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RE: What's Your Weather Like

Chelly — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:20:32 +0000

@tony-h nice picture!! Everything looks so green!

RE: Hernia Surgery

Chelly — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:58:17 +0000

@tigerlily i think that that's a very smart move to do the wait and watch. Yes, these doctors know exactly what they're talking about. That's exactly what I did at the start of my parastomal hernia is we waited and watched and then when I had the bowel obstruction is when they started fixing things. I'm pretty sure this is what most surgeons go for.

Haha, yes everyone looks twelve to me now too.

RE: Toilet paper

Chelly — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:47:41 +0000

@veganostomy exactly!! No matter how you try to ration it dont work out. Getting this ostomy i was way too happy to get rid of all the pain I was going through with my unhealthy colon but never knew how much extra expenses it would be.

Like I said, when I worked, I never noticed it because I was gone twelve hours a day using their toilet paper. I just can't get over how much I go through.It's absolutely mind boggling. I agree. They should include that with our supplies definitely!!

RE: Toilet paper

Tigerlily — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:57:54 +0000

I agree with everything said so far. When Costco has a TP sale, we buy lots!

Laurie

RE: What's Your Weather Like

Tigerlily — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:55:18 +0000

It’s 19C right now, heading for 21, with intermittent rain. Cold weekend forecast though.

Laurie

RE: Hernia Surgery

Tigerlily — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:51:20 +0000

I finally spoke to my new hernia surgeon this morning. I just assumed that I’d be heading for surgery soon, but she cautioned against rushing it. She told me that since parastomal hernias are so common, and because a hernia is necessarily created by the stoma, it is not uncommon to see hernias fail. She said that a hernia repair that lasts 4-5 years is considered fantastic. Since I am in year 4 for my repair, and have not had any obstructions, and my CT scan doesn’t show signs of imminent incarceration, she recommended a wait and see for now. She said that every subsequent hernia repair gets more difficult because of scar tissue and the original location becoming unusable, forcing the surgeon to move the stoma - then you’re left with 2 weak spots. I already have a long abdominal scar from a long ago ectopic rupture, so that adds to the weakness. She showed us my CT scan, and explained that the abdominus rectus muscles actually pull away from each other, which is not helpful when you’re trying to keep a stoma contained between them. The hope is that scar tissue created by the hernia repair keeps the hole from enlarging, but it doesn’t always work that way. She has offered to do the repair if I want it done anyway, but I think I’m going to wait. I will see her again next winter/spring, or sooner if I start having obstructions, in which case she may want to proceed. I hate how the hernia protrudes, but maybe that’s the least of my concerns.😕 We really like this surgeon, but my husband thinks she’s twelve. Frankly, everyone looks twelve anymore. Except us.

Laurie

RE: Using stoma paste to stop leakage. Help!

VeganOstomy — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:31:13 +0000

chelly

My stoma is not round and does not protrude.

Can you address that?

Mere

As Chelly said, you'd need to be examined by a stoma nurse to have your appliance, all the supplies you use, and the area around your stoma assessed before making a plan to address the leaks.

You mention having a non-protruding stoma, and it's good that you are using a convex appliance for that (it helps).

The Eakin ring may not even be necessary if your weight has changed enough, and that could be the reason why your setup is no longer working.

Paste can be helpful if you've got a lot of dips or creases, but I tend to be someone who much prefers to use the minimum number of supplies possible. Every new thing you add just creates another failure point.

Please, try to get in touch with a stoma nurse who can see up close what's been going on.

We have local medical supply shops who often have a stoma nurse come in every once in a while (by appointment), so if you aren't able to get one through your local hospital or clinic, that might be an option.

I have also seen tele-nurses who can assess through a video call, but I do still think that having a nurse see you in person would be best.

Good luck!

RE: What's Your Weather Like

VeganOstomy — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:24:32 +0000

We had a few "very cold in the morning, then quite warm in the afternoon" days! Yesterday was sunny and in the high teens!

Lots of joggers starting to come out, kids on bikes everywhere, dogs being walked in every direction. And the bees have started to come out! 🤗

RE: Toilet paper

VeganOstomy — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:22:09 +0000

@chelly I can completely relate! Even though I can be extremely frugal and quite eco-conscious, it pains me to see how much toilet paper is being used just to manage such a basic bodily function.

In fact, I truly believe that toilet paper should be covered, just like ostomy supplies.

Many people will use a hand sprayer or a bottle (like me) to clean the bag and minimize toilet paper use, but you still have to wipe the tail end and outlet. Some of us have to do that a dozen or more times a day. It adds up, no matter how little you use at a time.

RE: Toilet paper

alanklein — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:41:35 +0000

Toilet paper is a basic hygiene essential—soft, disposable paper used for personal cleaning after using the restroom. Choosing a good quality, septic-safe option helps with comfort and hygiene, and eco-friendly versions are also becoming popular.