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An Interactive Support Page For New and Experienced Ostomates
The aim of this site is to try and give you as much information as possible regarding ileostomy, j pouch, colostomy, urostomy or any type of stoma surgery. You may have already had surgery or are contemplating it because you have Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease or some other cause for surgery. It is for ostomates by ostomates (no "medical speak") so remember, these pages are for you. If you have anything you'd like to add, please use the feedback forms provided on the relevant pages.
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Bessie The Bag's Quote Of The Day!
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Hi, My name is Sharon (but you can call me Shaz) and I live in Perth, Western Australia
I am an ileostomate. What's that I hear you ask? Well, it means that I have had my large bowel removed and I now have a stoma (meaning "man-made opening") and wear a pouch or bag that I attach to the side of my abdomen over my stoma to collect the waste products. It is similar to a colostomy, which you may have heard of except in a colostomy only part of the large bowel is removed - and the stoma is made from the colon - hence "col" ostomy. In a permanent ileostomy, all of the large bowel is removed and the stoma is made from the small bowel or ileum - hence "ile" ostomy). The results are similar in that we both, usually, have to wear a bag to catch our waste products (although some colostomates can irrigate ie give themselves a water enema every 24- 48 hours and thus return stool all at once negating the need to wear a bag, they can just wear a bandage over their stoma, but ileostomates are unable to do this). If you have any questions regarding ANY type of ostomy, eg colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, j pouch, etc please do not hesitate to ask us on the Ostomy Forum - we're here to help you! I know this pic is only of my upper torso, ie not showing my lower half but believe me you couldn't make out my bag through my clothing if you tried - many friends have tried and failed and more people haven't even noticed. A lot of people don't even believe I have a bag unless I offer to show them :) The pic of my face is here of me having lost 9.5kgs (20 pounds) and as of writing this so far I've lost 13.3 kgs (29 pounds) so will put up a newer pic when I can.
What's that I hear you say? "Eeeeeuuuuwww!?!?!? That's gross - don't only old people get that?" The answer is "No". I had my ileostomy surgery when I was 10 years old. In fact, Harriet's (my stoma) 36th birthday will be on 7th January 2012!
My ileostomy is a result of living with Ulcerative Colitis (a disease of which you probably don't want me to go into the gory details, but if you must, more info may be found elsewhere on this site) for 5 years and believe me, wearing a "bag" is nothing compared to being sick and in and out of hospital all the time. There is nothing I can't do now (except wear a bikini and you probably wouldn't want to see me in one anyway). Read my full story.
No one knows about "Harriet" as I have named my stoma, my loyal friend who is always at my side through thick and thin, unless I choose to tell them (or they have read this page) and I am happy to say that I have had no health problems since my surgery.
Of course I probably wouldn't have got through the whole thing with the positive attitude I have without the wonderful support of my family, esp Mum and Dad and my two brothers, Steven and Brett so I thank them from the bottom of my heart (although my brothers will probably screw up their noses at me for saying that!)
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day, We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes."
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Speak with other ostomates from around the world NOW!
And don't forget to sign my guestbook while you're here and let me know you visited. It gives me a thrill to read your comments as well as making me feel popular so please indulge me. Thanks.
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If you would like to use any of the images in these pages, please email me to get permission. Thanks.
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