Author: Lee Hawkins

When And Why Does Diversion Colitis Occur

Lee Hawkins

Diversion colitis is also known as diversion proctitis. Diversion colitis usually occurs after an individual has experienced ileostomy or colostomy surgery and part of the large intestines have been salvaged. Diversion colitis is when the large intestine has inflammation and if the rectum is inflamed, it is referred to as diversion proctitis. Diversion colitis also occurs in individuals who suffer from inflammatory bowel syndrome. Diversion colitis occurs more frequently with individuals who have inflammatory bowel syndrome than with individuals who have had colostomy or ileostomy surgery. When people experience diversion colitis, there may be symptoms, but in most cases, there are no symptoms present. 

The Causes And Risk Factors Of Diversion Colitis 

No one in the medical community, including doctors, can explain precisely why diversion colitis occurs. Doctors know that it happens when part of the large intestine is left in place due to an ostomy. Doctors have come up with a theory about diversion colitis and its cause. They state that it occurs because a part of the large intestine is left in place, but it is not being used to create and process stool. So basically, the lack of usage of the large intestine that is left in place after an ileostomy or colostomy is put in place is the most likely reason why diversion colitis occurs. 

Most people at risk of developing diversion colitis are again, as stated previously in the article, who have had ostomy surgery. People who also experience irritable bowel syndrome, have diverticular disease and have had colorectal cancer can also develop diversion colitis. People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome develop the disease the most out of all the people at risk of developing the disease. When it comes to individuals who have ostomy surgeries, the research is not pinpoint accurate on the amount at risk of developing diversion colitis. The studies that have been done show that between 70 to 100% of patients will develop diversion colitis. Looking at these percentages, it is clear that this is a very broad range and this is why it is difficult for doctors to determine how many ostomy patients are genuinely at risk.

The Symptoms And Treatment Of Diversion Colitis 

In many cases, a patient who experiences diversion colitis has no signs and symptoms. The main reason why is that inflammation of the colon is not something that an individual can feel. If symptoms of diversion colitis occur,—it is usually abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, an urgent need to empty the bowels, and rectal discharge. There are two ways that diversion colitis can be detected or diagnosed. The first way is through a white blood cell count test and the second way is by endoscopy. 

The best treatment for diversion colitis is for the ostomy to be reversed and this procedure is known as a take down. A take-down procedure is when the ostomy is reversed and the large intestine is reconnected and begins to function as expected. A take down is done when whatever underline disease such as cancer or ulcerative colitis has been effectively treated. Short-chain fatty acid enemas are an excellent way to treat diversion colitis. These enemas have to be administered or taken by the individual twice a day. Another enema that can be taken twice daily and is effective in treating diversion colitis is glutamine enemas and they are also called butyrate enemas. 

What Can You Wear With Your Ostomy Pouch

Lee Hawkins

I hear a lot of people worry about what types of clothes they can wear with an ostomy pouch. Some people are under the impression that they will no longer be able to fit into their entire wardrobe once they get an ostomy and have to wear a pouch on their stoma. Today, I wanted to write this article to talk about how you can still be fashionable and look like a normal human being even if you have a stoma. The thing about wearing an ostomy pouch is that it is not a death sentence; you can actually appear normal to most people even if you have to wear an ostomy pouch. Most people with ostomies often get concerned about finding the right types of clothes to wear that appear fashionable yet still do a good job at hiding their disgusting looking ostomy pouches. Well, I am here today to talk about different ways in which you can dress fashionably and wear an ostomy pouch at the same exact time. Life does not have to be completely grim once you have crossed over into the world of stomas; in fact, some people with ostomies do completely normal things like everybody else everyday. I bet that there are a lot more people around you in your life that wear ostomy pouches than you actually think.

The first thing to know about dressing with an ostomy pouch is that you do not actually have to throw away all your old clothes. I have seen it too many times where people who just get ostomies get all worried about how none of their clothes are going to fit anymore, so they just decide to throw everything away or give it to a thrift store or something. This is actually one of the biggest mistakes you can make because you don’t actually need to throw away any of your clothes. I am going to give you a few tips and tricks about dressing fashionably while wearing an ostomy pouch, so there is no need to feel bad about yourself anymore.

If you are like I used to be, then you are probably pretty insecure about wearing your ostomy pouch out in public. I used to be very afraid that people would notice I was wearing an ostomy pouch and think badly of me or ostracize me. Though nowadays I simply do not care what other people think about my ostomy pouch, I can understand that anyone who has recently gotten an ostomy most likely does not share that sentiment with me. So the number one rule for when it comes to wearing an ostomy pouch is that you should always keep that thing close to your body if you do not want anybody to see it or notice it. There are definitely products available for just that purpose; like I have mentioned before in previous articles, there are a variety of ostomy belts and wraps available for people who want to keep their pouch closer to your body.

By wearing those belts or wraps, it becomes a lot easier to hide your ostomy pouch underneath your clothes. You can also wear spandex or tight underwear underneath your clothes to hide your ostomy pouch, since it will keep the pouch tighter to your body.

A Guide to Choosing the Right Ostomy Bag

Lee Hawkins

If you recently had surgery and now require using an ostomy bag, the world out there is seriously confusing and complicated. The intent of this article is to help you find your way out of the confusion and to get you to a place where your concerns are lessened and your medical needs handled well.

When your medical situation changes drastically and you need to use an ostomy bag, you likely have had major and often lifesaving surgery. An ostomy is a surgical hole that allows stool, urine, or both, to leave your body through your abdomen. This will likely leave you something called a stoma. A stoma is the piece of your ureter, small or large bowel that sticks out through your skin. The stoma needs to be connected to an outside-the-body pouch for drainage. The result of this procedure is that the patient will need an ostomy bag to collect the waste excreted from the body. The bag will collect this urinary or digestive waste.

Ostomy bags collect this waste from the stoma and it gets deposited right into the bag with no effort from the patient. These bags are worn outside the patient’s body and can be hidden well by every day clothes.

The important question then is, which bag among the many available, is the right one for you? The answer to this question varies and depends on both personal preference and the extent of your surgery.

The terms generally used to call these various bags are technical and confusing. An attempt to clarify the names of the bags and what they do follows, for your convenience and edification. 

Flat Ostomy Bags

These bags are flat in nature. They have an adhesive backing which helps to keep the ostomy bag in a secure position. For the patient, this helps to hold the bag more discreetly because the bag is held tight to the actual body.

Convex Ostomy Bags

These bags may stick further out from the patient’s body but they help the patient adjust to various deformities of the body. These may include skin wrinkles, surgical scars and the variety of shapes of the stoma of each patient. 

Drainable Ostomy Bags

A bag with a drain lets you empty all that is inside of the bag and then reuse it. For patients who lead a more active life, this type of ostomy bag has more accessibility. 

Pre-Cut Ostomy Bags

These bags have openings that are pre-made to one size. They are not measured to your specific size of your particular and unique stoma. This kind of bag may work for some but they put the patients at risk for leaks.

Cut-to-Fit Ostomy Bags

In order to significantly reduce leakage, many patients prefer a cut-to-fit ostomy bag. This can be a safer option to avoid leakage. This bag is specifically unique to the patient and the size and shape of the stoma. It is also a more comfortably fitting bag, due to its custom creation. Another benefit is that this bag significantly reduces skin irritation.

Close-End Ostomy Bags

These bags are made for a one-time only use and get thrown away after use. Close end bags need to be carefully discarded so that no leakage or infection occurs. 

Whichever bag you use, you should consult a medical professional regarding your own case.

Trying To Hide Your Ostomy Pouch In Public?

Lee Hawkins

If you have had an ostomy at any point in your life, then you have successfully joined a group of people that have holes coming out of their body and funneling bodily waste into medical pouches. That’s right, the world of ostomy is a lot grosser than what people think. In addition to this, there are actually more people with stomas than you may think. It is completely possible to hide your ostomy pouch in public, and you may be surprised to hear that people do it all the time. Especially if you come into contact with someone who is embarrassed about the fact that they have an ostomy pouch, there is actually a really good chance that you won’t even notice the fact that they have an ostomy pouch. With the way the medical industry has evolved over the last decade or so, it is really insane what people are able to do. I mean, how crazy is it that you can reroute someone’s intestines to produce waste out the side of their abdomen? That procedure would basically be viewed as black magic 200 years ago. Anyways, with the advanced medical supplies and ostomy gear that is available on today’s market, it is actually fairly easy to hide an ostomy pouch and appear to be a completely normal human being to people passing by in your everyday life.

One of the most common ways to hide an ostomy pouch is underneath clothing. Since you are most likely going to be wearing clothing wherever you go (but hey, if you don’t, I don’t judge), it makes sense that this would be the easiest and most convenient way to go about hiding your ostomy pouch. If you ask anyone with an ostomy pouch about the best type of clothes to use to hide the pouch, most people would confirm that the most efficient way is to use some tight underclothes paired with some loose fitting clothing overtop. What do I mean by this? Well, wearing some tight underwear, spandex, or yoga pants will help tuck your ostomy bag into place and keep it more form fitting against your body.

Obviously, you do not want to go with something that is too tight, because then you will have problems with your ostomy pouch leaking or your skin barrier becoming agitated. If at all possible, wearing tight clothes underneath will definitely help your ostomy pouch be less pronounced out from your body. What makes this concept even better is if you wear loose fitting clothing over top. Then, not only do you have tight clothes holding your ostomy pouch close against your body, the loose clothes over top will also aid in making the ostomy bag basically undetectable.

This can be a really convenient way to hide your ostomy pouch if you do not want people to notice that you have one. Personally, I would hate for anyone to notice that I have an ostomy pouch. That would be super embarrassing and make me feel awful about myself. Another thing that people with ostomy pouches like to do is wear an unsealable ostomy pouch that allows for quick releases of gas. If you have a lot of gas buildup in your ostomy pouch, the bag will bulge and become more noticeable. Hope this helps!

Learning to conceal your ostomy bag

Lee Hawkins

Times are changing and so is my own fashion.  Now most of us are living life a little bit differently than normal.  The pandemic has really worked a number on who we are allowed to be and I think that now more than ever hiding your medical issues is important. The majority of us are now staying at home due to local state-mandated stay at home laws.  We are getting outside less frequently but many states do allow individuals to go outside for exercise and to visit parks.  I myself try to visit a local park at the very least once a week.  When you go out and it is now a really big deal to go out, everyone wants to look their best.  In this case, if you are going to a local park then you will most likely be a little more active than your normal routine of staying at home or working from home.  So in order to keep your ostomy supplies on your body safe, you want to dress well and also be able to essentially hide it with your clothing.  

Now we are all allowed to think about how we want, but I am a fan of being mysterious. It is in no way needed to hide your ostomy bag.  There is literally nothing to be ashamed of or even self-conscious about. But it is nice to keep it out of sight and out of mind when you are going outside to enjoy the scenery.  The last thing you want to think about is what you are wearing.  Those thoughts are for self-conscious you in high school.  So instead just get the right clothing to keep your Ostomy gear tucked away.  I prefer to use the concealed carry way of living and follow the same steps as I would conceal my own Glock. 

A great tool you can use is a bag that has belt loops on it.  This is useful because you can get an ostomy belt that is meant to keep your bag close to your body.  I find there are many belts that are specifically designed to be comfortable and not cause any irritations with your body.  There is nothing worse than creating rashes or extra skin problems due to having an item not work well.  So I suggest trying several out to make sure they work with your body.  I have created lots of sores on my body due to being outside too long with the wrong product and that is not a very comfortable situation.  It takes my body a few weeks to heal a sore area that blistered and scabs over.  For me that is several weeks that I am not able to go outside and be as active as I would like and that is simply not acceptable.  

Don’t settle for a bad set up and make sure your gear is made of the best material.  This may mean researching on your own and even testing out multiple companies.   It is worth it to not only do this but to search social media for others doing the same thing to see their set up as well.  So go out, be safe and get the right gear for you to have fun outdoors!

Ostomy skateboarder

Lee Hawkins

As a professional skateboarder with a colostomy, life has not been that difficult as some people may think. I am glad to be a role model for the people that are like me. When I was born, I was born with an imperforate anus. I will explain what that means in a bit. As someone who is a pro skateboarder with an ostomy, there are a few obstacles I have come across, but I have managed to overcome them, and it has made me a better person for it. Due to being born how I was, I have to get a colostomy procedure when I was very young. This caused me to have to deal with a great deal of bullying. 

When I was born, I was born with a condition called the imperforate anus. This means an anal opening was not in the proper spot. In fact, I was born without one, which is also another form of this disease. Due to this, the doctors decided to operate as soon as I was born. My parent was horrified as they were just told their newborn baby would need to have surgery if I wanted to live. Due to my procedure, I had to deal with a lot of bullying as I grew up. I did not mind it that much because I just knew they were ignorant and did not know what they were talking about. I got into skateboarding when I was in the fifth grade when I met some friends who introduced me to the sport. 

As I got older, I stuck with skateboarding and got better at it, very good at it. One day at dinner with my parents and friends, they all bombarded me with the same question, why don’t I go pro? I sat there and thought about it for a minute before deciding it was worth a shot. As the years padded, I continued to skateboard and perfect all my abilities. I met with someone who could help me in my journey. He taught me about all there is to know about professional skateboarding. As he shared with me, I got more and more excited to take my first steps at becoming a professional skateboarder. 

Getting to do my first professional meet, I was ecstatic. I did my best and just had one mess up, which was due to my colostomy bag. I ended up coming in first place out of the ten people in this meet. I was so ecstatic I remember crying when I got on the podium. When I told the interviewers I had an ostomy bag, they were surprisingly supportive and proud that I was the winner. After this meet, I began getting quite a big following. I was thrilled to know I had a lot of people supporting me. As the years went on, I continued to do my best in the skateboarding meets. 

I am glad to have met those friends in the fifth grade that introduced me to skateboarding. I am also glad to have had the support of people to push me to do something they knew I loved. Having a colostomy as a skateboarder, I have not had many obstacles, but without them, I would not be the person I am today. I am glad to be a person that others like me can look up to and know that they can do anything, just like I believed I could. 

Best ways to conceal the Ostomy Appliance 

Lee Hawkins

If you’re worried people can see your ostomy pouch underneath the clothes you wear, you’re not alone. How can you hide this better? Well, concealment is a big problem for some people, and you’re not alone.  It definitely can make you feel a little bit self-conscious, but here, we’ll give you tips to better conceal that ostomy pouch of yours. 

The Styles matter 

If you’re wearing certain styles of clothes, you may have a more noticeable pouch than others. The profile and how much it “sticks out” does vary between the different systems, and your clothes too. As a general rule, a two piece system does stick out a lot more than one piece due to the coupling that’s sed there. The different couplings also do usually have a higher profile, but there are ones that have a lower profile. 

Adhesive coupling systems, New image, and ConvaTec Estem Synergy tend to stick out a lot less. There are some that also are being developed too, but you may want to discuss whether or not you should switch to something different with your ET so you don’t’ mess anything else. 

Clothing Plays a Part 

Sometimes, people feel a little bit self-conscious, feeling like they have to only wear pleated skirts, pants, loose dresses and bulky clothes to hide this. However, that’s not what you’re limited to. Sometimes patterned shirts and tops that are tucked into the pants or skirt that you wear does help. Patterns in general with a solid colored top also may work too. If it’s above where your beltline is, try to go for pattered tops. For below your beltline, go with patterned bottoms. 

Darker colors “hide” this better than lighter, and you may want to have a darker wardrobe. For men, getting higher or lower pants do whelp with this, and they may wear a belt or suspenders to help with this. Some women like to wear lycra since it helps keep the pouch more supported while staying near your body. Multiple layers are also another option as well. 

Bathing and Pouches 

Another common concern is bathing or swimming with the pouch that you have. Bathing suits tend to sit snug against the body, and some may wonder if they should get certain types of suits to help conceal this. The rule of thumb of wearing darker colors or patterns to conceal is usually a good option. Surfer shorts for men that have a longer crotch rise and legs also help make this more obscured. For drainable pouches, a flatter cap or one that has an integrated lock closure also helps with this. 

For those who have an ileostomy or a colostomy that’s fecal in terms of stoma, you can of course wear stoma caps when you go swimming. They are limited with volume, so you should make sure that you know what the pattern of the stoma functions are for you to decide whether or not you should use one or the other. Some may also worry about pouches during sexual activity. Crotchless underwear, and cummerbunds are also good, since they do wrap around. 

“baby doll” tops are always a good option and so are camisoles. Men may also choose to wear tank tops to help obscure visibility. It’s important to understand though that every single person out there isn’t going to be staring at your ostomy pouch, and they may not know that you have one until you mention it, so keep that in mind, and make sure that you release the gas from your pouch and empty it a lot. 

Learning about your stoma care

Lee Hawkins

Now being new to things is ok.  There is a starting point for all things in life and should not feel educated or inferior because you are new at something.  Especially, in 2020 when you can learn things so fast because the information is readily available.  Okay, so I’ve only been exposed to the world of ostomy care for roughly a year or so, but it’s honestly been a journey that has helped me grow and learn more about others who have completely different needs than my own. From learning about urostomies to meeting people who have had a colostomy and now have a permanent stoma, I’ve had my eyes opened to the part of the world that isn’t often talked about.  That is a part of the world that seems a little darker and no one likes to talk about, but I try to talk about it with a sense of humor. 

Now getting the best gear is really important.  I may be a super gear guy, but that does not mean that I should not be on the one thing that matters to my daily routine.  And things like making sure your ostomy supplies don’t leak or fall off your body can be tough if you’re new to the whole game of keeping care of your body with this change and learning about pouching system replacement. Learning about these things is huge and doing them right is important. But there do happen to be a few things you can do to keep things going smoothly. The main things to consider are proper cleaning and your own personal comfort level as well as having the right fitting system for your individual stoma. Nonetheless, we’ve got other tips for keeping everything clean and comfortable!  These clean things can be the difference between happy and miserable for life. 

That is why I want to jump into the important parts.  The first thing I’d ask someone new to having a stoma is if they sweat a lot. If that’s the case, you may feel like your adhesive barrier is prone to coming loose and allowing leakage. This is the worst possible scenario.  If this is the case, you could dust your skin with a powder specifically for your skin barrier. A sealant can then be applied which will act as cement between your skin and the barrier. It’s a little weird at first in terms of how it feels, but your ostomy supplies are meant to handle this kind of stuff and make your skin still feel mostly unnoticed. But if it doesn’t then you need to get with your doctor quick.

The main thing you want to keep in mind when caring for your abdomen and learning this new way of life is cleanliness. Make sure that you are being very careful. That’s really the number one concern for most ostomy patients because there’s a real chance of infection happening if you neglect proper care.

What you need to know is that it’s actually pretty darn hard to neglect your stoma and proper care in the first place. Because if you’re doing that, then you’re probably uncomfortable all the time. And who would actively allow their pouching system to bother the heck out of them all day? They’ll definitely do the right thing, clean it well, apply it properly, and then get back to their daily life with zero discomforts. Be good and be safe.

Last beach run with my stoma

Lee Hawkins

The year is starting to come to an end and it is getting cold.  This is when it is time for a friends and family tradition.  This is not really a polar bear plunge, but it is the time of year when we do our final beach run.  I am a pretty big outdoor person, but not entirely a beach person.  But even though I have a stoma and go every single day with my ostomy bag I still enjoy the beach. The fact is that having my stoma has not really kept me from doing anything that I couldn’t do before the surgery. 

I have been reflecting a lot on my life lately and at one point in time, I thought I would end it because of my stoma.  I was simply too young to have one and it made me so angry to even think about it.  Going to the beach in my mind at that point was just as bad as walking through fire barefoot.  But things have changed and so have I.  Those initial fears and anger were totally understandable and in some cases justifiable, but totally unnecessary.  I have simply found out that with the incredible ostomy gear available in 2020 I am 100% fine with going to the beach and even looking good doing it.

There are a few things that I have done over the years to make my beach-going trips better and for keeping my own mental stability during my beach trips.  The biggest thing to me is to simply be able to go.  Getting in the mental right mind to be able to get out and know that it is going to be ok at the beach is key.  This means for me that I have to have the confidence to know my ostomy gear is going to work.  That is really the key and for me, I try really hard to keep up with what is going on in the industry and in my own mind I work hard to get the best gear for me.  I also work really hard at keeping up with people with stomas on social media as well to see how they go to the beach and how they live and look as well.  That is really important to me and keeping up with social media allows me to rock the beach because I am using what not only myself finds to be the best but what I see others use as well.  And I am definitely one of those social media nuts and post all the time and it helps others out.  We all learn from each other and we all look better and better doing it.

I also like to make sure that I take a great bag filled with all the emergency situations that I may get into.  Now I have never gotten into an emergency situation at the beach and all of my gear has worked perfectly for years, but having a waterproof bag and container to go with me really helps me get through the mental aspect of what could go wrong. It is key for me to feel comfortable and I think most people feel that way when taking clothes off at the beach too!

Looking good with a stoma?

Lee Hawkins

I am always amazed at the different things people will tell other people.  One of the craziest things I had ever heard which really put me off was that people who have stomas can’t be sexy or ever be stylish.  This was really a slap in the face and it makes me think that some people are simply aweful.  I think that everyone can be beautiful, sexy, and fashionable and that having an ostomy bag on your hip doesn’t change that one little bit.  But some people are more affected by words than others and I feel like I need to let people know that they can look incredible and if you have a stoma or are going for an ostomy, life is going to be ok.  You are still going to be able to look amazing and I am going to help you find the new you.  Now I am not saying that I am the answer, but I have been able to help people find the fashion that they actually want.

There are so many looks and fashions out there that it can really be a wild thing to look into.  I am not going to say that there is anyone source of looking good, but knowing how to get the right ostomy gear and the right clothing to go with it is important.  Knowing how to look good is something that I have never really had, but relied on others to help me with my looks and that is why I am here to give away what I know.  Now luckily, leggings are basically a staple for all looks in 2020, and that if you are a woman you are in luck because before the last few years these were not so popular except for looking a bit sluty.  But now it is the new norm and these are amazing for keeping you nice a comfortable and also for keeping your ostomy gear nice a solid on your body. 

But what I really want to let people know is that the internet is here and here to stay.  It is hard to say that but some people still are afraid of it and all the social media that has become so massive.  I mean the majority of advertising budgets of most companies are spent online these days.  That says something, so get out of the gutter and start looking for your ostomy gear and fashion online.  The internet is filled with hundreds of blogs, forums, and places to learn about how to dress during certain things with an ostomy bag.  I have found social media to be an amazing source of learning from real people with stomas.

I know that my body type does not fit everyone’s online nor does my stoma.  So I take what I see with a grain of salt and the understanding that not everything is going to work.  That is 100% ok and good to know ahead of time.  But there are hundreds of people willing to talk about their lives and show how they look and what gear they use on a daily basis.  This gives you some amazing ideas on how to look and dress and be fashionable in so many different ways.  So hop on Instagram and enjoy your new look!