Thanks for Visiting
& Get Well Soon
Fun Ostomy Belts
We’ve had an email from Alan over at Fun Ostomy Belts – funostomybelts.com – saying hello and promoting his new website. After visiting the site ourselves we can certainly say its worth a visit. Colourful and fun ostomy pouch covers are nothing new, but when was the last time you saw a fun or colourful ostomy belt? Exactly. They are rarer than hens teeth. So, if you are looking for a new ostomy belt, and are fed up of the plain and boring styles that are available today, then why not pop over to Alan’s new site and check out his range of belts.
“When was the last time you heard the words fun and ostomy used in the same sentence? I’m betting never! I’m hoping to change that in my own little way. Maybe even spread a few smiles. I make these the old fasion way, one at a time with as much attention to detail as I can muster. Each one will be one of a kind.” – Alan, Fun Ostomy Belts
Fun Ostomy Belts is based in NY, USA. Please contact them directly for details of availability outside of the United States of America.
Ostomyland wishes Alan all the best for his new site and venture. 
Introducing the Oland Post-Xmas Diet Club Forum
Yes, its that time of year again – the time when we get on the scales and scream when we realise how much weight we’ve gained.
In the past we’ve had a diet club here on Oland which was rather popular at the time, and so I’m pleased to announce that I’ve decided to relaunch that forum so we can all club together and give each other the morale support needed to shed those pounds. Then we can celebrate together in our success, or commiserate together when we gain a bit, and own up with shame when we’ve had some chocolate and have a guilty conscience for the rest of the week!
Everyone is welcome to join in with the club discussion1. No diet plan or exercise plan is supplied, but no doubt ppl will discuss theirs so you could pick up a few tips, or you can ask about peoples plans to gain them too2. Its amazing how much difference having some people joining in with you can make to a diet. A spirit of camaraderie and almost competition is created, and it can really help make a difference for some people. And here you’ll also have the advantage that your diet pals are other ostomates and so can offer you advice from their own ostomates perspective – something very few other diet clubs could do.
You’ll find the Ostomyland forum over on the community message board – or this link below will take you directly to the new diet club forum there:
http://www.ostomyland.org/ostomyboardipb/index.php?/ forum/195-ostomyland-post-christmas-diet-club/
1. A free members account is required to access the forums. Register here.
2. You should always consult your GP/Doctor before starting any diet regime and you partake at your own risk, as the diet forum is covered by the usual O’land medical disclaimer and forums TandC‘s.
Useful Links:
Ostomyland Community Support Board:
http://www.ostomyland.org/ostomyboardipb/
Ostomyland Post-Xmas Diet Club Forum:
http://www.ostomyland.org/ostomyboardipb/index.php?/
forum/195-ostomyland-post-christmas-diet-club/
Combating Leakage: Some Products You May Not Be Aware Of
I’m pleased to announce that the Ostomyland Editorial #2 is now available – it is also being added to our Lifestyle Guide as it is a look at the current product ranges available to the ostomate to help combat leakage from a variety causes. It also helps you determine the cause of leakage, and offers advice on what you can do to help ease the problems caused by leaks themselves.
For the full article, please visit chapter 17b from the lifestlye guide menu, or visit this link.
We’d love to read your comments on the article, so please feel free to leave your thoughts on what we’ve written about combating leakage via the comments form, or Facebook comments box at the bottom of the Combat Leakage page. Dont foget to “like” the page if you, um, like it. 
I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year, and a happy and prosperous 2012.
Useful Links:
Ostomyland Editoral #2: Combat Leakage – Some Products You May Not Be Aware Of
http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/combating-leakage-some-products-you-may-not-be-aware-of/
Ostomyland Lifestyle Guide: Chapter 17 – Leakage / Skin Problems
http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/chapter-17-leakage-and-other-skin-problems/
Introducing Member Written Articles
Ostomyland is pleased to announce a new section to it’s content – Member Written Aritcles. More often than not, the most useful article on the net is the written from a personal perspective so we are launching this section.
The first article is by O’land community member Andypig who has written about his experiences with FAP - Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. You can find Andy’s article under the sidebar menu’s Member Written Article heading, or directly via this link.
If you think you have an article which would be useful on the Ostomyland website then please do get in touch with us. You need to be a member of our community forums to be considered for the section, so feel free to register for a free account if you havent already done so.
We hope you enjoy reading Andy’s story, and we look forward to hopefully featuring your submission on the site soon!
Useful Links:
FAP – An Owners Guide - http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/fap-familiar-adenomatous-polyposis/
Hollister Secure Start Newsletter: Fall 2011 Issue Now Available For Download
Hollister's Secure Start Newsletter
The Fall 2011 issue of the Hollister Secure Start newsletter is now available! In this issue of the digital newsletter you’ll find articles like these…
90 Years Strong
Hollister Celebrates 90 Years of Improving Quality of Life
It’s our 90th anniversary and we’re celebrating you, because you’re the one who helped make us the company we are today. By telling us what you need, letting us know what works and what doesn’t, and taking us along on your journey.
He belly flops on the couch, plays tirelessly with his friends at daycare, and runs in the sand. He’s a typical three-year-old, thanks to a colostomy and his Hollister New Image closed mini pouch. Jacob was born without an anus and had recently undergone constructive surgery when Charity and Robert Rhodes adopted him from China.
Secure Start Book Club
Living Well with an Ostomy
By Elizabeth Rayson
If you have an ostomy, you know that the practical aspects of ostomy care are just a fraction of your concerns. Elizabeth Rayson’s book,Living Well with an Ostomy, delves into those practical aspects, yet provides candid coverage of the things they might not tell you in the hospital.
Talking Points
External Links:
New Content: Peak Medical Manufacturers Page
Peak Medical is a UK based ostomy and pain management products company which was formed in 2005. Initially they started as the sole UK distributor for the EuroTec ostomy products range, and have since grown thanks to the launch of their UltraSmooth hydrophilic coated range of urinary catheters for intermittent self catheterisation. Soon after they branched out into Pain Management products, with the launch of their Inspirall & PainKwell ranges.
The company is renowned in the ostomy and urology marketplaces for its superior products, knowledge and clinical expertise, and we’re delighted to announce that they now have their own page on Ostomyland where you can find more about them and their ostomy product ranges. There is also a samples request service in place for anyone whom wishes to try out some of their products. On a personal note, I’m going to give the Varimate Wedges a try!
You can find the Peak Medical entry in the manufacturer’s listings via our sidebar menu to the left. They are located under Manufacturer: Pouches etc. Or click on the link below.
Please note: Peak Medical currently only distributes their products to the UK market, and as such sample requests are limited to UK residents.
Useful Links:
Ostomyland’s Peak Medical Page: http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/manufacturers-peak-medical-ltd/
Peak Medical’s Website: http://www.peakmedical.co.uk/
Thanks CA for a great day!
Ostomyland would just like to thank the UK Colostomy Association for a great open day yesterday at Weetwood Hall, Leeds. We had an exhibition table there which gave us a chance to meet some of 100 attendees members whom were local to the event, as well as new ostomates. It also gave us a chance to further raise our profile within the industry and specifically with the various ostomy companies whom also had stands and tables at the event. We hope to have some photos to post from the event in the next few days.
We cannot thank the CA Trustees enough for the warm welcome they gave us to the event, and how they made us feel just as important as the huge companies. So, thanks CA, we really appreciate it!
External Links:
Colostomy Association (UK): http://www.colostomyassociation.org.uk/
Colostomy Association Open Day (Leeds, Oct 15th)
Tomorrow the UK Colostomy Association is hosting an open day in Leeds featuring guest speakers and exhibitors and tables from various ostomy related companies and services.
Ostomyland will be there as we have an exhibit table booked. This will be our second year at the CA Open Day and like last year we are looking forward to meeting many people, and hopefully spreading the word about Ostomyland a bit more around the patient community and manufacturers, and of course, offering advice and support to anyone whom requests it.
If you are at the open day please do pop by and say hi. Oland community moderator Sarah will be there, and hopefully senior admin Kathy will be around too. The open day starts at 9am and closes at 3pm. There are various speakers lined up for the day. The event is being held at Weetwood Hall, Leeds LS16. For full details please see the colostomy association website.
External Links:
Colostomy Association Website: http://www.colostomyassociation.org.uk
Today is our 5000th day online. :-)
Today – October 4th, 2011 – is a special day for Ostomyland. It is our 5000th day online. What started out as a single page on a personal website, has grown to become a fully fledged community portal for all ostomates around the world.
On behalf of all the team members whom volunteer their time to help keep the website & community running smoothly, I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of our visitors over the last 13 and a half years, or 5000 days. We look forward to continuing this journey with you and personally I am very curious as to what the next 5000 days will have in store for us. One thing is for sure, it wouldnt be the same with you, our visitors and members.
If you have any comments about how Oland has helped you over the last 15 years, then we’d love to hear them. A forum has been created on the message board especially for those such posts, and you’ll find it here:
http://bit.ly/opR4o7
(Member account required, you can sign up for one here.)
Finally, we’ve got a present for everyone too – An Oland 5000th day celebratory wallpaper, and a windows screensaver too.
Thank you!
Jason
Owner/Webmaster
ostomyland.com
