Welcome to the first edition of our new ostomy lifestyle magazine, Stoma Tips. Since the idea was floated in 2017, we at Stomawise have been working with the team behind the journals Gastrointestinal Nursing and the British Journal of Nursing to make it a reality. We hope you find it full of practical information and inspiring stories to help you live with comfort and confidence.
Stoma Tips is made up of four sections. Ostomy Essentials provides clear and frank guides to the ins and outs of a stoma, written by stoma nurses and based on the latest evidence, but without too much clinical jargon. Gut Together is a space for charities and companies to share the work they have been doing to make life easier for people with a stoma. The other sections are written by ostomates like you and me. Pouch Life provides smart solutions to living your best life—whether it’s holidaying, partying or simply relaxing at home—without your stoma getting in the way. Meanwhile, Stoma Stories recounts the highs and lows of living with an ostomy.
We hope this will be a place for ostomates to share stories of things that have made them laugh and smile, as well as more challenging moments. Whether you’ve been on an adventure or simply want to share your daily routine, we want to encourage people to open up about their stoma and break down the taboos. Send your hints, your stories and your photographs to stomatips@markallengroup.com. Even if you just want to share an opinion, we would love to hear what you think and what you would like to see in future issues.
For Stoma Tips to be a success, we need your help! The best advice and support comes from people with shared experiences, and we hope to draw on the community’s ideas and perspectives. We want to reach people of all ages and backgrounds, and we hope to show people who’ve just had surgery—who may feel down and lost—how they can live a life that’s as active, social and independent as before.
We plan to publish Stoma Tips twice a year, in spring and autumn (let us know if you have ideas for seasonal articles). Stoma Tips is free for all ostomates. You can ask your stoma nurse for a physical copy, or we can post each issue to your address if you subscribe directly from www.stomatips.com, where the magazine will also be available online.
John Walsh is the founder of Stomawise, the support network for anybody with ostomy surgery
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