{"id":4549,"date":"2025-12-05T11:27:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T11:27:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/living-life-fully-with-a-stoma-by-angelina\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T11:28:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T11:28:21","slug":"living-life-fully-with-a-stoma-by-angelina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/living-life-fully-with-a-stoma-by-angelina\/","title":{"rendered":"Living life fully with a stoma | by Angelina"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-947\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/03\/Meet-our-ambassadors-page-scaled-2-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-70 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#6e6760\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b3d32914277c437a49ce32a093b83f9c text-center lg:text-center\">Living life fully with a stoma | by Angelina<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"spacer\n    h-8    lg:h-24\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Living with a stoma was never something I imagined but it has become part of my life and part of who I am. It has changed things, of course, but it has not stopped me from living fully. If anything, it has made me more aware of what my body needs and how important it is to slow down sometimes.<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"spacer\n    h-4    lg:h-12\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-purple-400-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ac20acdc4d4f343a742cbea2b5f06fd9\">Balancing family life<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\">Balancing family life with a stoma is something that I am still figuring out &#8211; I want to be honest about that. I don&#8217;t always get it right and some days feel like a complete juggling act. I respond to things as they happen and I often feel like I am constantly catching up. I try to plan ahead and have everything ready, but with a little one, that isn\u2019t always possible. Some days my routine goes out the window and I just have to do the best that I can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\">Even with all the chaos, this journey has taught me a lot. I am learning to give myself grace because not every day goes smoothly. I am learning to listen to my body because my stoma needs attention when it needs attention. I am learning that asking for help is ok and that life can still be full even when things are messy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-purple-400-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-627a715b133e5d8ac1f6ec36bb62f703\">Spending more time on my stoma routine<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\">As I move forward, I am realising how important it is to spend more time on my stoma routine. I have noticed that when I slow down and take proper time for it, everything else in my day runs more smoothly. Giving myself enough time to do a full bag change without rushing makes such a difference. Checking my skin properly, making sure everything is clean, secure and comfortable, and organising my supplies so I am not scrambling at the last minute helps me feel more settled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\">Sometimes I try to squeeze my routine in between everything else, but I am learning that it needs to be something I give proper attention to. When I take the time to look after my stoma the way it needs, my body feels calmer, I feel more confident, and I am not reacting to problems later on. It\u2019s a small shift, but it changes so much in my day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-purple-400-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e8f5653ffcae4f9d431d2b5a321508a2\">Looking ahead into 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\">As I look ahead to next year, I want to be a bit more organised. I want to prioritise my routine and look after my health more, it\u2019s something that\u2019s been on the back burner for the last year and a half. I know it will make everything else easier. I owe that to myself and to my family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-purple-400-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3d4febbd78a88566e4517c96a62f3a34\">Finding my way<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\">Life with a stoma is not the end of anything, it is simply a different way of living. I am still finding my balance and I am still growing, but I am also still living a full and meaningful life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-xl lg:text-xl\">Thanks for reading,<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thebaglife_\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-purple-600-color\"><strong>Ange<\/strong><br><strong>@thebaglife_<\/strong><\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"spacer\n    h-8    lg:h-8\"\n>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div>\n    <div class=\"stories-carousel\">\n        <div class=\"glide__track\" data-glide-el=\"track\">\n            <ul class=\"glide__slides\">\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/building-confidence-as-a-man-living-with-a-stoma-by-kevin\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/image-e1775133570707.png\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/image-e1775133570707-236x300.png 236w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/image-e1775133570707-118x150.png 118w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/image-e1775133570707.png 376w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">Building confidence as a man living with a stoma | by Kevin<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">4 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/getting-active-again-after-stoma-surgery-by-summer\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/IMG_2398-scaled-1.jpeg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/IMG_2398-scaled-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/IMG_2398-scaled-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/IMG_2398-scaled-1-113x150.jpeg 113w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/IMG_2398-scaled-1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/IMG_2398-scaled-1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/IMG_2398-scaled-1-600x800.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/04\/IMG_2398-scaled-1.jpeg 1920w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">Getting active again after stoma surgery | by Summer<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">3 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/travelling-with-a-stoma-being-prepared-by-anna\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/travelling.jpg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/travelling-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/travelling-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/travelling-112x150.jpg 112w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/travelling-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/travelling-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/travelling.jpg 1379w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">Traveling with a stoma: being prepared | by Anna<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">4 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/recovering-after-stoma-surgery-by-nikki\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_4722-scaled-e1774014941443.jpeg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_4722-scaled-e1774014941443-285x300.jpeg 285w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_4722-scaled-e1774014941443-974x1024.jpeg 974w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_4722-scaled-e1774014941443-143x150.jpeg 143w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_4722-scaled-e1774014941443-768x807.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_4722-scaled-e1774014941443-1461x1536.jpeg 1461w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_4722-scaled-e1774014941443-600x631.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_4722-scaled-e1774014941443.jpeg 1920w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">Recovering after stoma surgery | by Nikki<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">3 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/post-stoma-surgery-changes-people-dont-always-expect-by-rachel\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9543-scaled-1.jpeg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9543-scaled-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9543-scaled-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9543-scaled-1-113x150.jpeg 113w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9543-scaled-1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9543-scaled-1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9543-scaled-1-600x800.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9543-scaled-1.jpeg 1920w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">Post stoma surgery changes people don\u2019t always expect | by Rachel<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">5 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                                    <li class=\"glide__slide story-slide\">\n                        <a class=\"group\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/blog\/preparing-a-child-for-secondary-school-with-a-stoma-by-rachel\/\">\n                            <picture class=\"block z-0\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                                    class=\"aspect-square object-cover\"\n                                    src=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9348-scaled-e1774013341661.jpeg\"\n                                    srcset=\"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9348-scaled-e1774013341661-300x238.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9348-scaled-e1774013341661-1024x811.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9348-scaled-e1774013341661-150x119.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9348-scaled-e1774013341661-768x608.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9348-scaled-e1774013341661-1536x1216.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9348-scaled-e1774013341661-600x475.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2026\/03\/IMG_9348-scaled-e1774013341661.jpeg 1920w\"\n                                    alt=\"\"\n                                \/>\n                            <\/picture>\n                            <span class=\"block font-bold text-lg\">Preparing a child for school with a stoma | by Rachel<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"reading-time block\">5 minutes<\/span>\n                            <span class=\"group-hover:underline read-more block relative z-20\">Read more<\/span>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"glide-navigation-wrapper\">\n            <a href=\"\/us\/blog\/\" class=\"btn btn-gradient w-full text-center lg:w-fit\">Explore all stories and advice<\/a>\n            <div class=\"glide-navigation\">\n                <div class=\"bullets\" data-glide-el=\"controls[nav]\">\n                                            <button class=\"bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 0\" data-glide-dir=\"=0\"><\/button>\n                                            <button class=\"bullet\" aria-label=\"Go to slide 1\" 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lg:h-20\"\n>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Living with a stoma was never something I imagined but it has become part of my life and part of who I am.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":4550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[39],"class_list":["post-4549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-angelina"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4549\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eakinostomy.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}