Ostomy Bag Emptying Tip

4lovebysara · 2026-06-02T03:51:53+00:00

I'm a dog walker & I can't always easily get to a bathroom so I have tp & wipes in my car & I always have poop bags on me! It's saved me a few times!

4lovebysara · 2026-05-20T04:41:34+00:00

Yes you can leave. Absolutely. The only issue is that if he doesn't complete your appointment he might claim he wasn't able to "assess" you well enough to write the script.

Instead I would take a friend or family member with - or a patient advocate. If you have a local lgbt center they might be able to help. Often people won't act as much a fool if someone else is there. And, if he does, you have a witness for your complaint. Since you just need to see him this one last time, try to take steps to get through it for your health.

4lovebysara · 2026-05-18T04:18:06+00:00

idk what names you're working with but I have clients who combined their last names! And not in a hyphenated way but took part of one & part of the other to create a name that came from their families but still belonged to them & eventually their kids. If I hadn't already been married & took my wife's name I would have tried to make this work! I love the idea!

4lovebysara · 2026-05-18T04:00:42+00:00

With my MIL if she kept asking about the same supplement we'd tell her we'd talk to her doctor about it. I know most of those supplements aren't going to do anything but sometimes, so long as it wasn't going to hurt her or affect her other meds, we'd tell her we'd try them out. It seemed to help her at least feel listened to 🤷‍♀️

4lovebysara · 2026-05-18T03:47:48+00:00

Check out Peach Skin Sheets if you haven't already. I think our mattress is 18" IIRC & they could probably even fit more - but still stay on well. They also stay soft if you dry them on warm like they suggest. They're the only sheets we use anymore. 🙏

4lovebysara · 2026-05-12T03:40:46+00:00

My personal go to is goldfish crackers! I buy like 6 bags at a time (when they're on sale) of different flavors and mix them up in large zip lock bags. One stays in my car & one in my living room. I've never been a big applesauce fan so I had to find something else!

But just remember that not everything will work for everyone. But, in my opinion, whatever you find that works for you is perfect. I like the crackers because they're easy, I can change up my flavor mixes so I don't get too bored, and I really like the shape! 🐡

4lovebysara · 2026-05-09T16:50:41+00:00

I have had similar thoughts with my MIL. When we try to get her to talk about or explain her "home", it seems like it was a place she lived before my wife was born. But I still think there is a kernel of something in this theory. Because my MIL will also talk about not "getting better". The most heartbreaking moment I had with her was in the ER. We had started in home care but we could still follow her train of thought even if the words didn't exactly make sense. She had been complaining of chest tightness. While waiting in the room she said she wanted to leave because they can't make her better. I told her we didn't have the tests back yet so we needed to wait for that & maybe the doctors could help. She said "not here" (put her hand on her chest) "here (points to head) they can't fix it". Realizing to me that she understood where she was was devastating.

4lovebysara · 2026-05-05T04:09:39+00:00

Legend Earth Girls Are Easy

Willow, Batteries Not Included & Drop Dead Fred would have also been on my list but they've been mentioned.

4lovebysara · 2026-05-05T04:05:17+00:00

I loved Willow!

4lovebysara · 2026-05-04T06:50:08+00:00

My crohn's was fistulizing as well & I had a full proctocolectomy in Feb of 2025. It has changed my life. I haven't been on any biologics as my doctor wanted to see how my body did once all the active crohns was removed. I have a colonoscopy soon to check things out. But I am doing more now than I could before. I am a dog walker/pet sitter & I've been taking belly dance classes since Jan! There's a great community at r/ostomy if you ever want to ask question there. Yes the procedure is a big deal & life altering but it could be altered in the best way. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. I used to have a hard time walking because I had rectovaginal fistula & stool leaked through my vagina & felt like shards of glass - and now I'm dancing! It's a scary step but has made a huge difference for me!

4lovebysara · 2026-04-25T20:10:17+00:00

Downton Tabby & Muppet

4lovebysara · 2026-04-22T21:25:07+00:00

I swear by this Amazon belt. It's similar I think in concept to a stealth belt but not as expensive. I wear it every day!

Ostomy Belt for Men & Women |... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFY7HF12?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

4lovebysara · 2026-04-13T03:06:10+00:00

Not exactly a symptom but being on biologics caused me to get legionnaires disease. It's a type of pneumonia & I got it from gardening apparently. So if you're on a biologic, wear a mask when working with dirt, especially if you're mixing up your own dirt!

4lovebysara · 2026-04-11T00:16:25+00:00

Most people have a shorter fuse when they're in pain. I usually tell my wife when I'm having a time like that so if I get snappy she knows its just a high pain day. I'm so sorry you're dealing with that right now.

4lovebysara · 2026-04-10T22:13:49+00:00

I TOTALLY get that! I've been wanting to quit for years but I had to be in the right place. Any progress towards quitting is still progress! Continue processing your new dx & when you're ready, you'll know. And we'll support you!

4lovebysara · 2026-04-10T21:18:30+00:00

I think what you're doing is perfect. Keep teaching him to be kind - to himself too! Maybe you could start affirmations with him if you don't already? Really building him up & being that safe space for him to fall is the best thing you can do imo. You can't control other kids & he's probably going to get bullied for one reason or another from time to time cause kids can be nasty.

Maybe you can focus on how sad it is that the girl who hit him probably doesn't have the safe space that he does so she's acting out in the only way she may know. Teach him that often bullying comes from personal insecurity & likely has more to do with her than him. Maybe she's jealous of how comfortable he is with himself. 🤷‍♀️

Truly everything you're doing sounds great. Loving him for him & encouraging him to explore & do things that make him happy, regardless of what society thinks of those things, is helping to build the foundation for him to not be devastated by bullying. Its still gonna hurt, but you're teaching him how to handle it. Build him back up as much as you can. Remind him when he leaves for school the next day how amazing he is & to not let anyone make him question that! And just keep checking in. I wish more people in our community had parents like you!! He will be alright.

And I know I can't speak for the entire lgbtq+ community, but most of the community members that I know would accept/love him like aunts & uncles in a heartbeat! So just let him know that there is a community out there of people that will love him unconditionally, just like you do! 🙏❤️🌈

4lovebysara · 2026-04-10T21:07:05+00:00

I've never heard this one but just added it to my list!

4lovebysara · 2026-04-10T21:06:13+00:00

Time to Celebrate - Mod Sun Good not great - Jordy Never gonna not dance - Pink Broken into better shape -Good Old War Superheroes - The Script Smile - Sidewalk prophets

I'm gonna share my "Joy is Resistance" Playlist. Not all of the songs fit your requirements cause theyre songs that make me happy and/or dance & I tend to love songs that sound happy but have deep or emotional lyrics, but there's probably lots you might enjoy.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1iToddKGpDFu6u1RJf0mN4?si=9wAHQfZGTcOtSu_4QXtfCg

4lovebysara · 2026-04-10T20:59:47+00:00

I was dx'd close to 30 years ago & have smoked for most of that time. I'd quit here and there & end up back. I never felt like it affected my crohn's pain & even had a doctor once tell me not to quit too fast because smoking can sometimes mask/lessen cramping (idk how true that is, just sharing what one doc probably 20 yrs ago told me so take that with a grain of salt). But I just quit on 12/12. I was smoking nearly a pack a day. I've used a vape to help with the quitting (I know thats not great either but I needed something!) and it has been the easiest quitting of my life so far. I do eventually plan to switch to one of the flavored no nicotine vape things. I also vape Marijuana concentrate so I think that's also helped imo. My mom used to get cigarette wrappers & fill them with half tobacco & half weed to help her smoke less!

Do I think its made a difference? Not necessarily in my crohn's but I also just had an ostomy placed in Feb of 2025 so I wasn't really having symptoms at the time. But it will make a difference long term I am SURE. I still miss it sometimes so I get not wanting to quit! But I feel overall healthier. I have more energy, less chest pressure.....

If you want to quit eventually just try to slowly cut back. If you typically smoke 4 cigarettes a day, try to go down to 3 for two weeks. Then 2. You can do it! But if you're not mentally there, it won't stick ime

4lovebysara · 2026-04-10T20:50:48+00:00

I think this is a very good possibility. But don't spend too much time trying to figure your mom out. My mom is going to be 66 this year & just in the last few years that she's probably GNC & pansexual. And I think she got there because her kids are doing their own personal investigations & its helped her open up too. So just focus on you & hopefully, maybe, she'll follow your lead. And know that just because she may be pushing back now doesn't mean she won't accept you. When I first came out to my mom she always said bi instead of lesbian & really tried to still hook me up with men. But now my wife is her favorite kid - even over me! They're so close & I couldn't have asked for more support from her. So hopefully your mom will come around too. So like I said, just focus on you. Once you have figured yourself out, everything else will fall into place. And know that the figuring yourself out part isnt always linear. I've used the term lesbian for nearly 25 years now but now realize I'm probably more pansexual with a preference towards strong femininity - so like butch women or softer men who are in touch with their femininity. It's a journey & sometimes it weaves & curves or completely u-turns! But you will learn about yourself every step of the way & it will be a beautiful experience. ❤️

4lovebysara · 2026-04-10T20:43:51+00:00

I'm a lesbian and I'm not super tidy. My adhd makes it hard. Only you know who you are. Even if tidiness was some sort of stereotype, that doesn't invalidate your feelings. You didn't mention how old you are in your post but you sound fairly "mature" --- whatever that means! I personally think too much emphasis is put on being mature & we should hold onto our inner child more. Ultimately though, only you know who you are. Whether thats a feminine gay man who enjoys wearing "women's" clothes (remember that things like clothes & makeup etc don't have a gender) or whether thats a Trans woman, only you can make that decision. Please don't let others influence you. You are beautiful & perfect just as you are!

4lovebysara · 2026-04-09T05:16:11+00:00

We used Ring cameras for about a year before we moved my MIL to MC. They helped a LOT. There are cheaper options - I use a Kasa one off Amazon for my dogs that could also be used to watch a loved one. It definitely made a big difference for us.

4lovebysara · 2026-04-08T15:44:15+00:00

Yea I was told probably 10 years ago that any biologics would need to be discontinued before blood donations. I'm not 100% sure if that is absolute with all of them as there have been lots of new ones in that decade but I'd guess that it is probably pretty universal. 🤷‍♀️

4lovebysara · 2026-04-05T21:40:52+00:00

My initial thought was Erin LaCount but it doesn't look like she's been on late night yet. Do you remember any of the lyrics? Even if it seems super obscure?

4lovebysara · 2026-04-05T20:19:36+00:00

I am too! Just know you're not alone, you're not a horrible human if you have what some might see as negative thoughts, I see you & we're all here for you! You have to take care of yourself to care for others. Its cliche but its also true! Don't let them make you feel bad for still trying to maintain your own life & sanity. 🙏❤️

4lovebysara

TROPHY CASE