by benforred | Sep 26, 2023 | Cancer, Health, history, Medical Procedures, Medical Providers, Mental Health, Ostomy, Pain, Short Bowel, Surgery, Survival, Symptoms
La Mémoire Noire or The Dark Memory is a letter series written to my first surgeon. The man who caused everything ultimately in my life to reach this point today. I was to have 2 surgeries beginning at the age of 9 and his surgical errors altered the course of...
by benforred | Jun 16, 2021 | Birthday, Cancer, Colon Cancer, Guest Post, Health, Ostomy
Carleton Myers turns 95 this June. He has Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and has had an ostomy since about 1948. He has seen a lot in his years and a lot of changes in the management of this rare disease and ostomies. Carleton’s mother likely had FAP as she...
by benforred | May 31, 2021 | Anniversaries, Ostomy
It’s hard to believe it, but this is my 20th anniversary of my ostomy reversal!I had my colon removed at age 9 due to Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. I was expected to have my ostomy reversed into a Jpouch a few months later. However, this is far from what would...
by benforred | Jan 30, 2021 | Health, Medical Procedures, Ostomy
If you’re like me, you haven’t heard a lot about different ostomy options for colon removal. Individuals frequently hear about the typical ostomy option – the ileostomy (even though many incorrectly refer to ileostomies as colostomies thinking...
by benforred | Mar 11, 2017 | Health, Ostomy, Travel
Traveling with an ostomy is manageable and even enjoyable but it is faced with risks. There are risks of inconvenience in regards of restrictions when flying, restroom access, and appliance welfare. Recently while traveling to visit my Great Uncle for a week, my...
by benforred | Apr 17, 2015 | Health, Ostomy, Support
Today is my 4th wedding anniversary, a place and time I didn’t think I would experience. As a child and teenager with an ostomy and chronic illness that embodies the “embarrassing type” of bathroom issues, I had a difficult time with self-acceptance...
