolutely. While I need to take some precautions with my ostomy and stay mindful of my abdomen, it hasn’t stopped me from doing any exercise I want. Feeling healthy again, especially after an extended illness, is amazing! My goal is to show you how to start, or reintroduce, exercising after your surgery. How to start exercising with an ostomy One to two weeks after surgery Begin with getting out of bed. Does getting out of bed count as exercise? Yes! If you’re just recovering from surgery it’s really important to get mob ..read more

The reality after an ostomy An ostomy (colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy) is an operation where surgeons reroute your digestive or urinary tract through an opening in your abdomen. People with gastrointestinal conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis typically undergo this procedure, and whether it’s planned for or abrupt, this surgery is life-changing and requires learning about working with an ostomy. Your work-life balance might be interrupted, especially during recovery. Generally, having an ostomy shouldn’t stop you from working. Your doctor might discourage you from conti ..read more

Every ostomy is unique, and so is the care each stoma deserves. Getting to know how to care for and live with a stoma is an important factor to help the transition period and maintain quality of life after ostomy surgery.Properly sizing your stoma and knowing which accessories are suitable to use is vital in securing the best fit and avoiding irritation and leakage. Understand your stoma size better and equip yourself with everything you need to know about proper stoma sizing.  Understanding your stoma size A stoma is an opening made on the abdomen linked to your digestive or urinary syst ..read more

Skin health is vital in regaining and keeping a healthy, comfortable lifestyle after ostomy surgery. The condition of the skin around the stoma can also make ostomy aftercare easier or cause complications that may affect your quality of life. Proper skincare is a must so you can avoid getting a stoma skin infection and maintain the peristomal skin’s optimum health. Read on to learn more about peristomal skin and the best ways of caring for it.  Understanding the peristomal skin The peristomal skin is the skin surrounding the stoma—the opening in the abdomen created after undergoing urosto ..read more

Every ostomate needs a functional ostomy appliance. But at times, they can experience problems such as discomfort and leakage. An ostomy belt can resolve this problem. It functions similarly to a belt. However, instead of holding pants up, it secures your ostomy bag so that it won’t fall or detach from the wafer.  Benefits of ostomy belts Ostomy belts offer more than a sense of security. Here are some benefits this accessory may provide: It’s good for sensitive skin You may get rashes if your ostomy bag constantly rubs against your skin, which can lead to an infection if left untreated ..read more

Re-adjusting to life following ostomy surgery can take time and some effort on your part. The changes can be challenging and overwhelming, from learning the right ostomy products to getting comfortable with pouches. But you don’t have to do it alone! If you or someone you know has recently undergone colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy surgery, attending an ostomy support group could be very beneficial.  What is an ostomy support group? These groups are safe places that promote  quality of life of people with a stoma through education and fellowship. The meetings are often informal, rou ..read more