Not feeling so good but am able to get a medical appointment with a nurse practitioner for early next week. A couple of years ago I was told I have a large hiatal hernia (“sliding,” whatever that means) and I think that could be what has started bothering me lately - a full feeling/discomfort in chest and abdomen, belching, much more gas than usual in my pouch. My ostomy was from colorectal cancer and I have a regular follow-up with the oncologist in three weeks. Has anybody here had this? I would like to avoid another surgery, just don’t feel up to it right now. PS My ostomy seems to be worki ..read more

Hello all, It's been a while. I decided to hold off on SSI disability until I have a for sure qualifying diagnosis. Since I've last been on I went to rheumatology. She did not feel my symptoms matched lupus but looking at my bloodwork she feels i may have secondary sjourgan syndrome from another health issue that i currently have. So i need to go get that taken care of. But in the appointment she saw my skin and listened to me telling her all of the symptoms I have been having.she then asked me if i was eating enough oranges or fruits and veggies. I  told her with the ostomy I can't eat o ..read more

One of our members has brought it to my attention that there's a Canadian retailer who offers free samples of Salts products. This is good news as the former distributor (Argyle Medical out of Quebec) no longer supplies Salts products. If you're interested, Westech Health Care has a Salts product sample request form right on their website: https://www.westechhealth.com/ Thanks for the head's up, @jman!   ..read more

I am lucky that I live a 40 minute drive to the path of totality for yesterday’s solar eclipse, so my family climbed into the car, with eclipse glasses, pinbox camera, colander and white pillow case at the ready, and headed to the north shore of Lake Erie. We thought if we chose a quiet country road that we would be by ourselves, but boy was that wrong! Hundreds of people, and cars everywhere. But no washrooms. So what to do when I needed to empty? Since we were pulled off to the side of the road, alongside a farmer’s field, I couldn’t exactly duck behind a bush - there weren’t any. So I opene ..read more

I'm curious to know if any one was given a weight lifting limit as you go about daily life? I was told no lifting over 35 lbs. forever I guess. I try to use common sense, but I don't carry a scale around.  ..read more

Hello to all. I ended up with my ileostomy in 2017. I found Vegan Ostomy  the same year as I recall. Eric your site has been very helpful. For the most part I have had only minor trouble keeping my devices on ect. I wear a two piece device with a belt at all times.  I'm semi retired mechanic and north of 65. I came here to continue to learn. That said I'm looking to try a Stealth belt in the vertical position and maybe hear from anyone using one. Thanks T J ..read more

Hey there... I have had this issue for a LONG time & never thought to ask here what others do to rectify the issue if you have it.  In light of swapping out to a new pouch & being able to wear it now,  for 7 to 9 days, verses the typical 2 since Hollisters denied changes, lol,  I can't help but notice a more pronounced leak around the areas of the drainable opening where the hard plastics of the roll up velcro closure is.  It seems after 3 days of wearing the pouch,  as with all the others I've worn, I get the blue of M9 Staining my clothing. I've tried a lot o ..read more

Hey there... I have had this issue for a LONG time & never thought to ask here what others do to rectify the issue if you have it.  In light of swapping out to a new pouch & being able to wear it now,  for 7 to 9 days, verses the typical 2 since Hollisters denied changes, lol,  I can't help but notice a more pronounced leak around the areas of the drainable opening where the hard plastics of the roll up velcro closure is.  It seems after 3 days of wearing the pouch,  as with all the others I've worn, I get the blue of M9 Staining my clothing. I've tried a lot o ..read more

im 1 yr post op illeostomy and i know i cant be the only one that has this.     feels like i gotta go but obviously thats NOT an option.     anyone else and if so does this feeling go away eventually ..read more

I was listening to an Ostomy podcast instructions for Ostomy nurses. It mentions if you have portion of your ilium removed your vitamin B 12 absorption rate can be very low or nonexistent which causes many problems. I never knew the liver stored vitamin B 12 for 1 to 2 years following surgery and then loses the vitamin B 12. I need to speak to my doctor and check my B12 and see if it explains why I have my tiredness breathlessness tingling and feet and hands, etc. I never knew this existed. anybody else familiar on this topic ..read more