Category: Ostomy

Ostomy

The Stoma Decision: Pros and Cons of Ostomy Surgery

By cdfmacklin | by cdfmacklin

Making the decision In 2016, when I was first diagnosed with IBD, the idea of having ileostomy surgery sometime in the future didn’t even register on my radar. I barely even knew what an ostomy was. Flash forward four years to 2020 – I had been ridiculously sick for several years. Failed three biologics. Diets, supplements, medications, mountains of prednisone…none of that was working. I was still having massive inflammation. I had zero quality of…

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Ostomy

Improving comfort and support with an Ostomy Belt

By cdfmacklin | by cdfmacklin

Ostomy life After my ileostomy surgery, I don’t think anybody told me that I would need some sort of supportive belt or cover for my ostomy appliance. To be honest, I was so focused on healing at the time that the thought never really crossed my mind. But as I started to heal, and move around and go more places, I began to notice that my appliance would annoyingly flop around. It felt strange having…

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Ostomy

Ostomy  “Go Bag” – what is it and why you need one

By cdfmacklin | by cdfmacklin

I never leave the house without it Call it what you want…Every Day Carry Kit…travel-satchel…man purse…for those living with an ostomy, having the essential “gear” with you at all times is essential. I take mine wherever I go. And to tell you the truth…I rarely, if ever, need to use the stuff inside it (99.9%of my appliance changes are done at home). But it gives me peace of mind. And, on that rare instance where…

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Ostomy

Ostomy & IBD

By cdfmacklin | by cdfmacklin

This is the first in what is going to be a series of posts focused on things that have helped me in my IBD journey. Today we talk about ostomies. You lost me at Ostomy… For a long time, the word ostomy really freaked me out. Thankfully, not everyone living with IBD will have to experience life with an ostomy (colostomy, ileostomy or other). Some may have an ostomy due to reasons other than IBD…

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