Pouch Life

Five reasons I love my ostomy

Jeanne Dagna recounts a life-saving operation and explains why she is so grateful to have a permanent stoma

Bold, beautiful and making moves

Jearlean Taylor draws on her career as a model and motivational speaker to help women radiate confidence and make a difference

Surviving lockdown with the #IBDWarriorPrincess

Amy R recalls what she learned living through the coronavirus lockdown with an ileostomy, and how she dealt with the challenges of mental health and stoma care

Back on my bike: cycling with a stoma

Matt Tooke cycles through what it takes to enjoy sport, exercise and the great outdoors when you have an ostomy

Good friends, good fishing: outdoors and active with a stoma

Frank Prokop recalls how friendship and a love of fishing helped him through cancer treatment and gave him an active, outdoors life with a permanent colostomy

Prescription problems: NHS formularies and their effect on ostomates

Nathan Wheeler shares how NHS cost-saving restrictions affected his stoma care prescription and how he makes sure he gets all the stoma products he needs

Sex after surgery: getting intimate when you have an ostomy

Shelley Lawes discusses the role of open communication and body confidence in fulfilling sexual relationships for people with a stoma

My stoma-friendly wedding

Gemma Evans describes how she made her marriage ceremony inclusive for people with an ostomy or inflammatory bowel disease

Ostomy online: loving yourself

Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford reports from the online stoma community on the value of self-care for achieving self-confidence

Parenting with an ostomy

Luciana Podschun recalls the highs and lows of raising two sons while living with inflammatory bowel disease and an ostomy

Splashing out: swimming with a stoma

Alannah-Jayne Simpson recounts her experience of getting back into the pool after ostomy surgery

Back in the driver’s seat: returning to work after surgery

Keith Thomas recalls how his stoma has allowed him to do the job he loves