stoma

Each year Ostomy Awareness Day offers an opportunity to raise awareness and educate people of the impact of living with a stoma - this year's event took place on 7th October. Everyone has their own stoma story, whether your stoma saved your…

Amy Davidson tells her incredible story of how she grew up with Hirschsprung's Disease and never let it stop her from living the life she'd always wanted. Despite the many challenges including ileostomy surgery, she has gained the ability…

Laura MacKenzie, 45 from Wemyss Bay was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of bladder cancer around 4.5 years ago. Laura’s treatment involved undergoing a major and extensive type of surgery called a ‘Total Pelvic Exenteration’ or…

After years of suffering uncontrolled Ulcerative Colitis, Dan Callaghan underwent stoma surgery in the hope of getting his health back on track. Exercise and fitness had always been a big part of Dan’s life and this wasn’t something he…

Elaina Cutting joined the Bladder and Bowel Community Support Facebook group after experiencing bowel issues and hoping to find others who understood what she was going through. After a particularly bad night, she reached out to see if…

When Deborah decided to help boost a friend’s confidence after undergoing stoma surgery, she didn’t realise that it would become a successful business selling stoma bag covers. She tells us her story.

We're highlighting the importance of early detection by knowing the symptoms of bladder cancer. David tells us how his urostomy stoma saved his life - and how noticing blood in his urine was the key.

From time to time stoma patients may experience stoma problems. The majority of these issues are not serious and can be resolved relatively quickly by adjusting part of your routine, swapping to a new product or altering your diet slightly.…

It is essential that the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at all times. Handwashing is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself from infection and stop germs from transferring to other people or surfaces (such as…

Fashion designer, Victoria Jenkins tells us about how her own health issues and how a chance meeting with another patient in hospital led to her developing her own brand of adaptive clothing designed to be comfortable, timeless and…

Having a child with a bladder or bowel issue can be scary and frustrating for both the child and parents/guardians, especially when it can take multiple trips to a GP and/or a lengthy amount of time to get a formal diagnosis. It can be…

With it being the start of a new year in lockdown, many of us have been turning to cooking as a way of feeling productive whilst we’re all at home. Choosing to eat vegan is growing in popularity and many use January to follow a plant based…

Stoma bloggers have done such a lot to reduce barriers around some key topics. We know how important it is to be able to draw on other people’s experiences when going through something like stoma surgery, so we thought we would share our…

We highlighted #stomaweek here at Bladder & Bowel Community, with a focus on stoma issues and related topics. As part of the week, we invited our Stoma Nurse to be part of a Question and Answer event, and we had some great questions…

As part of #stomaweek, Keith Thomas, 59 from Llanelli shares his story on how his stoma ‘Homer’ gave him a new lease of life and how he’s never been happier since his diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. We'd like to thank Keith for sharing his…

This week we’re talking ‘All Things Stoma’.  We’re always looking for ways in which we can support the community, and this week we have a few little surprises for you! You’ll have to join us on social media to find out exactly what we’re…

Jan Ross underwent stoma surgery in February this year just before lockdown, after being diagnosed with rectal cancer. Here, Jan talks to Bladder and Bowel about how she coped learning how to manage her new stoma friend during these…

Student Film makers aim to raise awareness of invisible illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease this Crohn's and Colitis Week with empowering ostomy film.

After months of suffering, Muneeb was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in October 2016, aged 19 years old. Here, Muneeb talks to us about his Crohn’s journey so far and how he has coped with his condition.

How many of us when we are younger try to map our lives out? We give ourselves deadlines; by this age, I will be married, be the top or my career and have children! In all honesty how often do these plans actually happen when we want them…

What is a Stoma Nurse? A stoma nurse is a specialised role and will look after and advise patients with a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy before and after surgery. This care may come from a Colorectal Nurse Specialist or a Stoma Nurse.…

Finding Freedom With A Flushable Colostomy Pouch Many people with a colostomy would say that life with a stoma can often be restricting. Daily challenges include needing to plan for the possibility of an unexpected pouch change,…

Changing your stoma bag may seem daunting at first but you will soon get used to the routine of it and over time you will find that a bag change will only take you a few minutes to complete.

What is a stoma reversal? A stoma is formed by bringing a loop of bowel (from the colon to form a colostomy or from the small bowel to form an ileostomy) to the surface of the abdomen. A pouch is then worn over the top of the stoma to…

As many ostomates know, a ‘usual’ stoma care routine can involve many pouch changes throughout the day, some more anticipated than others. Frequent, irregular pouch changes and dreaded leakages, can often leave skin feeling sensitive,…

Natalie Toper, Cancer Counsellor and bowel cancer survivor is campaigning to get stoma signs placed on disabled toilet doors and appropriate stoma facilities within. Here Natalie describes how her own personal experiences have driven her to…

Having a stoma shouldn’t limit your ability to travel in the UK or abroad. It may just take a little more forward planning. The Colostomy Association have developed a useful guide on travelling with a stoma. Here are our top tips. Make…

Irrigation is a system of bowel management for a colostomy in which you ‘wash’ the bowel to encourage a bowel movement. Over time your bowel will adopt this regular habit, and you should not produce waste in between irrigation sessions.…

If you have a stoma it may help to adjust your diet and exercise routine. Learn about stoma diet, and how being an ‘active ostomate’ can help you.

Looking after your peristomal skin (the ring of your skin that sits under your bag) is a vital part of your stoma care routine. It is important to avoid faeces or urine from coming into contact with your skin otherwise this can cause sore…

Straight after your stoma operation What will my stoma look like? Don’t be alarmed by the size of your stoma for the first few weeks after surgery. Your abdomen and your stoma will both be quite swollen and your stoma may also ooze…

Your Preoperative Assessment Depending on your hospital you will probably be offered a pre-op assessment a few days/ weeks prior to your stoma surgery. This assessment will involve a meeting with your surgeon to discuss any last minute…

What is a stoma? A stoma is an opening on the abdomen that can be connected to either your digestive or urinary system to allow waste (urine or faeces) to be diverted out of your body. It looks like a small, pinkish, circular piece of…

What is a Colostomy? A colostomy is created when your colon is cut and brought to the outside through the abdominal wall to create an artificial opening. Your faeces is then collected in a bag called a colostomy bag that is attached to…