James: I can definitely relate to your friends’ plight with multiple small bowel obstructions post abdominal surgery. In my case, as may be true for your friend, my history with repeated obstructions was due to scar tissue/adhesions that would tether and restrict a segment of intestine. I have had s...

I was able to get my insurance to double my supplies after having the doctor's office contact them citing "Chemo induced diarrhea" as the need for more . . . It's worth asking, my insurance is covering all of the additional supplies without a copay.[/quote] Shana brings up a valuable point...

Shana: ComFizz is a small company in the UK/England that specializes in underwater and support garments for ostomies. The company has received several awards by the English National Institute Of Health for their product quality and innovative designs. ComFizz has recently introduced a stoma protecto...

Steph: Pain is pain is pain. You need not have a large or noticeable mass or other anatomical finding in a CT scan or MRI to have intractable pain. Pain can be of origins not visible on CT scans or imaging. Nerve irritation, nerve entrapment, tethering of scar tissue, as well as physiological altera...

Steph: I am on Palliative Care and have been on narcotics for 2-3 years. Before considering a pain pump, I would think your Palliative Care team would offer you a long-acting narcotic such as the Fentanyl duragesic skin patch. It comes in several dosages, the medication absorbed through the skin (by...

Beck: Your foul-smelling and excessive gas likely is due to bacterial overgrowth or imbalance of the necessary “good”/beneficial bacterial that constitutes the GI tract’s normal flora. The bacterial flora of the digestive tract serves as the home base for the body’s immune system and immune response...

DH13: Wow ! Your marathon time of 2:48 is impressive and a solid accomplishment of body, mind, and spirit. I am a former marathon runner (my best course time a more humble 3:15). I credit my natural love of long distance running with giving me a foundation in facing multiple and complex health issue...

Steph: Your post is a valuable sharing of information for others to learn from. Erythema ab igne is not a common/routine finding and can escape diagnosis by physicians because it is not on their radar screen. I saw 3-4 cases of erythema ab igne during my years as a clinical physical therapist. Prolo...

Thank You Robin. That is very gracious of you to wrap me in a hug. I believe strongly in the power of collective GoodWill and healing energy flows. Chrissie and I have known each other since our earliest childhood days against the backdrop of strollers and a playpen, as our mothers were bestie frien...

Hi Sara: My BFF (Chrissie, age 52) had a diverting loop ileostomy placed about 4 months ago. This was done as a Palliative option. Her intestinal slowing was more and more problematic with obstruction-like symptoms (nausea/vomiting; pressure; wave-like pain that would wax and wane). This did provide...

I have a close friend who has widely disseminated cancer with peritoneal metastatis and bony lesions to her femur, humorous, and skull. She also has recurrent digestive distress and is able to take-in only a few bites of food due to feeling abdominal pressure and fullness. Her oncologist has explain...

Heartbreaking news. I have followed Julie’s blog and appreciated her inherent gifts of expression as a writer. Julie’s blog and its narrative gave me valuable perspective and resolve in facing my own health challenges. Although I never met Julie, I considered her a friend of afar. My thoughts are wi...

Josier: What you are experiencing in terms of brownish/red tinged discharge is normal with an end colostomy. Few surgeons take the time or feel compelledto explain the post-operative distal colon/rectum with an colostomy (often referred to as a “Hartman’s pouch”). It can lead to fear and confusion, ...

Happy Happy belated birthday to sweet Chloe.

Sending Chloe best wishes and tail wags for a year of good health and enjoyable and loving days with her family.
- Karen -

KimT brings up several good points about traveling and the risk of intestinal parasites. Most communities/cities have physician clinics that specialize in traveling, recommended traveling immunizations for specific areas of foreign travel, and diagnosis/treatment of acquired parasites, worms, fungi....