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I’m an ostomate. I wear it proud and shout it loud!
This weekend I discovered a fantastic ostomy blog I’d not read before. Girly-Girl’s Ileostomy Blog – by Tinylittlelifeform. It’s written by a young woman living in Canada and her blog is unlike any other ostomy blog I’ve read before. Tinylittlelifeform (her blogger username) has an ileostomy and she does NOT let it get in the way of her life at all. In fact she appears proud to have it, and couldn’t care less what people may think about her as a result. Bravo! Her blog doesn’t contain any concern over self image, or over stoma management or anything like that. Yes, it does discuss her life problems, but they are not about her ileostomy.
It’s not the most frequently posted-to blog but it is quite a compulsive read. Tinylittlelifeform also has posted some wonderful ideas on ostomy fashion, along with photos of herself in her own creations. She’s very pretty, and her fashion design’s could not look any less like there was an Ileostomy pouch holder built into them!
Tinylittlelifeform’s blog contains an infectious amount of energy, and when you come away from it – as an ostomate – you feel invigorated and like you want to take on the world with her! Check it out, but be warned, the blog is loud and proud, and so some language contained within may offend! The title and sub-title says it all:
- Girly-Girl’s ileostomy Blog
- A no-nonsence explanation of life with an Ileostomy, as told by a foul-mouthed individual with no shame
LOL. Great title! Keep up the great work, Tinylittlelifeform! The ostomy world needs more proactive ostomate advocates like you showing how an ostomy can give you life, also how in most cases it doesnt take it away from you, unless you let it.
External Links:
Girly-Girl’s Ileostomy Blog: http://girlgirlsileostomyblog.blogspot.co.uk/
- Her “More Bag Hiding Fashion for the Femininely Inclined” posting:
http://girlgirlsileostomyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/more-bag-hiding-fashion-for-femininely.html
UOAA: Phoenix Magazine | Spring 2012 Vol 7 #2 available now!
Phoenix Cover Spring 2012 Edition
The March 2012 edition of the United Ostomy Association of America’s very own official ostomy magazine The Phoenix was mailed out to their subscribers on February 28th. However, copies are still available for those who have not yet acquired it.
At a whopping 72 pages, this is by far the largest of the ostomy groups & companies magazines that I’ve seen over the year. Being a British ostomate myself, and The Phoenix itself being a subscription-based magazine, it isn’t very often I get to see a copy of the magazine but when I do I am always very impressed by the quality of the presentation and the amount of useful information contained within it’s many articles.
The March 2012 (Vol 7 #2) edition of The Phoenix magazine has lots of interesting features crammed into it, including the following:
- Back in the Rink
- Returning to the sport of Ice Hockey after colostomy surgery - Peristomal Skin Lesions
- Objectively classifying common skin problems - Erectile Dysfunction
- The physical and emotional causes following surgery - Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence
- Solid advice and concrete steps to keep cancer at bay - Ostomates in Uniform
- The history, policy and reality of ostomies and the military - … and lots, lots more!
Annual subscriptions are $29.95 and include a free New Patient Guide as well as a free sample of Ostofresh deodorant. You can get your copy via the UOAA’s Phoenix website at: http://www.phoenixuoaa.org/
Digital back issues are also available from the same website at $4.95 – a 50% reduction on the cover price! Digital back editions are available for International download too, you don’t have to be located in America. Payments are taken via credit card, but please be aware that there’s no paypal option during the checkout procedure.
External Links & References:
The United Ostomy Association of America:
http://www.uoaa.org or http://www.ostomy.org
The Phoenix Magazine Website:
http://www.phoenixuoaa.org/
The Phoenix Spring 2012 Cover Photo
© Liam Richards photography
This content has been Digiproved © 2012 Ostomyland
Calling all Merseyside Ostomates! (Ostomistics St Helens FB Group)
Ostomistics, the UK-based multi-area ostomy support group is tentatively dipping it’s toe into the Merseyside area. If you are in the St. Helens area, or in Merseyside, then you might like to check out the Ostomistics St Helens Facebook group. If enough interest can be generated then regular face to face support meetings will follow, just like the other Ostomistic groups.
The group is being co-ordinated by Alison Louise Hamilton aka Allyxx and she can be contacted via her Facebook page for further information.
As far as Ostomyland is aware you do not have to be a Merseysider to join the group so why not check it out regardless! We’ll see you there too as we’re members!
And, why you’re at it, why not visit the Ostomyland Facebook Group too where recent conversations have included the possibility of doing sit-ups post-op, and a fantasy conversation on what you would have tattoo’d around your stoma if it were possible (we dont advise you do do that though! lol).
External Links:
Ostomistics St Helens Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/439124346102864/
Ostomyland Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3834289395/
This content has been Digiproved © 2012 Ostomyland
Comox Valley woman alive thanks to ostomy
The BCLocal News published this article today.
Tanya is a young, active mother of two, sharing her life with a caring husband and family members living in the Comox Valley.
“It’s not a secret; I have always been very upfront about my ileostomy,” says Tonya. “Some people are curious about it, others just nod, and a few sort of pull back and act like it could be catching. I’m not the least bit embarrassed about it, after all, it saved my life, and I wouldn’t be alive without it.”
Read the full article here:
BCLocal News Article
This content has been Digiproved © 2012 OstomylandWhat did you wish your RN told you?
Ostomyland has received the following request from Taylor, a Nursing Student:
Hello all!
I’m a nursing student at the University of Florida and we just learned about colostomy bags in class. As part of my assignment, I want to ask what you wish your nurses/doctors told you before you went home with the colostomy bag?
Your input would be incredibly helpful, not just for an assignment, but for my own experience. It is highly possible I will have a patient one day with an ostomy, and I want to be able to answer all of their questions/concerns.
Thanks to everyone that comments!!
-Taylor
Please use the “Leave a Reply” box below for any comments you’d like to make.
Disclaimer:
Ostomyland believes that this is a genuine nursing student assignment and has posted this in good faith. However, this is the internet – please exercise caution when discussing / disclosing your own medical details.
This content has been Digiproved © 2012 Ostomyland
Spring 2012 Ostomy Lifestyle Newsletter Out Now
Ostomy Lifestyle - the UK-based charity that supports all Ostomy types
UK ostomy support charity, Ostomy Lifestyle has just released the latest edition of it’s newsletter which is available to read online, or for free delivery to UK ostomates.
In this edition you can read about Ostomy Lifestyle’s Information Standard accreditation, an update on their OstomyAid project, their latest corporate supporters and the personal story of one of Ostomy Lifestyle’s fundraisers. Voting in the Ostomy Lifestyle 2012 Awards is now open and you can vote for your winners here. And, I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that our very own Sarah Squire is nominated in the Volunteer of the Year category!
You can download the current and past issues of Ostomy News on their newsletter download page.
To contact Ostomy Lifestyle you can either email their advice line, or telephone them on 0800 731 4264 or 0118 324 0089. The advice line is open Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm. All Helpline calls are taken by trained operators who have had stoma surgery. And of course their website is open all day every day.
External Links:
Ostomy Lifestyle Website: http://www.ostomylifestyle.org
Ostomy Lifestyle‘s Newsletter Download Page: http://ostomylifestyle.org/content/ostomy-news
This content has been Digiproved © 2012 Ostomyland
Congratulations Tidy Pal
Regular readers of Ostomyland might remember that a few months ago we featured a product on here named the Tidy Pal, which is an innovative answer to the lack of hooks in public toilets. Well, I’m delighted to say that the Tidy Pal has been nominated for the Most Innovative Product of the Year category in the Ostomy Lifestyle annual awards. You can vote for the Tidy Pal here.
We’d like to congratulate Tidy Pal creator Michael Wood on this well deserved news. And if you are interested in reading more on the Tidy Pal then not only can you read our original feature on it here, but Tidings readers (Colostomy Association UK quarterly magazine) will be able to read a two page article on the product and more on Michael’s story in the next issue of the magazine, which is the Spring 2012 issue, available in April.
Once again, congratulations Michael and Tidy Pal.
Useful Links:
Our original Tidy Pal feature posting: http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/2012/01/tidy-pal-the-answer-to-the-lack-of-hooks-in-public-toilets/
External Links:
Tidy Pal Website: http://www.tidy-pal.com/
Ostomy Lifestyle Awards Voting Page: http://helenbracey.polldaddy.com/s/2012-ostomy-lifestyle-awards-voting
Ostomy Lifestyle Website: http://www.ostomylifestyle.org
Colostomy Associations (UK) Website: http://www.colostomyassociation.org.uk
This content has been Digiproved © 2012 Ostomyland
Vote for Oland’s Sarah Squire in the Ostomy Lifestyle 2012 Awards!
Congratulations to Ostomyland admin, and Colostomy Association Facebook Group Admin Sarah Squire (aka Sarah73) on her nomination towards the “Volunteer of the Year” category in this year’s Ostomy Lifestyle Awards.
Ostomy Lifestyle is a UK based ostomy charity which offers support for all ostomates regardless of whichever stoma type you may have.
To vote for Sarah visit the Ostomy Lifestyle Awards Voting Page where you’ll have an opportunity to vote in the other categories too which include Support Group of the Year, Stoma Nurse of the Year, Industry Professional of the Year and more! (NB: You dont have to vote in each category, just skip to the next section if you dont want to place a vote in any area).
Sorry Fuzzbutt, but I’m afraid there’s no “cute fuzzy ostomy mascot of the year” category otherwise I’m sure you’d win!
External Links:
The Ostomy Lifestlye Awards Voting Page:
http://helenbracey.polldaddy.com/s/2012-ostomy-lifestyle-awards-voting
Ostomy Lifestyle Website:
http://www.ostomylifestyle.org
Colostomy Association Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/colostomyassociation2011/
This content has been Digiproved © 2012 Ostomyland
CliniMed Travel Advice Day
UK stoma care products company CliniMed and Stoma Care Nurses will be holding a travel advice meeting for ostomists at Loughborough Town Hall, UK, on May 31st this year.
This is a stoma information day with a travel theme. Stoma care nurses will be in attendance to offer advice and answer any questions.
If you have concerns about travelling with an ostomy, or advice on how to manage your stoma in hotels, or how to obtain emergency products if yours get eaten by the airport baggage system, or indeed any travel issues you’d like advice on come and give them a visit. And of course if you’ve any non-travel related issues you’d like advice on then you can ask them too!
Everyone welcome, regardless of if you live in the Loughborough area or not, and refreshments will be available.
Venue: Loughborough Town Hall
Travel details to Loughborough Town Hall can be found at:
http://www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk/visit
Date: 31 May 2012
Arrival time: 10am
Start of meeting: 10.30am
If you would like further information about the event please contact Eva Heley, Product Specialist – Stoma, at CliniMed on 01628 850100. Or via mobile (07796 938443), fax (01628 527312) or email her direct at eva.heley@clinimed.co.uk.
Useful Pages:
CliniMed‘s page on Ostomyland: http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/manufacturers-clinimed-uk/
SecuriCare‘s page on Ostomyland:
Editorial #3: Create an Ostomy Reference Library Using Company Leaflets from SecuriCare:
http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/editorial-3-build-an-ostomy-reference-library-from-freebie-company-booklets/
External Links:
CliniMed Website: www.clinimed.co.uk
SecuriCare Website: www.secuircaremedical.co.uk
This content has been Digiproved © 2012 Ostomyland
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Canada
Although Ostomyland is a British website, we do have an International community behind us, of which Canada is our third largest number of members and visitors behind the UK and the USA, and so this news piece may be of interest to our Canadian friends.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Canada. This is an annual campaign launched by the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC) whose mission is to educate the public about the disease whilst providing support for both patients and families and to advocate for better access to treatment and screening policies for all.
You can find out more about the CCAC via their website or the awareness campaign website(s), all are listed below. And dont forget, you dont have to be Canadian to be raising your awareness of Colorectal Cancer. Expand your knowledge of the disease, and it’s symptoms by checking out some of the many Cancer websites available online so you know what symptoms to look for. For example, watery stools, pain or discomfort in the abdomen or whilst passing stool, and blood in the stool itself could be signs of any number of conditions, but it could also be cancer. So, it’s best to get it checked out quickly if you are experiencing any of these symptoms or have concerns.
Ostomyland would like to wish the CCAC a very successful 2012 campaign. They are doing a fantastic job.
External Links:
Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC) website: http://www.colorectal-cancer.ca/
CC Awareness Month Websites: http://www.getyourbuttseen.ca/ & http://www.savebutts.ca/
Colorectal Cancer on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorectal_cancer
This content has been Digiproved © 2012 Ostomyland
