Learn with Comfizz

Looking for ostomy education & related topics, helpful hints & real life experiences? Look no further! Browse our blog for support!

Negative Hospital Experience?

When we go to hospital for appointments, procedures or as an inpatient we can sometimes feel scared, vulnerable or anxious (scared and anxious are two different stages of the same emotion!) more often than not I would hope we all are treated professionally, with dignity and respect; there can be one person that ruins it for us as in any situation. But what can you do if you have felt badly done by overall or if that one person has crossed the line? There are a few different options you can do depending on the severity of the occurrence or your own willingness:  You can go directly to the source and tell the person how you feel and what they...

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Flu Jab is it Worth it?

There are a lot of mixed feelings when it comes to the flu jab and I just wanted to talk about how I have dealt with the flu jab this week and my reasons for having it. I had my flu jab on Wednesday afternoon after waiting a few weeks to be able to be booked in; which since we are only a small area was quite surprising as when I have had it were I used to live it was quicker to get an appointment and that covered a much wider area. Firstly I wanted to have the flu jab as I suffer really badly when I get a cold and can imagine I would be far worse if...

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Is Your Loved One Having Surgery?

We often worry about what to take for ourselves in a hospital bag for surgery but what should or could we do for those we love that maybe going in for surgery or frequent hospital stays? Last month two of my fellow co hosts of The IBD and Ostomy Support Show have gone in for surgery and even though it is not their first surgery or admission by a long shot it got me thinking what are things YOU can do for someone else? For starters don’t take in grapes! Skins or peel tends not to be so good as you may know for ostomates (except urostomates you lucky devils) but you can get your friend to look into a sort of...

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Feeling Fatigued? Could it be B12?

We all know when we have an ostomy we run the risk of becoming easily fatigued due to a few different reasons; you may have thought to get your iron levels checked but what about your B12? This for ileostomates who have had more than one surgery on their small intestine could be the underlying cause for many issues. So having too little B12 in your system can cause it’s own type of anaemia (there are like 6 types! yeah it was news to me too!) where the red blood cells essentially don’t shrink to the right size therefore underdeveloped. B12 is essential for the making of red blood cells, keeping the nervous system healthy and releasing energy from the foods we...

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Guest Post – Advocacy

I asked a close friend, confident and someone I highly respect to write a guest post for what it is like to advocate for people rather than just hear it from me! Read on to hear The Spoonie Mummy give her views. Advocate Noun; A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy A person who puts a case on someone else’s behalf So now you know what an advocate is, what is it like to be one? My name is Natalie and I have dealt with chronic illness my whole life. Aged just fifteen months I was diagnosed with juvenile (rheumatoid) arthritis. Aged seven, I was also given a diagnosis of chronic iritis, a disease of the...

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Invisible Disabilities

This week has been national invisible disabilities week and if you have an ostomy you automatically fall into that category as unless you lift your top up it isn’t visible and although you may not view it as a disability it is in fact one as the way you go to the toilet has been changed which can put you at a disadvantage. I believe that although it can be a pain in my redundant bum; I don’t feel that I am disabled as I have more of a life now than I did back then. However that is in no way to say that having a disability means that you can’t live “your best life” as the cool kids...

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Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Week

So you may be thinking what on earth does this topic have to do with a blog about ostomies. Well pregnancy and infant loss is very close to my heart and actually in my mind has a lot to do with my ostomy. Feel free to read on but I understand if this topic maybe too hard for you to read but know that any pain, sorrow or grief you are feeling is completely acceptable and you have every right to feel. So a little bit of background and context first of all; I was told when I had my jpouch surgery I was told my fertility would probably drop by about 25% at the time my ex partner and...

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World Ostomy Day 2018

Every year the world comes together to raise awareness for all ostomies, their many diverse reasons, ages groups and hopefully try to remove the stigma one person at a time. We as ostomates aren’t alone in trying to do this; the companies that work within the ostomy sector, charities and bloggers all do something too! Saturday 6th of October is the day where stomas will be everywhere on social media and even out on the streets! The theme this year is “Speaking Out Changes Lives” and it is so true, so many people have this idea people with stomas got them from cancer and are old – which is far from the truth nowadays. I and the many other advocates/bloggers/vloggers...

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Reppin’ the Rep’s Dan from Respond

This month we have Dan from Respond. I met Dan at a Stoma Open day last year before I went to see the Pelican factory in Cardiff, he helped me think of some ideas of questions to ask whilst I was there as Pelican use Respond as their delivery service. What company do you work for?  Pelican Healthcare  What is your job role?  Territory Manager How long have you worked there? 11 years How did you get into this job? I previously worked for Smith & Nephew selling woundcare products. After a break from the industry I wanted to get back into healthcare sales and looking around the opportunity with Pelican came up via a recruitment agency and stoma care looked like it had a...

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What to do with Ostomy Supply Boxes?

Do you find you get a fair few boxes once you have used your supplies? Have you ever thought of a use for them rather than just putting them in the recycling? Well I have come up with an idea to make use of them! Now this does have to do with my daughters reception teacher asking for recycling for their “creation station”. I was chatting to her about the fact I have little boxes that my Varimate Wedges and other ostomy “accessories” came in, which she was saying was pretty perfect for the kids creation area. I just happened to mention that my stoma bags come in boxes a bit smaller than shoe boxes and she said they would...

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