Posts by Michelyn Caldwell
Ostomy Skin Care – How to Help Prevent Irritation
The Ultimate Guide to Ostomy Skin Care for Preventing Irritation Anyone who has uses an ostomy system knows just how frustrating skin irritation can be. Using a pouching system tends to cause burning and itching. Fortunately, you can practice Ostomy skin care to take care of your skin. It is crucial that you are gentle…
Read MoreSarah’s Story
My name is Sarah and I am 30 years old. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis at the age of 16 and have had a long hard battle with it ever since. In April 2019, I was rushed into hospital and had to have emergency surgery (subtotal colectomy) which left me with a stoma and…
Read MoreEverything You Need To Know About Ileostomy
For those of you that do not know, an ileostomy is an ostomy type that involves a surgical opening. It provides the end of your small intestine with a route for releasing stool. Generally, an ileostomy is created by a surgeon to remove a part of your rectum and colon. An external pouch appliance has…
Read MoreStephanie Marie’s Story
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was 10. I’m now 38 years old and living with an ileostomy. I tried all the crohns meds over the years, but 3 years ago I had a horrible flare up that ended in an emergency total colectomy. I struggled a lot the first year with…
Read MoreOpen Enrollment: How You Should Select a Health Insurance Plan?
Getting health insurance is not easy, especially if you are an ostomate. However, it is crucial that you get health insurance. It can be difficult to obtain all the information you need to make a decision from a healthcare provider or insurance provider. There are a lot of things that you need to consider such…
Read MoreEdit’s Story
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of twenty. My symptoms started with the constant bowel movements, at some point almost twenty a day, and a rapid twenty-pound weight loss. The doctor informed me that my case was one of the worst and most advanced he has seen. I had been using medication…
Read MoreTop Tips to Dress Comfortably When Wearing an Ostomy Bag
Wearing an ostomy bag is not easy. It can make it difficult for you to dress up. Besides, you might feel that it is visible to everyone and would leave you feeling overwhelmed. The fear of everyone noticing your bag can prevent you from going out. However, you do not have to worry as the…
Read MoreProtect Your Stoma During the Cold Weather
As many parts across eastern and central USA have experienced record high temperature, winter has decreased the temperature considerably. The fact is that winter might still not be over. The temperatures will continue to remain in the low 30s which is why it is crucial to protect your stoma during the cold weather. Abdominal incisions…
Read MorePaty’s Story
My Name is Paty Jiménez I am from México and am survivor of 3 stage rectal cancer I have a permanent colostomy bag. I was diagnosed 15 years ago when I was 36 years old. At first everything was chaos, but little by little was accommodating my new ostomy life. I recently found out…
Read More5 Tips for Ostomates for the Holiday Season
With the holidays around the corner, it is important to celebrate one of the most important events of the year. Christmas is where we all get together to eat turkey, stuffed gravy, turnips, sweet potatoes, fruit salad, homemade dinner rolls, and dessert. However, having an ostomy can make things difficult. To survive Christmas with an…
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