Watch this

[Jimbob]

If you have about twenty minutes watch this you tube link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... aR3XAyNzo4

[To Dream a Dream]

Thank you, Jimbob! What a spirit lifter! As many of our members have guessed, I am from the dark ages of medical care and now & again I truly appreciate being reminded "that was then. This is now." The optimism & resilience of today's people who openly address their ostomies & the reasons they were performed never ceases to inspire & encourage me. Thanks again, Jimbob, and for all you do for our board and the UOAA!

[Diane C]

Quite uplifting! A wonderful couple and glad they found one another. I just LIKED their FB page. It's super that they met at a support group and can keep helping one another.

He's correct that it takes longer to heal (usually) when you are older. He's only 39! I turned 68 on 10/6 -- the day after Ostomy Awareness Day! We've Barbie butts in common... and yep, that surgery has taken a while to heal. I was told to add Desitin or another cream back there as it feels so tight and dry and the skin is thin. One day at a time.

Thanks for the video!

Diane C

[ron in mich.]

Hi all I just tried to watch the video but it triggered a ptsd moment, the part about his resection surgery. I had surgery last year and dealing with doctors and nurses that don't listen to a patients concern until bad things happen, I,ve had my ileo. for 30 some years and know my body but they paid no attn. to what I had to say and like I said bad things happened.

[To Dream a Dream]

Ron: Am so sorry & believe me I can empathize with you having had the initial ostomy surgery back in 1977. The medical field continues to change very rapidly & I feel I must be reoriented constantly. Yes, I also have had those PSTD moments, but not the vivid nightmares I had experienced for over 20 years after one particularly bad operation. For me, the UOAA with its positivity in promoting advocacy for patients, The Phoenix magazine & this Discussion Board have enabled me to refocus when necessary. Especially in reducing feelings of isolation & despair.

You have always been an active contributor to the Discussion Board & I am sure have helped many of us along the way. I think the best way for our voices to be heard is in keeping up with UOAA news & current info. I had an appointment just this past week with a new GI nurse practitioner. After considerable hesitation, I decided to take some of our UOAA handouts with me. Once I was comfortable with her, I presented the material & she was very interested in the work of the UOAA. Unfortunately, most of the medical personnel out there (hampered by increased time limits with their patients) simply have not had the opportunity to connect in today's society dominated by prescribed apps & algorithms.

Hoping that time & the comfort of your family & friends will help you to overcome the memories that catastrophic surgery often does produce.