Blog - Patient Stories

My permanent colostomy was placed Feb 16, 2018 as a result of cancer.  I’d never seen a stoma in person, just images I’d found online.  To be honest I didn’t research very much as I didn’t want it to interfere with my mental health.  I had a huge 8.5 hour surgery that involved more than just my stoma placement and needed my mental game to…

I never really understood the expense of medical or ostomy supplies and medications before becoming ill with cancer in 2014, When I was first diagnosed, I wasn’t working and had to cash in any savings, and I had to support myself, which only lasted so long. After that, my family had to step in, and I’m forever grateful for their help financially, as I don’t…

Ostomy care or managing a unique medical condition is a challenge on its own. Mixing in travel adds complexity. Mixing in international travel to countries where English isn’t the first language takes things up a notch and often leaves people feeling like travel isn’t possible. However, with proper planning and a positive mindset, you can enjoy travel while taking care of your health needs. Recently,…

Getting an ostomy is a life-saving procedure, but it is also a life-changing event. Whether your procedure is for a colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, etc., living with a stoma is a big responsibility, and there is a lot of information to take in on ostomy care when you are new at it and recovering from surgery. The first few weeks can be chaotic for new ostomates…

Everyone has cringed at the thought of taking off a BAND-AID after it’s been on a while.  You rip it off quickly. As a kid, maybe your parent counted down 3-2-1!  When I first got my colostomy, I remember asking the nurse if it would hurt taking it off as a BAND-AID does. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks after an intense life-saving…

Welcome to Part 2 of Keys to Finding the Right Fit by an Ostomate!  Part one was published on January 28th, 2022, so feel free to give that a read first if you haven’t already. This article will get a little personal, but I’m an open book!  Please remember these are my experiences and that I’m not a nurse. I’ve had my colostomy for four…

When you get told you’ll be getting an ostomy or possibly 2 ostomies, it’s a lot to take in.  You realize that your body is about to physically change in a variety of ways and it’s scary.  Most people have never heard of an ostomy let alone know what it looks like and how to live with it.  You can prepare for some things prior…

Ostomy Supplies in Canada can cost a lot over a year, that’s why we are excited to announce the launch of our Refer-a-Friend program! This exciting program gives members of our community a chance to receive an account credit in exchange for each friend referral that successful becomes an Inner Good customer by making a purchase. Check it out! Refer-a-Friend Now Why Are We Launching…

A decade ago I became ill with Ulcerative Colitis (UC). It very quickly damaged my body to a point where I required my colon to be removed in emergency surgery. I remember talking to my surgeon about what my health might look like long term. He looked at me and said: “you are lucky, you have been cured from your disease! (UC) and it is…

To our delight, one of our ostomy product customers contacted us a few weeks ago get to know our company better and to see how she could contribute to the Inner Good community (to which we replied ‘yes please!). Her name is Lindsay and she hails out of Calgary, Alberta. She’s a millennial and a crohn’s warrior. We think her perspective is special because it…

From the age of 14, Julie spent over two decades living with the intense reality that comes with Crohn’s disease. Now living with a permanent ileostomy, she has found a new perspective on life that she is passing on to others through her volunteer work with organizations such as the United Ostomy Association of Vancouver, and through her personal coaching practice, Inside Wellness.   In…

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 [Be sure to read Part One].  In this…

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…

In my last post, I focused on the value of attending ostomy care conferences as a means to personally connect with companies, professionals, and fellow ostomates. Doing so can have a direct, immediate and powerful positive impact on your quality of life. When attending such a local conference myself, I was struck by the thought that all of the people there were actively seeking to…

In my last post, I shared a list of items that have become essential, must-haves when it comes to my own ostomy care supplies, regardless of whether I’m doing daily life at home or traveling to another location on business or vacation. Today, I want to encourage you to improve your knowledge of ostomy issues and expand your network of people who can both support…

In your quest to live life with your ostomy more fully, you are probably wondering which ostomy supplies to use.  Like most products these days, there is no shortage of choices and brands when it comes to ostomy bags and related ostomy care equipment.  In today’s post, I’m going to share some items that I’ve found to be “must haves” over the years.   A…

I walked as carefully yet as quickly as possible down the aisle of the darkened airplane, trying not to make any noise that would awaken the sleeping passengers.  Those who weren’t quite asleep must have thought they were dreaming, as I stumbled past, my hands clutching my pants somewhere between my knees and my upper thighs.  At that moment, I wished I was dreaming, but…

“This one leaked again last night too.  Am I going to have to sleep with a plastic sheet for the rest of my life?!?” I sat on a chair across from my Enterostomal Therapy Nurse (called “ET nurse” from here on), slumped forward as I relayed the details of another night-time ostomy bag failure.  I was feeling frustrated and dejected.   It had been several…