Kalpesh Chavada

Whether you just got your surgery recently or you’ve had it for a while, here are some great resources for you! Trying as many things as possible helps a great deal.

1. United Ostomy Associations of America: Like this Facebook page to receive updates on UOAA activities and learn more about this great organization. They offer education materials, support groups and conferences. They also have an intro magazine with a food list that many people find helpful. Within this group, you can learn a lot from other patients.
   
   
2. The Phoenix magazine has stories, ads for new products, and advice columns to answer your questions.
   
   
3. Ostomy 101: This app and website has support group resources and it’s great to help you learn more about ostomies. They offer classes

For individuals living with an ostomy, participating in activities like swimming can seem daunting at first. However, with the right ostomy belt, you can reclaim the joy of swimming and embrace the water with confidence. Choosing the best ostomy belt for swimming requires careful consideration of specific features, your unique needs, and swimming preferences. Let's explore the essential factors to keep in mind when selecting an ostomy belt for swimming and practical advice on wearing it comfortably in the water.

Features to Look for in Ostomy Belts for Swimming

Water-Resistant Materials: Opt for ostomy belts made from water-resistant materials to ensure they stay intact and provide the necessary support in the water. Look for belts that won't lose their shape or adhesiveness when exposed to water.

Secure Adhesive System: A strong and reliable adhesive

 Introduction to Ostomy Belts and Wraps for Children

For children living with an ostomy, maintaining an active and comfortable lifestyle is of utmost importance. An ostomy involves the surgical creation of an opening in the body to allow waste to exit and is often a necessary medical procedure. To support and empower these young warriors, ostomy belts and wraps play a crucial role. These specially designed products offer the much-needed security, confidence, and comfort to children with ostomies, helping them embrace life to the fullest.

Types of Ostomy Belts and Wraps Suitable for Children

Ostomy belts and wraps come in various styles to cater to the diverse needs of children. From slim and discreet options to more comprehensive wraps, manufacturers like Stealth Belt have developed an array of products. Stoma belts, hernia belts, and custom options are among the

Body image is a struggle that has come and gone for me throughout my life. Throughout elementary and middle school I experienced some bullying for being heavier than a lot of the other kids I went to school with. Once I got to high school, I really grew to be more confident with my body. This, of course, all changed once I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis my first year in college. Over the next few years of being on and off steroids, my weight really fluctuated and threw me for a loop. Finally, in 2018 I had my total colectomy surgery and chose my permanent ileostomy a year later.

Having the surgery and choosing to keep my ileostomy opened up a whole new world of body image struggles for me. Immediately after surgery and for a few months after, I was almost in a state of being unphased by anything as I just felt so happy to not be in constant pain anymore. My weight became pretty stable after my surgery since I was able to come off of the steroids and not be in a state of constant

Irritable, from constantly being in pain and dealing with the constant symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis. Tired, from having to fight the unrelenting symptoms, side effects of medications, and never ending trips to the toilet. Depressed, because no matter what I did, what medicine I tried, what I ate, I always felt isolated and alone, because of this disease that defined me.

One of my lowest and most shameful points was having to hold my newborn baby on the toilet, because I couldn’t hold my bowels long enough to secure him into his swing or bouncer. After failing the ump-tenth medication in December 2021, my doctor and I decided that it was time for a colectomy. April 6th, 20 days before surgery, was the worst/ most embarrassing most unparalleled lonesome day of my UC life. On this day I didn’t even know I had to go, and let out a deluge of mucus and blood that soaked through my pants, through a slatted chair and onto the floor of where I was eating at in Walt Disney

Intimacy seems to be that taboo subject that no one wants to talk about. Sure, there are a lot of

questions out there, but most people may not want to ask. Intimacy with an ostomy? Yes, it’s possible,

and yes, it’s just like intimacy without an ostomy.

I was newly married when I had ostomy surgery, but was in a unique situation. Two weeks

before my husband was to deploy for nine months, I learned I would need surgery due to a

precancerous colon. I had surgery a month later, and thankfully he was able to come home while I was

recovering in the hospital, but promptly had to return overseas. I was 24 at the time and stayed with my

parents until his deployment ended.

There was a lot of learning during the months that my husband was gone. Learning to change

my bag, care for my stoma, and regaining my strength were my biggest to-dos. But of course, like

everyone else, I wondered what