What’s more exciting than getting married? Going on your honeymoon! In alignment with my intention to stop letting fear hold me back and to continue trying new things even though they feel like they’re way outside of my comfort zone, I agreed to honeymoon in Costa Rica. As we planned the trip, we focused on doing a bunch of outdoorsy … Read More
How I Receive a Massage with an Ostomy
For Valentine’s Day I treated myself to a bag of ghost pepper chips from Trader Joes and a 90 minute massage. It was amazing. I ate almost the entire bag on my way to and home from the massage, and I enjoyed my massage thoroughly. While on the table I realized I’ve had quite a few massages in the time … Read More
Disneyland with an Ostomy
Shortly after my ostomy surgery I had the opportunity to go to Disneyland, and I passed it up. I didn’t see a point in going because I didn’t think there were things for me to do there since I wasn’t at all ready to be going on the big fancy crazy roller coasters. Looking back, I was holding myself back. … Read More
Sometimes I Get Self Conscious About My Ostomy Showing
Do you have a “get ready” routine for going to exercise classes? I do. It mostly involves grabbing my bag of stuff and rushing out the door! Since I know there are certain things that I like to bring to class to make sure that I’m not self conscious about my ostomy, comfortable in class and taking care of myself, … Read More
Innocent Remarks Can Hurt: Stand up for Yourself
The decision to start training capoeira after I felt strong enough post-surgery was not an easy one. I knew that I missed capoeira a lot, but I’m pretty risk averse and training any martial art with an ostomy has its risks. Most obviously, I don’t really want to get kicked in the ostomy or do something that would result in … Read More
How I Built Strength Post-Surgery
I know it’s cliche, but it might be true: You can do anything you want with an ostomy. You might not be able to do it immediately after surgery, or even a couple months after surgery, but with some determination and perseverance, you can make it happen. It doesn’t always feel like that’s true though – when your body hurts and you’re scared … Read More
Water Adventures: Ready, Set, Wake-Surf!
A couple months ago I admitted that I had only recently faced my fear of going in the water with my ostomy. In that post I mentioned that I intended to go wake surfing later in the summer, and I’m here to tell you that wake-surfing is exactly what I did! It was AWESOME! It’s basically surfing in the wake … Read More
Outdoor Adventures: Backpacking & Camping with an Ostomy
I told my friends I was going backpacking and camping. Just for one night as a trial run. When they asked if I was excited to try out backpacking and camping with an ostomy I could honestly respond YES. But as usual, my brain was also in overdrive worrying about my upcoming trip. I’m always worrying about something, but over … Read More
Indoor Soccer Anyone?
During one of my hospital stays, I had some incredible medical staff checking in on me. Being at a teaching hospital I had the whole range from current medical students to residents to esteemed doctors on my case coming in to talk to me each day. There were two people who spent extra time listening to me and checking in … Read More
Stomaversary Month, Tackle Your Fears Year
My stomaversary month came and went before I had a chance to give it the public attention it deserves! When I sit and think about my ostomy, I think of life. I begin to reflect on what the experience of becoming and being an ostomate has done for me, and I smile. I also cry sometimes, because like all of you, I’m … Read More
Pushing my Limits! Rock Climbing & Zip Lining
Trying new things with an ostomy can be scary. My doctors freaked me out about trying a lot of foods and movements because of the risk for blockages and hernias. I conquered my food fears by doing my best to understand why certain foods might cause blockages and then using that knowledge to make educated decisions about what to eat … Read More
Educate about Ostomies, End the Stigma – World Ostomy Day 2015
It’s World Ostomy Day! It’s also Ostomy Awareness Day! This is my third year celebrating Ostomy Awareness Day. It’s pretty surreal. The first year I was just a few weeks out of surgery and remember sitting on my bed posting on Facebook about it. I looked back for my status update and it turns out I celebrated by eating brownies. You … Read More
45 Things I’ve Done with my Ostomy
Part of what makes people nervous about having an ostomy is the worry that their life will be “over” and they’ll never get to do “normal” things again from eating out to enjoying intimacy. I’d like to settle your nerves. I’ve had my ostomy two years (today is my stomaversary!) and in those two years, even in just the first year, I … Read More
Coltrane Ran a Mile
The undy5000 is a great event hosted by the Colon Cancer Alliance that I never would have known about if Coltrane was not a part of my life. A few members of one of the support groups I go to had signed up to go so I figured, why not? I have always wanted to do a 5k. One of … Read More
My Ostomy Went Hiking
Hiking! Coltrane and I went hiking! We went to Muir Woods, a beautiful area just north of San Francisco, CA. I was really excited to have found someone willing to make the short drive and go hiking with me. I hadn’t been there in over ten years and it was just as beautiful as I remembered. When we were assessing … Read More
5 Months and Going Strong
Yesterday marked 5 months and boy am I proud of myself. It’s hard to fathom that just five months ago I could hardly walk 15 feet when today I find myself walking 2-3 miles per day like it’s nothing. I still have a long way to go in terms of gaining my strength back to where I feel comfortable engaging … Read More
Just Dance, With an Ostomy
Since I’m still relatively new to the ostomy world, I haven’t had a lot of courage to dance or work out like I used to. Before surgery I was really active and had just started learning samba and afro-carribean dance. I went to zumba class and played capoeira (an afro-brazilian martial art) almost every day. Getting sick really knocked … Read More