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Inner Good’s head office is located in the Lower Mainland of BC. We are surrounded by world class snowboarding, with Whistler Blackcomb in addition to Grouse Mountain and other smaller but no less notable hills and slopes at our doorstep. That means we have first hand experience fielding questions and abating concerns about carrying on with the snowboarding lifestyle after receiving an stoma. While we…

As I shared in a previous post, I used to eat pretty much whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.  When I was a kid, a teenager, and especially as a young man, Christmas time took this dietary approach to a whole new level.   “Turkey dinner with all the fixings…sure, I’ll have a third helping, mom!”   “Yeah grandma, I have some room for another…

The holidays are here and like many Canadians you’re flying north, south, east, or west to visit (or escape from) family and friends. You’ve packed your Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, and traditional day-to-day items, but now it’s time to focus on your essentials. If you have recently received an ostomy, you’ll soon find out that an ostomy supply travel bag is an absolute necessity. Adopt…

The holiday season is here. From the east coast to the west coast the snow is falling (even in Vancouver), shoppers are shopping, carolers are caroling, and everyone is making final preparations. If this is your first or second holiday season with an ostomy, you may still be trying to figure it all out. You’ve had a life changing operation, and your adjusting. However, it…

Now that you’ve picked up some ostomy-conscious Christmas gifts for your loved one, and taken advantage of our holiday season promotion, it’s time to nab those essential stocking stuffers. The science (yes, it’s a science!) behind stocking stuffers is simple enough. They should include a mix of essential and fun items alike, without breaking the bank. However, it’s the small gifts that can cause the…

From St. John’s to Vancouver BC, everyone is preparing for the arrival of St. Nick. And what a wonderful time of the year it is, with Inner Good extending its Cyber Monday sale into December and through the season. That’s right, we’re offering 20% off and free-shipping on ostomy supply orders over $100! Whether you’re looking to treat yourself or shopping to stuff an ostomate’s…

Part 1 of “Ostomy Success Stories” detailed the lives of two Canadian ostomates who have chosen to live exceptional post-surgery lives.  Rob Hill took his love of the outdoors to another level after receiving his ostomy, achieving the ambitious goal of climbing the Seven Summits (including Mount Everest) to raise public awareness of intestinal diseases.  Jessica Grossman had surgery as a young teen, and her…

If you’re recovering from ostomy surgery, you might well wonder if you will ever really live again.   Everyday activities such as climbing stairs may be next to impossible.  And the thought of eventually having to go to work or shop for groceries with an ostomy appliance attached might be a depressing prospect.   Or perhaps you had your surgery years ago now, and while climbing…

Are you expecting a child? Congratulations! Are you an ostomate that plans on conceiving? Kudos to you too! Carrying a life marks a remarkable time in your life. You plan on doing all that you can to ensure a healthy pregnancy and an even healthier bouncing baby boy or girl. Much of this begins with a sound nutrition plan. As an ostomate, you are well…

The ostomate diet is a clearly defined one. It must address key nutritional deficiencies that include Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Calcium, Folic Acid, Magnesium, and Potassium. But it goes beyond the vitamins and minerals. The diet must also factor in the delivery of essential fatty acids (EFA), complex carbohydrates, and protein. Filling these nutritional voids is one thing, doing so in a way…

When I was a child, my parents were always encouraging me to share with my sister, and now that I’m a parent, I’m constantly encouraging my own kids to find ways to be generous to one another. One thing I never expect them to share, however, is their body odors…but as young boys, they sometimes do that anyway!   After almost a decade of living…

There are very few sports or activities that define someone like surfing. It’s an exclusive tribe, albeit a big one, with millions of people paddling out everyday. It can bond you to another when you cross paths, be it out in the water or in the corporate boardroom when it comes up in casual conversation. If you count yourself amongst this lot, you know that…

We recently posted a guide to having sex after receiving (or living with) an ostomy. The next logical concern for many in their fertile years is in regards to the ability to have children after receiving a stoma. Inner Good doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to the big questions. Thus, to ease your concerns, we can state that a successful stoma operation…

Traveling is one of the most important parts of many lifestyles. We’re not just talking about seven-day all-inclusive vacations here. We’re talking about real travel, the kind where you pick up at a moment’s notice and throw caution to the wind in wanderlust. If you count yourself amongst this globetrotting lot then you know the fear of having anything get in your way. Work schedules…

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…

A fitness regime is essential to bouncing back from any major medical procedure. Some of you had already been leading a healthy and fit lifestyle prior to your colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy. For you, it may be easier to get back on track, literally. Others may not have the same advantage coming out of their surgery. Many of you fall somewhere in the middle. Whichever the case, adopting a…

Living with an Ostomy? You are not alone. As a person living with an ostomy, you might sometimes feel that way, but it’s not true. It’s been estimated that there are more than 90,000 ostomates here in Canada, while south of the border that number is north of 1 million. You are not alone. This October 1st, Canadians living with ostomies, together with their families and friends,…