Hello there,
for the benefit of our newest members, here's a little roll call,
get to know you/us exercise. And whoever feels like taking part,
please do, its a good way of getting to know each other.
I shall go first.

Im Sandara, I am married to Frank. I have an ileostomy which is just
over 7 years old, caused by undiagnosed Ulcerative Colitis, leading
to double Colon perforation and making me into one very sick woman 7
years ago. Prior to that happening, I was working fulltime as a
manager in a doctors surgery. As you can see, I did survive it and
since then I had a further operation to remove my rectum,, and I am
Barbie butt, sewn shut. I had another operation to remove my Gall
bladder, that was done with open surgery rather than through my
belly button. I now have a permanent ileostomy. I have bad knees,
but this is from birth, although the deterioration in my knees is
accelerated by my illness, leaving me with OA of both knees.

Where I am at today. I dont work anymore. I was incapacitated by my
illness and not being able to walk for 4 years of this past 7 years.
But have been quite okay for the past 3 years, although my knee
problem is never going to go away. I have a flush stoma, so I have
lots of skin problems around my stoma which I know all about. Anyone
have a skin problem right around your stoma, ask me. I might be able
to help you.
I started this group with Debi about 3 years back. I was a member of
other groups, but I wanted a group where I was able to say whatever
was on my mind, regarding problems and stuff without being told by
someone that there are other people worse off than me, and that I
should thank God Im alive. The amount of times I have heard that,
heck...if I put away a £1, for each time I have heard that. I would
be able to pay for a holiday for myself by now with the money.

Basically, I know that! I know that there is others worse off than
me, Im not an idiot. And I do thank God that Im alive, of course I
do. I used to thank God for my health even before I got sick, as I
lost both parents to terminal illness. So my point is,
that..hearing something like that when you just want a bit of
support because you are feeling down about the soreness around your
stoma, is not very helpful or supportive. Therefore I decided to
start up my own group. Where no problem is too small and no problem
is too big. A problem is a problem that we can all help each other
with, even if its just support. We all know we need it at one time
or another, and where better to get it from, than with others that
understand, somewhat to how its like to be sick, or depressed etc.
You get my point.
All of our group who knows me, knows I have this strong view on
this, so Im just mentioning it for the benefit of our newest
members, that they can come forward if they want to vent or have a
problem etc.

okay enough of me. Alongside myself and Debi, we have a further two
co-owners, the lovely Linda and the lovely Sandi.

Who's next?
all the very very best to you
Sandara
p.s. I shall be in chat tonight...definitely at 9pm British rainy
time. :-)