Caring for a newborn with a stoma Not the blog I wanted to write, but an important one all the same! When my eldest was born in 2016 there weren’t blogs for this and support was difficult to find in terms of a community of people who walked in similar shoes. Eight years on and things are so different now. You only have to search a simple hashtag and a whole world of people sharing and supporting appears on your feed. It is a wonderful place to be when you come from a state of loneliness, where in your personal life there isn’t anyone else that can relate, or has experienced anything similar. A ..read more

Post-pregnancy update It has been six weeks since the birth of my son, and to say it’s been dramatic and emotional is an understatement. I am now a mother of two children with a stoma, including one myself which isn’t common, yet for me all I know. Not many people document the recovery stage and the weeks straight after giving birth. It is with good reason when all you know are sleepless nights, and losing control of the life you had when you need to focus on a new life that depends on you for everything. Pelican Healthcare has always been extremely supportive in giving me a platform to share ..read more

Reasons I’m grateful for my stoma   Living with a stoma isn’t always easy, but for many, including myself, it’s been a transformative journey filled with unexpected blessings. As I reflect on my experiences, I’ve come to realise that my stoma has been an incredible gift, one that has allowed me to reclaim my life in ways I never thought possible.   One of the most profound reasons I am grateful for my stoma is that it has given me my life back. Before my surgery, I struggled and even the simplest tasks feel like challenges. But with my stoma, I’ve regained my independence and freedom ..read more

Mental health and my stoma Writing about my mental health has been a tricky one. Not one I’ve found easy to do by any means, but it is so important to talk about it. Having a stoma is life changing, and navigating your new normal with all the emotions can sometimes trigger your mental health taking a bit of a dip. In this blog I’m going to talk about how it affected me and what steps I have taken and what has helped me along the way. Strap in, this is a long one!  I will start with saying, I’ve struggled. It’s been a wild rollercoaster and one I have wanted to jump off of at times. I hav ..read more

Managing my menopause output The journey to get my output under control has always been an arduous journey.  My stoma was formed quite high up my digestive tract so I’ve never had what would be classed as “ Normal “, I’ve been on and off loperamide, bulking sachets & codeine to try and control the amount my stoma purges and managing the near water output since 2016.  Managing my new output  Since starting the Zoladex in December of 2023 my output has been horrendous, with it being rather watery It breaks down my baseplate and barrier ring more quickly and I’ve had to adapt a ..read more

Postpartum survival with a stoma As I type this blog, I am sitting in Intensive Care with a beautiful new baby boy that unfortunately has tested positive for the genetic disorder Hirschsprungs Disease. The disease is shared by myself, my eldest son and now the baby, which as you can imagine has been pretty devastating news for all to process since the day he was born. Aside from the diagnosis, after birth comes its own challenges which as a new mother, and already being a mother to one, has taken a steep learning curve to wrap my head around. It is day 11 post birth and quite frankly, I haven ..read more

My positive journey of pregnancy with a stoma bag As I embark on the final leg of my pregnancy journey, filled with anticipation and excitement, I find myself reflecting on the unique path I’ve taken as a soon-to-be mum with a stoma bag. While the journey has been sprinkled with its own set of challenges, it has been a profoundly empowering experience! Throughout my pregnancy, the presence of my stoma bag has been a constant companion. It hasn’t changed much in size, a reassuring stability amidst the changes my body has undergone. One of the key tools that has made managing my stoma bag during ..read more

What to wear with a stoma? Hello wonderful pelican readers! It’s been a while…   My work/life balance has been super, crazy busy recently but something that hasn’t changed is the thought of what to wear whilst living with a ostomy!    I had an image in my mind before my stoma surgery that I would have to buy a completely new wardrobe and also that I would be living in baggy clothes for the rest of my life. I was totally wrong… and it’s really surprising how many outfits that I wore previously look absolutely fine!    It will be three years with my stoma this year so I ..read more

My first year of stoma life I cannot believe it’s been a year. A whole year. 365 days of stoma life. Looking back, I’ve come a long way, in the first few weeks I couldn’t shower myself, walk, drive or even look at my stoma, and definitely couldn’t change my own bag. I feel so sad for that person, I wish I could have had an insight into what was to come. It hasn’t been easy, I’m not one to sugarcoat the situation. It’s been hard, and I have cried a river over the past year. But there has been good times, I’ve met some incredible people, I’ve helped others, I’ve done a podcast, I’m training for ..read more

A self love journey with a stoma Embracing your body with a stoma is a ride filled with twists, turns, and unexpected challenges. I’ve been on this journey myself, and let me tell you, it’s been quite the adventure. Along the way, I’ve learned some valuable lessons that I’d love to share: It’s okay to feel a whole range of emotions. From frustration to fear, allow yourself to experience them without judgment. Remember, you’re only human. Educate yourself about your stoma. Understanding its intricacies can help ease worries and uncertainties and can allow you to feel more comfortable and confi ..read more