You Might Be WRONG If You Think THIS |  

We're taking care of my disabled MIL who got a colostomy due to colon cancer . Doctors and nurses have not been much help, we've even had to walk nurses through changing her bag when she's in the hospital. You have saved us!!! We've learned so much from you and we're able to take better care of her. Thank you so much!!!

My doctor said most people give up on life with stomas. Told me I've got 5-10 years with a colostomy to live. 8 years in, sober for over 2 years. Actually helps in my car camping with a tent and 2 dogs. Thank you for the video

Everything I know about my ostomy care, I learned from you. Not a single session while in the hospital after my emergency surgery. I had to figure things out myself - and then I found your channel! Thank you so much for educating me!

Thanks for all the work you do educating people about ostomies! I'll be celebrating my 20 year stomaversary later this year!

I used to have ulcerative colitis. Two months ago, I had my surgery. You have helped so much. Your honesty and ability to talk about anything has been a huge help and support. Thank you.

I just want to Thank You again, Maggie! I'm on day 12, in the hospital still, with my new ostomy and you are a God send! I HAD Stage 4 colon cancer + the radiation is why I needed the stoma. Was diagnosed the day before Thanksgiving 2022. As far as they can tell, they're pretty sure the cancer is gone...waiting for 1 test result still but I have complete Faith I'm cancer free now. Which I still don't understand because I thought I had a death sentence. I'm just so grateful. I'm in pain + miserable...but happy + relieved. You have become my new bestie here on RU-vid. Thank You for your honesty, sharing your experiences + making this channel. You are beautiful + Im sending love + light to you ✌️💙

I'm 61 years old. I've had my ileostomy since September 2020 because of ulcerative colitis. Having my stoma has given me my life back. Love your channel. I've been watching you since I started this journey. You've been a great help!

New temporary, hopefully, ostomy. I have been lurking here about a year. Thank you so much for your information and positivity. You have made a difference for the better for me.

My grandmother had a bowel obstruction at age 93. As a result she ended up with a stoma. I use to change her bag. She was too old & frail. The CNA’s at the care facility would neglect her colostomy bag & not change it when it was full. I would drop by after work every night before heading home to make sure she was clean. It wasn’t pleasant but I considered myself privileged to care for her during end of life.

I have my ileostomy a and I am currently using Hollister bags I have developed an allergy to the adhesive that Hollister uses, I have been in constant communications with my Ostomy Nurse. As Friday 15 Feb 2024 my ostomy nurse has casted a mold of my stoma to send to Nu-Hope so that I can try those products. My ostomy was also done under emergency surgery and it has saved my life. I am steal dealing with having an ostomy due to my initial surgery my surgeon told me he could fix me and gave me a 90% chance of not having it well all went sideways and here I am today. You have been a god send seeing how comfortable you are and seeing that Im not alone in this journey. Thanks for doing what you do.

Thanks Maggie. I am not a stoma person nor know anyone who is. I just enjoy learning and seeing your videos. Cheers

Thank you Maggie for your transparency whilst educating people about ostomies and IBDs. I feel like even after having an ostomy going on 5 years now, there is always something to learn about managing my ostomy. I appreciate you and your channel very much Maggie!! Thank you 🤗

My colostomy allowed me to heal from a colon cancer surgery that went ‘bad’… I got peritonitis. My stoma helped me heal from that problem. Yep, close to ‘death’s door’, I know that experience with the peritonitis. My stoma helped me live…putting it bluntly.

Mornings with Maggie! This 68-year-old newbie reads your new vlogs first thing each morning. I am learning so much. I have a beautiful and intelligent (like you) daughter your age. Thank you so much! Hugs! ❤

I love how you use this as a great opportunity to teach us! So glad your doing this ❤❤

I've been reading some of the comments on this video. I think it is lovely that you are helping so many people with the information you share in your videos and that you show people that they can live a full life with an ostomy. Well done for being brave enough to 'bare it all' in order to help others :)

I had colorectal cancer in 2018 and had a temporary ileostomy,had a reversal,then developed a fistula and that made me end up with a permanent colostomy. Then developed another fistula as well as an abscess in my pelvic area so I got to have my Barbie butt surgery this last September. Still healing. Still looking at more surgeries All of this is from radiation damage. But I’m thankful I’m still no evidence of disease. I enjoy watching you telling your experiences.

Thanks for your videos..I’ve had my ileostomy for 11 years now ..after suffering from Crohn’s disease for 30 years..and though I was nervous at first, it gave me my life back too. It’s amazing how we..and our bodies..can adapt to change..supportive family..friends and partners make all the difference..gave me my life back❤

It's mind blowing how similar our stories are, got sick at 17 but I had a real bad time for a decade ish and had surgery in my late 20s in a life n death situation as well! I had my period very irregularly and my weight was always something I've had to try n keep it on which has been a big old pain in the butt no pun intended lol! So I never had kids between the weight thing and irregular periods and then at 39 I found out I was post menopausal so kids just weren't in the book for me, I do have lots of nieces n nephews that I adore so don't feel like I'm missing out too badly but would have happy to have the choice but not in the cards so..... thank you Maggie not only do you keep me/us informed on new products n everything but you always make me smile! Hugs from the cold assed north!!!!!

You preached today ❤. I’ve heard em all lol. I actually give M9 to friends and family because I discovered that a few drops in the toilet works just as well for non-ostomates. Nurses at my local hospital have it on their desk up front and I once asked why? The nurse told me that those who smoke put it in spray bottles and use it to spray in the air around them before returning inside. She said that it works well.

My hubby just turned 45 and a month later was in the hospital for emergency surgery. Stage 4 colon cancer. I appreciate you and your channel, you are teaching me SO MUCH and that is helping me help HIM! Thank you ❤

You make the information you impart easily digested! I too had life saving emergency surgery. Mine was a colostomy. I was 74, and it was because of extensive diverticuloses that got infected and became 'itis'. Here it is a year and a half later and as a lot of ostomates say: This has given me my life....'back'. Your approach is incredibly honest and helpful to a lot of your fellows. I hope you enjoy a long, and happy life.

Thank you so much for this. I suffer from LARS due to bowel cancer surgery. I am booked in for an ostomy later this year.

I have intestinal problems that could progress to an ostomy. You make me a little less anxious showing that its not the end of the world.

I am so thankful you have made so many amazing videos. My mother had emergency surgery performed a little over a year ago for a perforated bowel and severe infection in her body, and ended up with an ostomy and your videos are so helpful! She is still learning all the ropes and how to deal with leaks etc, but as a family we will do our best to help her conquer any and all challenges she faces ☺️.

I was born 3 mm months early and had intestinal disease twice. It caused a narrowing in my bowels, but I was too small for an ostomy. I am thankful that I did not have too many issues as I got older, so I did not ever get one. Love your content!

I had a temporary ileostomy - I had an infection from diverticulitis and had a portion of my colon removed. During healing I had the ileostomy which I was able to have reversed about 4 month after surgery. I know it can be a very scary situation for many people - but it is manageable whether permanent or temp. Thanks for the great info you provide!

150,000 followers! 🎉 Congrats!

Hi Maggie, I have had "Lucy" for almost 4 years now. I have learned so much from watching your channel. Keep up the good work. By the way I just finished reading the Winter Garden. What a great book !

Thanks for letting people know how much you this improve’s there live’s , l have had one for 28 years. I would not be here with out it. When I first got it no one talk about it , l felt so alone. Thanks for all your help. Love ❤️

My Dad had an illiostomy before passing with lung cancer. My youngest Brother has an Illiostomy as an emergency, for 4 years. His case has been quite unusual and he still experiences complications. Thanks for sharing your experience. It helps us all to be sensitive to, and supportive of loved ones

Great explanation! I swear you should give a Ted Talk.

Your videos are so informative! I didn’t know much about any of this before I found your channel, and your info is very easy to understand! It’s a bit of a relief, as I’m going through some abdominal issues and fighting the battle of doctors and appointments. It’s a relief to know I’m not alone in the pain and struggle of the GI world right now.

Thank you so much for your videos! I have had my ileostomy for 3 years due to colon cancer. Your tips are so helpful and still learn from your channel. You are right, it is scary to see younger people with colon cancer. Good job on videos! So informative

I've got the "flat stoma", had it operated on in 2019 and 2yrs later its flat again, now have to dilate it every few days to keep it open plus need to watch what I eat, no nuts, skins or currants as they may not pass through.very informative channel,keep it up.

It's crazy to me that there are still people who think someone can be too young for a chronic illness. Unfortunately I've had to experience it myself and I think it's a little ignorant to say to someone's face.

So I'm just sharing because I thought you might find it interesting although it's odd. We got our second French bulldog puppy and he had severe diarrhea, which led to rectal prolapse. At first he would strain and strain, prolapse would happen, but by the time I got him to the vet it would correct and they would tell me everything looks fine. Didn't seem right to me because I was seeing it at its worst but naturally you assume they know best. Finally after months of this he prolapsed badly, it was not correcting, I was freaking out bc now inches were hanging out, it was bloody and smelled awful, he wouldn't be still (which made me terrified he'd hurt himself) so I called my vet (the same one who'd been playing everything down for month n months) and they said sorry, there's no surgeon here, go to emergency vet. So I rush there with this poor puppy wrapped in a towel on my lap and they have me waiting until I started to cry and said please help me, I can't keep him still! Finally a kind vet tech said he would take him and get him stabilized. Now, when I got called in they were not very kind at first asking why did I let it get to this point, why didn't I see a specialist? I had to explain I'd taken him to my reg vet many times and was mostly brushed off. First they tried to essentially stitch his rectum to hold it in (didn't work even a little. We took him home and he just strained and strained until it came out again)... second time I rush to ER vet now they are concerned about necrotic tissue and say they'll have to remove part of his colon. After that surgery we finally bring him home again but he's constantly dripping blood and mucus, always straining... it was awful so we brought him back. After tons more expensive tests the vet found lots of strictures and said he could go in yet again to repair them but there was no guarentee. Did that, vet said he repaired almost all but there was one stricture he couldn't reach without breaking the dogs pelvis so we would just have to hope it was good enough. It wasn't. Trying not to make this more of a novel but we tried everything until the vet said at this point if he were a human he would need a colonostomy bag which is unfortunately not an option for dogs. We had to put him to sleep. Now obviously I'm not comparing you to a dog lol but watching your videos I was struck by similarities and how much more I understood some of what happened to that puppy (which I'm sure is NOT your goal, but hey, I found it fascinating and no one made me understand the way you have and its nice to finally really grasp it and also super interesting that those similarities exist between pets and humans right??) Pretty amazing. And I don't know I just thought I'd share that thats probably the weirdest reason anyone became interested in your channel lol. Thanks!

Thank you so much for your videos. I have had UC for over a decade, and am sick of failing meds. Seriously considering surgery. I only get 30 mins with my specialist every few months, and it's not enough time to understand the ins and outs of it all. You have helped me so much to understand what I may be in for 🙏

You have help me more than all of my Drs including 2 surgeons.. Going into my 3rd week colostomy & I was not doing good,netvous,living alone & felt hopeless.. Thank you so much.Waiting on my products to be deliverd for flanges & bags ...I get worried about products having very little money but somehow I'll get thru it too.. Love Light,Peace..GodBless❤

I’ve been watching you since your college days and now I have a boyfriend with a stoma it is cool to have previous knowledge of them because of you

Thank You Maggie, I've been following your videos for about two years, came across your content in 2022 after my bladder was removed and wound up getting a urostomy,the nurse's in the hosp.really didn't teach me anything involving my tranfer to a bag, except how to put it on and take it off,and keeping it clean fre bacteria.Maggie you tought me everything I needed to know.I want to thank you again for all of the valuable information you gave us.take care and God Bless.🙏

Been watching for years, and I’m gonna be so prepared if I ever get a ostomy/stoma. I come for all of your content IBS related or not ❤ love you!!!

You are a breath of fresh air and sunshine. Keep up the videos as you are truly an inspiration to so many. I am watching simply to understand and educate myself but your spirit shines through every video and is a lesson to anyone struggling with any issue. Bravo!!!!

i don’t have an ostomy but am really interested in being educated in this subject. thank you so much for sharing your journey.

I’ve had mine without major issues since I was 21, due to UC. Some partial blockages. Also have two children.

I know ileostomy. My uncle has Crohn’s. He got to 90 lbs at 18. He was a skeleton. His stoma saved his life. He is now 60.

My close friend had chrones, they started taking his intestines out when he was 14 after a local corporation was dumping toxic waste into the locals well water. They got him hooked on opiates at the same time. Around the age of 40 his Dr's told him he was out of options and would need a bag. He killed himself not very long afterwards. I don't blame him, he had been through so much medical hell already. I wonder if he would have felt any different if he had seen your channel.

I've had a MACE/appendicostomy since I was 3. I have Spina Bifida. I had to have multiple revisions as a small child and mine use to hurt me terribly. I'm in my 20's now and I'm just use to it at this point.

Not sure why you came up in my feed but I think I was looking for Perianal biopsy procedures. I was hooked when I heard Philly. Born and raised in Philadelphia Fishtown then Olde Richmond. I think your videos are probably helping thousands of people. I started binge watching last week when I was down with a kicker head cold. Keep helping people with your videos you are doing an amazing job.

I have Spina Bifida and it’s looking like I will have to get a colostomy in the near future. I’m also young to have a stoma which is so scary, because I know it’s a decision I’ll live with for the rest of my life, but these videos are insanely helpful with the fear and anxiety I have about it!

Thank you! Living with a permanent ostomy. I am so excited to try the close I am the same as you constant leaks. All my output is liquid and I’m getting very dehydrated.. thanks for not letting me feel so alone.

Thank you for your interesting videos on this subject ❤ In August 1968, I had our 2nd baby. Exactly one month later we buried him😢 He was born with Herschsprungs disease (in his case, no nerves to his bowel) Had Steven lived, he would have had a stoma for the rest of his life. My brother had a stoma in his 60s, and one of his sons has had a stoma quite a few years now, with no option for a reversal. Both needed a stoma for different reasons. Our son born after Steven, at 29 years old, had an emergency major operation and surgeons successfully prevented the need for a stoma.

One of your most useful vids. Thank you so much, Beauty!

Thank you. Your positivity is inspiring ❤

Really enjoy your videos, you keep it real. I have a nephrostomy, have had it for over a year. It is/was supposed to be temporary. I’m still waiting to have my ureter reconstructed. Cheers

I got my colonoscopy in November. My surgeon said it can be reversed where hopping in April.

I suffer from endometriosis, and I've heard several cases of women suffering from this desease which end with and stoma, too, because they have their intestines affected. Me myself had a nephrostomy for four months, because endo affected my ureter. Luckily it was temporary, but it's important to raise awareness.

You have such a beautiful spirit!! ❤

Good girl, sharing and caring to share your story so others can learn and thrive!!!

Thank you for sharing with us and take care. Very informative.

Well done❤❤❤❤ thank you! You’re a brilliant Beauty!

I know it's not the same, but my boyfriend has 3 severe pilonidal cysts in his butt crack and chronic constipation, which doesn't help. He had surgery to fix it 3 years ago but they popped back up and got pretty infected. He had a second surgery about 7 months ago and he's been having a hard time with the recovery. He's scheduled for a third surgery next month because it doesn't seem to be healing. He's been off of work. He had to pause his schooling. If you are comfortable with it, I would love to know about you recovery process and maybe some of the things that helped you. The things people don't think about. How to "sit"? How to sleep? How to walk? What did you do during that time? We take out butts and guts for granted and we don't talk honestly about them enough. I love your content! Have a lovely day! ❤

I have a sci with loss of use and control of my bowels. I got a stoma 6 yrs ago for the Bowles and a stoma for the other.

Another fantastic video. Thank you.

Thanks for always sharing your knowledge snd give us soo much information you have been so much help

I had had UC for over 25 years when I got my colon cancer in 2022. Then the entire colon was removed and I had a stoma. The doctors recommended a pelvic reservoir but I felt free for the first time in my life and a pelvic reservoir would take me back to a life on the toilet. I am now 39 years old and when I got my ostomy I was able to do things for the first time without thinking about where the toilet was as my UC was extremely active all the time. Like constantly having relapses. A liver disease accelerates and creates cancer in my body and now 2.5 weeks ago they operated on a rectal amputation. Now I'm faced with the choice of whether to keep my stoma or let them operate on a Kocks reservoir, which for those of you who don't know is like a stoma bag in the stomach that you empty with a tube. I don't know what to do but I asked the stoma nurse why is no one talking about keeping the stoma. She answered because unfortunately the doctors don't think that anyone wants to live with a stoma and therefore they recommend other options such as a pelvic reservoir or a Kocks reservoir. The stoma allowed me to live for the first time in my life. And it also saved my life.

Sorry that you have to go through this ❤ You handle it well it seems and have a great husband

Hey Maggie! I am having a proctocolectomy on the 21st and have some question. I have heard from 2 different creators that when their loop stomas were converted to end stomas they saw improvement in dehydration, had less instances of high output days, and were able to start gaining weight, had more energy, etc. I know you never had a loop stoma but wonder if you might speak to insight on how your body responded to your diseased colon being gone and maybe see if anyone watching may have had a loop stoma at one time and can comment about that aspect. I am so hopeful!!!

I had a ostomy last March , best thing ever. Stoma is the way to go

I was 74 pounds and no period...after ileostomy i also ate like crazy all the time!

Question: probably a crazy one. How well do the various types of wafers adhere when you get hot and sweaty? And how what do you use product wise if they dont? (I dont have an ostomy but am a 50 y/o female with hot flashes and i cant imagine trying to get anything to stick anywhere for very lonh)

Thank you for sharing your story.

Important video AND your earrings are super cute!

This was fascinating! Thank you for this video!

I was 16 when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and 19 when I had my. Ileostomy surgery, also emergency like you

Great video Maggie!! Your videos have been a big big help!! My wife has an ileostomy (her 2nd one) and has recently developed a bad rash (fungal) around the border and slightly under the bandaid area of the appliance. She was wondering the best way to dry the area around the mount and the back of the bag to help prevent the fungal issues? ( She is currently taking medication for the fungal problem with powder to help the irritation.)

Maggie, please tell-what deodorant drops do you put into the bag? Mostly ppl say that those don’t work so please tell us which ones you use. Thank you!

Do stomas cause pain? I’m dealing with gastroparesis and am 77lbs and dropping. It’s getting scary and I’ll be having a Gtube again which is so depressing to me. My illness has no cure so there’s a lot of surgeries I have to go through. I was diagnosed in 2020 if I can remember. Thank you for sharing this video because it has given me hope with my situation. I have IBSC so I’m constipated all the time. I get lucky if I can have have a bowel movement once a week…again if I’m lucky! I had a colonoscopy and woke up during it so I kept trying to get off the table🙈. I just found your page and I love learning about stomas and ostomys

I got my stoma and ileostomy when my bladder removal (due to cancer) had complications. Now, my output is huge and i have tons of problems with my skin because of the adhesive used. My skin reacts to it like an allergy. It gives me horrific rash type reaction and pain. I still havent been able to leave the hospital yet because of it.

I had a colostomy bag due to diverticulitis

Thanks for all of the information. I am considering an ileostomy. My colon was removed due to a neurological condition the killed the nerves and motility of my colon. Unfortunately the surgery did not remove all of the nerve damaged colon and motility is still a struggle. Wondered if insurance covers any of the ostomy supplies?

My daughter got hers at 6.5 years old due to neurogenic bowels/tight tone in her rectum so mace wouldn’t work due to still needing rectal stimulation

I have a conduit i sometimes worry about how bad the pee smells it makes me feel good about not being in bed all day

Good information mam Thanks I am from Gujarat porbandar My younger sister is also this problem from last 15 years india

Where does the mucus go. It would build up?

So was I. They gave me 6 hours to live

You are such a wonderful person and you make so nice and useful videos. Thank you very much from India ( Delhi). But i would like to know you had Crohn's or you had Ulcerative Colitis. As Crohn's mostly affects the small intestine , namely terminal ileum and early part of colon. Rectum is generally spared so a J or S pouch may be possible. I had UC and developed adenocarcinoma. Had Total colectomy with J pouch and Ileostomy ( 6 months back). I am ok but not gaining weight at all. I will have reversal after 3 months

I have a strange question, just out of curiosity. Passing gas, with an anus one tries to control that in public due to noise it can make. With an ostomy, does that not happen (no noise when gas passes) or does it, but with it not being controllable?

What is the best deodorant you have tried. I just made a first order of Coloplast brava. I've heard the m9 works best. I'm worried about blue leak stains but willing to try anything. I lost 100% of my sense of smell and hubby doesn't have the best nose lol. Do you already have a video on those?

R U using Hollister ostomies or is it a different brand I remember you mentioning using Hollister ones

I can barely eat vomit up blood accidents etc

Believe diet also affects ostomy odor.

Hello sister God bless you 🥺

it's so hard to get checked the younger you are, it's frustrating

Yer the best, thank you

4:01 “I hope you heal soon and can reverse your ileostomy soon!” Yeah, look. This ileostomy IS the solution!

You go girl

Hi Nagy. I have illyostomy too So do you have a small hole on oposide right in line with your bag??

I have a temporary Eliostomy so I am waiting for my reversal Some days I feel a sunburn kind of pain in the area of the bag I’m wondering if it is the adhesive of the flange ? But then sometimes that feeling is in a different area of my stomach by my incision. Is it maybe just the nerves healing or is it the Eliostomy bag ? It’s almost like a pulling feeling but when I take my bag off there isn’t any redness where this discomfort is coming from ?

I have a rather large hernia above the stoma (I have a sigmoid colostomy after removal of rectum) - is there any benefit from using a hernia belt? If so, which brand is best - I see coloplast has one that I could get,