The stoma care advice you want

My biggest concern about returning to work after stoma surgery was how I was going to adapt to working life with a stoma bag.

Now that the clocks have gone back and there’s an icy breeze in the air, I’m officially in comfort food mode.

There is nothing like standing in a hotel bathroom at 6am with a cup of coffee in one hand and my stoma supplies in the other.

In 2023, I faced my biggest challenge to date – number 8 of my surgeries but this one would change my body forever.

If I’m not feeling myself, I’ll do little things to improve my mood.

Have I fully accepted my stoma? If I’m totally honest…nope. Am I hopeful that one day I will? Absolutely.

When I was first told that I would be living with a stoma, I was overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty.

Parenting with a stoma, where do I start?! This is such a wide open question.

I’m not afraid to admit that my mental health has been in the gutter for the last two years due to being bed bound thanks to endometriosis and Buddy the cyst.

Most of you may know me and remember when I had my Barbie butt surgery back in May 2022 after my having my stoma surgery the year prior thanks to ulcerative colitis (UC).

Choosing to get a stoma reversal is an easy yes for same, for others, it can be a dilemma.

My mental health hasn’t been a straightforward journey; for me, it’s had lots of ups and downs.