Both of you are my rock. I just had surgery with permanent colostomy two month ago. If it I did not watch your amazing teaching, support before my surgery I would not handle this emotional situation. It help a lot to prepare ahead. Thank you both fir helping us to make it easier. Both are my true hero❤️
Luv your video's along with the ones you do with Amber. I'm currently sitting in the hospital, just got a hernia repair surgery. My hernia behind my stoma was the size of a softball. Made it almost impossible hiding the bulge under a shirt. So now I'm recovering and you video was fun to watch. Thanks, Craig
I just love hearing all your experiences on this subject very informative I have gone through some of these experiences and I have learned so much by watching these kind of videos
Thank you Erich for asking. So far so good. No leaks, no skin issues I am very comfortable with my stoma and living with it thanks to you guys make it easier for us. I would like to say one thing though. My situation is different than Umber and you . I was diagnosed with early stage of recital cancer. But we both had ostomy which is great I learned from you a lot thank you. I haven’t find lots of information about rectal cancer support group or more teaching. Do you know any support group you know? I live in Rochester Ny Thank you.
I'm not aware of any local groups to your area (I'm from Toronto, Ontario), but I'm sure there are a few. I have an online support group at www.veganostomy.ca/community/ and many of the members have an ostomy because of cancer, so I'm sure there's a lot that can be discussed about the experience. You're more than welcome to join.
Another great talk guys! Thanks so much for this series! I had to chuckle at the stoma noises! Ripley likes to start spouting off at the quietest of moments it seems 🤦🏻♀️ I love the reference to food too because I’m looking at branching off of my trusty low residue diet now that I’m six months postop. I guess I’m wondering - and maybe either or both of you can speak to this - but if my small intestine wasn’t the issue before my ileostomy surgery is there any reason why I can’t eat nuts salads, crunchy fruits & vegetables now? Certainly my postop swelling should be negligible if not non-existent. Even my stoma has been the same size since the fourth week. And when y’all have experimented with new foods did you find that some just don’t digest without having a colon? I thought the colon’s primary job was to extract water and return it back to your body and also moving stool “down the pike” so to speak but are there any foods that don’t get completely digested in the upper G.I.? I hope that makes sense!
Hey, Karah. I've written about diet and also have a few videos on the topic as well. In general, most ostomates will be able to eat the same foods they did before surgery. It took me about a year before I felt totally comfortable with my body's ability to adapt to the changes. Vegetables and other plants are primarily broken down in the mouth, and exclusively through chewing. Salads, for example, won't "digest" past the mouth, so make sure that you're chewing all fruits and vegetables really well! I also recommend keeping a food diary to log which foods are easier for you to pass, and I also suggest starting with slow amounts of food and working up from there (don't introduce too many new foods all at once). Good luck!
Thanks Eric! I'll check that out! I did try some watermelon (I LOVE watermelon) and thought "its only water and sugar, right?" but NO, super "fiberous" - for me anyway! I did well - no tummy aches, blockages but I agree - starting slow! Unfortunately, the disease and steroids took some pretty important teeth with them so I've got some dental challenges we are still repairing so chewing is what I'm most concerned about. I appreciate it!!
It is strange, but if I eat enough watermelon I do have trouble with it passing - Pretty amazing when you think about it! And it only seems to happen with watermelon and not honeydew or cantaloupe.
Vegan Ostomy right?!? Fortunately watermelon can be frozen and used in smoothies which might make it a little easier to digest. It actually ends up having more of a Creamsicle kind of taste. I have mixed it with coconut milk. Quite high in fat and calories but tasty!
Thanks guys! Lots a VERY useful advice. I've not read all the comments yet but what does it feel like when you come out of the surgery/anesthesia? Is it very painful? What were your experiences?
Good question. With my stoma surgery I was put on too much anesthesia (the anesthesiologist explained why) so I was feeling "hungover" for a few weeks. Pain wise, there was soreness, especially when coughing or laughing, but the pain was nowhere near as bad as the Crohn's pains that I no longer have. That said, I was out going to movies and going on hikes less than a few weeks after the surgery, so the recovery was pretty quick.
Vegan Ostomy : thanks so much, Eric. It's my pre-op day today so 80% excited - 20% nervous...only that I'll forget several things, hah hah! Thankfully my wife will be there to mop up those mis-heard bits. I'm also hugely blessed to work at a medical college/hospital where I'll be having the surgery and have amazing colleagues who are very supportive. My Mum (yes, that's the Brit coming thru) also has a stoma and is a rock! Thanks my friend - I'll keep in touch 😀
Hi Eric. Surgery went very well. You were right...hangover symptoms but without the booze 😵 I got sent home last Friday. Progress everyday! The biggest issue is definitely reigning in the expectations - what I think can be done vs. can actually do. Sadly, I've got some back pain. Like you said, it hurt when you cough (sneeze or big yawn for that matter!). All that is put in perspective when weighing up what could've been down the road without the surgery. Scary prospect! Happy 4th July...or to a Canadian and a Brit - have a great Thursday mate 😉
Thank you very much I will join. Actually you are not far from where I live. About 3 hrs driving , have lots of family and visit frequently. If you give any conference in your area in the future I would like to come let me know Thank you for taking time to reply
I've been using a Hollister new image 2pc for many years now. The only thing I changed was going from the ceraplus wafer to their extended wear product (better on my skin) and I'm now using their ultra clear bags WITHOUT the filter.
Not until they work better. I don't have much gas to begin with, so ballooning isn't a common problem for me. But because I tend to keep my wafer and bag on for 5+ days, the filter ends up being the biggest annoyance because it will start to leak after that long. The filterless bags are a little less expensive and work better for me. If filters improve, then I may go back to them.
Yes, I mostly pay for supplies but in Ontario, Canada we also get a grant that helps. I actually find the Hollister filters to be among the best, but they aren't nearly good enough. Other brands I've used either leak sooner, don't work sooner, or need to be covered when I shower.
How long do you keep your bag on for? Sometimes that happens when you wear your bag too long, but it can also indicate that you're getting a leak and/or the wafer isn't adhering as good as it should be. It does tend to happen more when you use barrier rings. What happens when you wear only the wafer without the barrier ring?
Hi Cindy, I'm not sure of the exact context you're referring to, but stoma location could mean several things: where on the abdomen it is (left side, right side) or the position of it (at the belt line, beside the belly button, above the belly button line, etc.).
Both of you are my rock. I just had surgery with permanent colostomy two month ago. If it I did not watch your amazing teaching, support before my surgery I would not handle this emotional situation. It help a lot to prepare ahead. Thank you both fir helping us to make it easier. Both are my true hero❤️
Awe, thank you. I'm glad you got through those two months - I hope things will continue to get better!
Couldnt agree more :) take care
What a great series and collaboration, Eric & Amber! Thanks for covering all things ostomy with positivity!
Our pleasure!
Great work you two. Thanks for your so, so useful information and for sharing your experiences.
Luv your video's along with the ones you do with Amber. I'm currently sitting in the hospital, just got a hernia repair surgery. My hernia behind my stoma was the size of a softball. Made it almost impossible hiding the bulge under a shirt. So now I'm recovering and you video was fun to watch. Thanks, Craig
Best of luck with your recovery, Craig!
I just love hearing all your experiences on this subject very informative I have gone through some of these experiences and I have learned so much by watching these kind of videos
I always love hearing about other people's experiences, so I'm glad you enjoyed the series :)
Great series guys! So appreciated!
Glad you enjoyed it 😀
Thank you Erich for asking. So far so good. No leaks, no skin issues I am very comfortable with my stoma and living with it thanks to you guys make it easier for us. I would like to say one thing though. My situation is different than Umber and you . I was diagnosed with early stage of recital cancer. But we both had ostomy which is great I learned from you a lot thank you. I haven’t find lots of information about rectal cancer support group or more teaching. Do you know any support group you know? I live in Rochester Ny
Thank you.
I'm not aware of any local groups to your area (I'm from Toronto, Ontario), but I'm sure there are a few. I have an online support group at www.veganostomy.ca/community/ and many of the members have an ostomy because of cancer, so I'm sure there's a lot that can be discussed about the experience. You're more than welcome to join.
Good shows, guys. Thanks 😊
Another great talk guys! Thanks so much for this series! I had to chuckle at the stoma noises! Ripley likes to start spouting off at the quietest of moments it seems 🤦🏻♀️
I love the reference to food too because I’m looking at branching off of my trusty low residue diet now that I’m six months postop. I guess I’m wondering - and maybe either or both of you can speak to this - but if my small intestine wasn’t the issue before my ileostomy surgery is there any reason why I can’t eat nuts salads, crunchy fruits & vegetables now? Certainly my postop swelling should be negligible if not non-existent. Even my stoma has been the same size since the fourth week. And when y’all have experimented with new foods did you find that some just don’t digest without having a colon? I thought the colon’s primary job was to extract water and return it back to your body and also moving stool “down the pike” so to speak but are there any foods that don’t get completely digested in the upper G.I.? I hope that makes sense!
Hey, Karah. I've written about diet and also have a few videos on the topic as well. In general, most ostomates will be able to eat the same foods they did before surgery. It took me about a year before I felt totally comfortable with my body's ability to adapt to the changes. Vegetables and other plants are primarily broken down in the mouth, and exclusively through chewing. Salads, for example, won't "digest" past the mouth, so make sure that you're chewing all fruits and vegetables really well! I also recommend keeping a food diary to log which foods are easier for you to pass, and I also suggest starting with slow amounts of food and working up from there (don't introduce too many new foods all at once).
Good luck!
Thanks Eric! I'll check that out! I did try some watermelon (I LOVE watermelon) and thought "its only water and sugar, right?" but NO, super "fiberous" - for me anyway! I did well - no tummy aches, blockages but I agree - starting slow! Unfortunately, the disease and steroids took some pretty important teeth with them so I've got some dental challenges we are still repairing so chewing is what I'm most concerned about. I appreciate it!!
It is strange, but if I eat enough watermelon I do have trouble with it passing - Pretty amazing when you think about it! And it only seems to happen with watermelon and not honeydew or cantaloupe.
Vegan Ostomy right?!? Fortunately watermelon can be frozen and used in smoothies which might make it a little easier to digest. It actually ends up having more of a Creamsicle kind of taste. I have mixed it with coconut milk. Quite high in fat and calories but tasty!
Thanks guys! Lots a VERY useful advice. I've not read all the comments yet but what does it feel like when you come out of the surgery/anesthesia? Is it very painful? What were your experiences?
Good question. With my stoma surgery I was put on too much anesthesia (the anesthesiologist explained why) so I was feeling "hungover" for a few weeks. Pain wise, there was soreness, especially when coughing or laughing, but the pain was nowhere near as bad as the Crohn's pains that I no longer have.
That said, I was out going to movies and going on hikes less than a few weeks after the surgery, so the recovery was pretty quick.
Vegan Ostomy : thanks so much, Eric. It's my pre-op day today so 80% excited - 20% nervous...only that I'll forget several things, hah hah! Thankfully my wife will be there to mop up those mis-heard bits. I'm also hugely blessed to work at a medical college/hospital where I'll be having the surgery and have amazing colleagues who are very supportive. My Mum (yes, that's the Brit coming thru) also has a stoma and is a rock! Thanks my friend - I'll keep in touch 😀
Best of luck to you, Phil! Sounds like you've got an amazing support system all around you!
Hi Eric. Surgery went very well. You were right...hangover symptoms but without the booze 😵
I got sent home last Friday. Progress everyday! The biggest issue is definitely reigning in the expectations - what I think can be done vs. can actually do. Sadly, I've got some back pain. Like you said, it hurt when you cough (sneeze or big yawn for that matter!). All that is put in perspective when weighing up what could've been down the road without the surgery. Scary prospect!
Happy 4th July...or to a Canadian and a Brit - have a great Thursday mate 😉
Pains tend to go away in a matter of weeks/month and your confidence will go up as you begin to do more and more. Give it more time :)
Thank you very much I will join. Actually you are not far from where I live. About 3 hrs driving , have lots of family and visit frequently. If you give any conference in your area in the future I would like to come let me know
Thank you for taking time to reply
Yes, if any events come up I will announce them.
Eric after all this years of reviewing all this products, I like to know if you stick to a one ostomy bag and flange or you still use diferents ones ?
I've been using a Hollister new image 2pc for many years now. The only thing I changed was going from the ceraplus wafer to their extended wear product (better on my skin) and I'm now using their ultra clear bags WITHOUT the filter.
@@VeganOstomy no filter ?
Not until they work better. I don't have much gas to begin with, so ballooning isn't a common problem for me. But because I tend to keep my wafer and bag on for 5+ days, the filter ends up being the biggest annoyance because it will start to leak after that long. The filterless bags are a little less expensive and work better for me. If filters improve, then I may go back to them.
@@VeganOstomy yes the filters are not good, I noticed it, more on the Hollister ones. do you pay for your supplies out of your own pocket?
Yes, I mostly pay for supplies but in Ontario, Canada we also get a grant that helps. I actually find the Hollister filters to be among the best, but they aren't nearly good enough. Other brands I've used either leak sooner, don't work sooner, or need to be covered when I shower.
Is it normal when you take off your bag to have pooh on your barrier ring when you remove it
How long do you keep your bag on for? Sometimes that happens when you wear your bag too long, but it can also indicate that you're getting a leak and/or the wafer isn't adhering as good as it should be. It does tend to happen more when you use barrier rings. What happens when you wear only the wafer without the barrier ring?
@@VeganOstomy I still get some pooh on the wafer but sore skin.
What's it mean we're your stoma is located
Hi Cindy, I'm not sure of the exact context you're referring to, but stoma location could mean several things: where on the abdomen it is (left side, right side) or the position of it (at the belt line, beside the belly button, above the belly button line, etc.).