Blog - Life Hacks

Recently our cofounder, Kirk Robinson, caught up with Life Coach and Inner Good customer, Julie Singer. We wanted to hear more about her life story, including her battle with Crohn’s disease, her journey as a patient, adjusting to life with an ostomy (ileostomy), and how she is helping others with autoimmune diseases live life to the fullest. Julie is an unbelievably caring individual who has…

There’s a darn good reason that Coloplast’s SenSura Mio Convex tops the list of top stoma appliances and accessories that you need to know about. But first, a bit more on the concept of a convex. For ostomates, the term convexity references an accessory that extends into the peristomal skin to provide an effective seal around the stoma. To be effective and prevent leaks (and…

Anyone living with an ostomy for over a year is quite familiar with the most popular ostomy supply brands for pouch systems and accessories. Where there isn’t a lot of clarity, is the realm of diet and nutrition, in particular with respect to supplements. Not being provided with proper education on this topic is concerning, given the importance of a strong supplement regime for living…

Were you very hygiene conscious before your stoma procedure? Then you likely are more so than ever before today. Even if you weren’t the type to carry a cleanser, body spray, or scented lotion in your purse, sling bag, or backpack before you received an ostomy, chances are that your perspective has changed quite a bit. And for all of the skin care recommendations and…

This may be your current reality. You are housebound, isolated, afraid to go out into public because of constant leaks from your ostomy bag.  You’ve heard others complain that they have to change their bags several times a month, and you stifle a cynical laugh. You wish you had it so good.  For you, the reality is upwards of five, even six times a day. …

Approximately three-quarters of those who have received an ostomy experience skins problems around the stoma, to some extent. You’re not alone, nor should you be alarmed, assuming the skin irritations are within reasons. The reasons for the breakdown of your skin in this sensitive area are easy enough to identify. Among them, are appliance leaks, frequent appliance removal (which leads to skin-stripping), inadequate sizing of…

The right appliance can keep the entire area surrounding your stoma smooth. Skin problems surrounding the stoma has been the topic of conversation on our blog for the past week. We delivered a helpful article on products that will help prevent skin irritations, and a follow-up piece on nutritional supplements that may assist in the prevention and healing of skin conditions at the stoma. However,…

Last week we published an article on products that you can apply to combat skin irritation around your stoma. These were external in nature. Today, InnerGood takes your cure to stoma skin woes to another level by focusing on your inner health, as it impacts your epidermis. This skin problem prevention and repair article will focus on health supplements. Let’s start scratching, beneath the surface….

One literal irritation that ostomates have to face from time to time is skin problems around the stoma. Sore and irritated skin can occur from a number of causes. There may be a change in the shape or size of your stoma (did you lose or gain weight?), which can be problematic when it comes to positioning your flange, resulting in leaks that can irritate…

I stood at the bottom of the basement staircase, steeling my resolve to begin the climb.  What was my problem?  Heck, I’d summited plenty of mountains in my life, including an 18,200-foot Himalayan mountain right next door to Everest.  Yet here I was, lacking confidence that I physically had what it took to get up 17 steps to the main floor kitchen.  Just over 3…

You’re looking to prevent one of the most uncomfortable (in more ways that one) situations an ostomate can have. You’ve heard (or imagined) the stories, whether on forums or on other ostomy blogs and communities. And while the tales range from overtly descriptive to downright slapstick, they are often not backed by the details you really need. For instance, why ostomy bags burst, and how…

Good eating habits are essential to everyone. But for someone living with an ostomy, they are even more important. Narrowing down what to do and what not to do can be a bit taxing, considering the amount of ostomy dietary information out there. Today, InnerGood is locking in some “best practices” when it comes to your food (and beverage) consumption. Before you sit down at…

Recently we shared an article about the importance of finding the right ET (Enterostomal) nurse.  I can’t emphasize the value of these professionals enough, especially after but even before having ostomy surgery.  In fact, if I had met my ET nurse sooner, I would still have a bellybutton!   Here’s the short version: when my ileostomy happened as an emergency surgery (read more about my…

Whether you have recently received a stoma, or you have been living with one for quite some time, where to buy your supplies remains to be a significant decision. There is a lot of information out there, but a lot of it isn’t all that clear. Consumer trust on price, selection, and confidentiality remain to be hot topics in this health, wellness, and medical product…

I remember well the days of post-surgery recovery in the hospital.  While I was thankful for the relief that my ileostomy provided from the painful symptoms of ulcerative colitis, I was somewhat anxious about what my “new” life would look like.  What would I have to do differently now that I had this unfamiliar stoma protruding from my abdominal wall?  Would I be able to…

Inner Good has not shied away from the topic of action/extreme activities and adventures when it comes to living with an ostomy. While some resources out there would have you walking on egg shells for the rest of your life, we steer you in a different direction. In fact, a life changing procedure presents all the more reason to live life to the absolute fullest….

While some of you have pledged to cut back on the cocktails as a part of your new year resolutions, you are likely to join in on the libations from time to time. There’s nothing wrong with that, in responsible moderation (of course) and with clearance from your physician. That being said, anyone who was received a colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy does need to be…

The new annum has arrived, and with it a slew of new year resolutions designed to make everyone’s life better. It’s a simple enough concept that requires nothing more than discipline to see success. But all too often these resolutions fall to the wayside. How do you make them stick? It all circles back to setting the right ones. For someone living with an ostomy,…