In May 2008 a brand new Ostomy support charity launched in the UK covering support for not just colostomates, or just ileostomates, or just urostomates, but in fact for ALL ostomates in the UK.
“Dignitaries and representatives from charities, hospitals and companies turned out to celebrate the national launch of Ostomy Lifestyle, which seeks to empower people, enabling them to make informed choices and to communicate frankly about all aspects of stoma surgery.” *
“If you have been affected by stoma surgery or would like to find out how you can support Ostomy Lifestyle then please contact the Careline on 0800 731 4264 or 0118 324 0089.” *
If you’d like to read the press release please click on the read more link below where you can find a copy of it in full.
Everyone at Ostomyland would like to wish Ostomy Lifestyle all the best success for the future and look forward to hearing more from this exciting, new charity.
Jason D
Webmaster
Site-Owner & Colostomate
* = Quote from Ostomy Lifestyle Press Release
Thanks to a mailing from ConvaTec, I’ve discovered that on Thursday 7th August 2008 (10am Start) Convatec and Amcare wish to welcome you to their Health and Wellbeing Day. An exhibition is being held at the Wetherby Racecourse featuring events on:
- Positive thinking and relaxation
- A chance to experience therapies and massage
- Food & exercise
- Fashion, positive body image and looking good
- Exhibition of ConvaTec products and services
Tickets are free, but are limited. So, if you are in the Wetherby area on 7th August why not pay them a visit. For more details about the day, and to confirm your place, call the ConvaTec care centre on 0800 83 48 22. Also, the manufacturers such as ConvaTec normally have days like this as part of a roadshow, so even if you dont live near Wetherby you may like to give them a call to see if the event is coming to a town near you in the near future. I cannot guarantee it is a roadshow, but its worth a call to find out, especially if the event is covering any topics you are particularly interested in.
Jason D.
Webmaster
Site-Owner & Colostomate
www.ostomyland.com
Ostomyland wishes Jane (JWalking) a Very Happy Birthday today
Jane has had her ostomy for around 55 years and used to work as an ET (Enterostomal Therapist). Since her retirement, she has continued to help a great number of ostomates with a range of different issues. She has a wealth of knowledge and we are delighted that she is a member of Ostomyland! 
Today is a “Special” birthday for Jane, and you can leave birthday wishes for her on the board…
click here for Jane’s Birthday Greetings
Happy Birthday Jane!
The “Life Goes on Foundation”, a newly launching Scottish based and focused Ostomy support group, completed it’s launch-walk up Ben Nevis on June 29th. The walk served a dual purpose of not only launching the foundation, but to also help generate funds from donations towards the publication of an Ostomates information diary to help both old and new Ostomates through a pre-op and post-op stoma lifestyle. The foundation hopes to publish the diary in early 2009, and everyone at Ostomyland wish Steve and the Foundation all the best and hope their feet aren’t too sore after climbing Ben Nevis - because I know mine would have been.
For more details on the Foundation, along with a complete run down of their aims, please visit their website at:
http://www.thelifegoesonfoundation.org.uk/
(NB: You can also find this link at any time in our Ostomy Links page which is C22 of our Lifestyle Guide.)
We’ve a new feature here on Ostomyland, and its called the “Mail Shot Round Up”. In this semi-regular posting I’m going to share with you the details of the postal mail shots I’ve received from the various Ostomy Companies and charities so that if you’ve missed any then you can still share in the latest product news, announcements or UK based promotions. Whever possible I’ll be including links or information of where people outside the UK can find the featured products too.
So, without further ado here’s the premiere edition of Mail Shot Round Up, just click the “Read” link below to access the article. As always feedback on this, or any content within Ostomyland, is always welcomed.
Hi Everyone! Never fear, fuzzbutt’s here! I’m back with another one of my top tips for you.
There are LOTS of Ostomy products manufacturers, making many different styles and ranges of Ostomy pouches, flanges, creams and lotions etc. Most, if not all of them, offer a free sample service via their freephone customer helplines. And so, my top tip is that when you first get your Ostomy, don’t presume that the pouch the hospital sticks on you, is the pouch you have to use for the rest of your stoma’s life. So long as the doctor is OK with it, why not try out as many different products as necessary until you find the one that is best for you.
This advice is good for long-term ostomates too. If you’ve been using the same product for years and years, give some of the new ones a try too, as thanks to new technologies and manufacture techniques you may find a product that is even better than the “old-faithful” brand you’ve been using for so long.
Ostomyland had a great time at Breakaway 2008 over the weekend just gone. On the Monday a mini-conference was held for families to get information on new products and services from various companies, and we too were there to spread the word about the Ostomyland support community. Leaflets were distributed to visitors, and our own Kathy (Oland Senior Website Admin) was there to answer questions and talk to folks about the website and it’s community.
“Would you like a leaflet?”
- The Ostomyland Stand @ Breakaway 2008’s Conference Day
Click for full picture
Thanks to this Breakaway Conference day, we’ve had many new members sign up to the Ostomyland message board and join our community, so please say hello and make them feel welcome. On top of this, a couple Stoma Nurses took wads of leaflets and brochures to make available to their clinic patients. So a big thank you goes to them for doing that!
I’d would also like to take this opportunity to thank Kathy for giving up her Bank Holiday Monday to be at the event to help promote Ostomyland to the Conference, and especially Jules and Rachel for allowing us to take up some of their valuable table space!
Jason D.
Owner/Webmaster & Colostomate
www.ostomyland.com
Hi Folks! Fuzzbutt here again!
Are you having trouble with pancaking? No, I dont mean the yummy, scrummy, pancakes you eat, but the problem of tacky poo clogging around your stoma instead of droppin in the pouch, and ultimately forcing it off. If so, check out these top tips I have for you to help prevent it.
Read the rest of this entry »
The 2008 Breakaway weekend has started, and everyone at Ostomyland hopes all attendees have a wonderful time.
Breakaway is the only UK activity breaks/weekends for youngsters aged 6 - 18 with bowel or bladder conditions, and their family. It’s a super scheme, and a fun time is always had by all. So, if you are interested in booking a place on the next Breakaway event then pop on over to their website, listed below. Don’t forget to tell them that Ostomyland sent you!
Breakaway Website:
http://www.breakaway-visit.co.uk/index.html
Donate to Breakaways Funds:
http://www.breakaway-visit.co.uk/donate.html
The first pictures of this weekends Breakaway event are just starting to come through, so checkout this thread on our message board* to see them. And if you can work out what’s going on in them, then please send your answers on a postcard…………….
* = Registration of message board, and login to it, required.
I’m over the moon to be able to announce that last week Ostomyland received her 5millionth page-view/hit. It’s a staggering achievement considering that the 4millionth hit was only in late-August last year!
Presently, we’re averaging over 5000 hits/page-views a day across the entire Ostomyland site which includes this main site and the board. I cannot thank everyone enough for their support towards Ostomyland, and for helping making our Community and website one of the best Ostomy Sites online today! I’d especially like to thank the Board Admin and Chat Room Ops teams, who dedicate so much of their time to the site and the community to help her keep ticking over efficiently, and keep the services friendly and safe for everyone of any age. Thank you everybody, very, very much.
