Raising Stoma Awareness | World Ostomy Day

Today is World Ostomy Day today and I thought it only fitting that I write a post celebrating and highlighting all types of ostomy.

I could wax lyrical about myself and my journey, but this year I’m not as ostomy awareness is about educating those who may not be aware of what a stoma is or understand about those living with an invisible disability or illness. 

I have had Bertha (my stoma) on and off for 13 years and have been living permanent stoma life for the last 6 years. Having my stoma has allowed me to get back to work and back into adult education; it has also allowed me to continue being the best mum and wife version of myself minus the added additions pre stoma life gave me, incontinence and pain being several consequences pre second and third stoma surgery. 

Most people don’t know about my stoma unless I tell them, and for the majority of people that pass me by they don’t think “oh she has a stoma” they just continue with their day onto their next destination. 

Why should we make people stoma aware? 

I think it is important to make people “stoma aware” as we are living “World Ostomy Day”, everyday. Raising awareness is about education and helping those who may not have the same support system that I have. 

In the early days stoma life can be daunting if those around you do not understand what you are going through. 

Be The Change

I am part of Be The Change as I think this is an important community making changes to how invisible disabilities and illnesses are treated.

The aim of this campaign is to call for changes to be made in society – tackling everyday challenges that ostomates and more widely those with invisible illnesses may face.

We aim to lead the way nationally and for Cardiff to become the capital of the UK for understanding the needs of those with invisible illnesses. With this in mind, we’re asking for changes to be made in daily society including, new signage to be used on all public toilets, and working with Local Authorities across Wales to adjust waste collections in recognition of the issues people with a stoma face. We want to help educate people and raise awareness that not all chronic illnesses and health issues can be seen.

Did you know there are 5 types of external stoma?

• Colostomy- this is coming from the large bowel (colon)
• Urostomy- this is coming from the kidneys and drains urine
• Ileostomy- this is coming from the ileum (small bowel)

Other types of stoma rarely mentioned:

• Jejunostomy- is the surgical creation of an opening (stoma) through the skin at the front of the abdomen and the wall of the jejunum (part of the small intestine). It can be performed either endoscopically, or with formal surgery.
• Caecostomy- can be used effectively to allow colonic irrigation in an unprepared, obstructed colon prior to resection of the obstructing lesion and primary anastomosis

What is World Ostomy Day? 

World Ostomy Day is celebrated every 3 years and is an inspirational day to help those with stomas to raise and highlight awareness and to help to strip the taboo associated with having a stoma. 

It’s about the community joining together and celebrating ostomy life and proving that they don’t hold you back and that for some of us they have improved quality of life, saved lives and for some of us they have given us back the freedom of being symptom free. 

The inspirational pep talk

So here goes the inspirational quotes. Having a stoma should never define you. I myself am lucky that my stoma landed me into the line of blogging and helping people in their journeys and receiving the same help back. 

We are all entitled to low moments. Stoma life isn’t always easy. But at the same time we should celebrate our scars, they are tattoos with a deeper meaning. They prove we are still here and fighting the fight that our bodies have decided to give us. So what if we go to the toilet via a different means. 

We are all human and our flaws are to be celebrated. Being normal is boring and in life and history it’s those who are brave enough to share their journeys and help erase the stigmas that may be attached to stoma life. A journey is what you make of it so the best advice I can give is to make it count. Educating one person could in turn spider web and help raise awareness to a further 100 people in the circle. 

That’s it from me for the inspirational pep talk.

I am always available for a talk or a rant should you be struggling or just need some advice. 

As always 

Many thanks for reading 

Louise Xx

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