My New Bum - Page 2 of 13 - My journey in having a colostomy

300th Visit to the Nurse and 1 Year Since the Last Surgery

September 24, 2020 8:02 pmSeptember 24, 2020By Robert GaleIn Weekly Update0 Comments92 Views

This time last September I was heading into surgery for the second time after the main colostomy surgery in January 2019. Complications had arisen and a non-healing wound and fistulae that had formed a track inside meant that the best option was to reopen the perineum and let it heal again with the aid of a VAC.

Despite some lingering issues, things have been better this year than they were last year and the outlook is looking better than it ever has been in the last two-and-a-half years.

National Fitness Day

September 23, 2020 7:20 pmSeptember 24, 2020By Robert GaleIn Fitness0 Comments91 Views

Thanks to a prompt from Colostomy UK, I discovered that today is National Fitness Day – “the most active day of the year” – and with a run already planned on my training schedule, I was all geared up to take part.

Review: Vanilla Blush Hernia Support Boxer

August 24, 2020 7:59 pmNovember 23, 2020By Robert GaleIn Products0 Comments103 Views

Since developing a parastomal hernia, I have been wearing a hernia support belt from SuportX for exercise. The belt serves its purpose well and being adjustable you can make it as tight as you’d like. But are there alternative support options available?

The Complications of Colostomy Irrigation and a Parastomal Hernia

August 23, 2020 3:03 pmAugust 23, 2020By Robert GaleIn Weekly Update2 Comments120 Views

I’ve been irrigating largely successfully for over 7 months but there have been some issues as a result and at first I couldn’t pinpoint the cause but it appears that the parastomal hernia may not be helping.

The Return of the Parastomal Hernia Dilemma

August 18, 2020 7:29 amAugust 18, 2020By Robert GaleIn Musings2 Comments161 Views

Ever since my parastomal hernia formed back in May 2019, an internal battle has being fought about whether I should do anything about it. I’ve had conversations with family and friends, a counsellor, those who’ve had a hernia and the professionals who operate on hernias and after weighing up all of the options I came to the conclusion in January 2020 that I would leave it alone.

Running With A Stoma and a Parastomal Hernia? No Problem

June 14, 2020 7:16 pmNovember 23, 2020By Robert GaleIn Fitness0 Comments135 Views

It’s been six weeks since I took the decision to start running again and it’s been great to be back out running on a regular basis. I’m taking things relatively easy with 5k/10k runs at varying paces and the odd trail run. So how have things been going?

17 Month Wound Update

June 4, 2020 7:25 pmNovember 23, 2020By Robert GaleIn Weekly Update0 Comments118 Views

It’s been a while since my last wound update but it’s something that hasn’t gone away and looks like it’s not going anywhere fast.

I’m a Runner Again (Hopefully!)

May 6, 2020 7:39 pmNovember 23, 2020By Robert GaleIn Fitness2 Comments212 Views

After 16 months of dealing with a chronic Ken Butt wound, both physically and mentally, it was time for me to try running again regardless of whether the wound has healed or not. The wound was constantly on my mind and affecting me mentally so I needed to try and find a balance of managing it whilst getting back into running.

Just When My Nurses Thought They Had Got Rid Of Me

April 22, 2020 6:02 pmNovember 23, 2020By Robert GaleIn Musings0 Comments141 Views

After a break of a month, the Ken Butt wound that has been persisting for over 7 months has started to deteriorate again so I’ve had to restart seeing my team of nurses again.

2 Years Since I Used to be a Runner

April 15, 2020 5:37 pmApril 15, 2020By Robert GaleIn Fitness, Musings0 Comments127 Views

This week it dawned on me that it’s been 2 years since Crohn’s Disease took control and put a stop to me enjoying running. Crohn’s had affected running prior to April 2018 but it was at this point that things because too much and I decided to stop running.