You are not alone

Connecting with others

Meeting and connecting with others who are going through or have been through similar experiences to you can be a reassuring source of support. Read more
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Connecting with others

Many people find it helpful to go to support group meetings or join a forum, Facebook group or follow people on Twitter. Whether you meet or chat often or just once in a while, it can be a good chance to learn more and to connect with others who have the same questions you do. You might well find you’re not the only one who’s wondering about certain issues: that question in the back of your mind isn’t odd after all… and answers to questions that never occurred to you could prove really useful.

 

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How much should I share with others?

It’s up to you how involved you become and how much you want to share with others. Read more
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How much should I share with others?

It’s completely up to you. Some people like the anonymity of the web. Some people find it reassuring to go to a few meetings in person, but it isn’t something they decide to do on a regular basis. Others find that talking to others regularly about their issues is very helpful. They enjoy both the learning and the social life it gives them.

Confidence and reassurance are key to how you continue to approach life in the months and years following diagnosis and any surgeries you may have had. Support groups can be an important part of regaining that confidence. From there you may even decide that you want to help others too. Your healthcare professional may have good suggestions on how and where you could help. Another good resource are the patient organisations. They can help you connect with others or direct you to a local group meeting.

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Living with a stoma

Online advice & support for ostomates

Online advice & support for ostomates

Talking to other people who are due to have ostomy surgery or have already had ostomy surgery can be a reassuring source of support. View online resources & groups for ostomates
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Ostomy support groups

Colostomy Association
www.colostomyassociation.org.uk 

The Urostomy Association
www.urostomyassociation.org.uk 

The Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group (IA)
www.iasupport.org 

Stomawise 
www.stomawise.co.uk 

Living with a Stoma
www.living-with-a-stoma.co.uk 

Ostomyland
www.ostomyland.com

Stoma Data - Practical Information for colostomates
www.stomadata.com 

International Ostomy Association
www.ostomyinternational.org

 

Cancer support groups and associations

Macmillan Cancer Relief
www.macmillan.org 


Beating Bowel Cancer
www.beatingbowelcancer.org 

Bowel Cancer UK
www.bowelcanceruk.org 

Have I Got Bowel Cancer - Symptom Checker
www.haveigotbowelcancer.com

CancerHelp
www.cancerhelp.org 


Crohn's and Colitis support groups

Crohn's & Colitis UK
http://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/ 

IBD Relief
https://www.ibdrelief.com/


Coloplast on social media

Coloplast UK participates in social media to help build support and understanding amongst customers and healthcare professionals interested in our products and services. Click the icons below to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Bladder & bowel conditions

Talking about your condition

Talking about your condition

Nurturing friendships and being social may be overwhelming and challenging when you are dealing with bladder or bowel problems - especially when having to leave your home. Read more
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Telling others about your condition

It is natural to feel insecure when leaving the house for long periods of time. Our privacy or what we do when we visit the toilet is usually nobody’s business. Going out and participating in activities where you have less control over the situation and where it can be difficult to find the required privacy, might challenge your feeling of security with your routine. You might feel alone with your struggles because most people don’t know about your issue or because you might not want them to know - or accidentally discover it.

Do I need to tell anyone?

There really is no way to generally answer this question. The choice to tell people about your cathing is completely up to you. We all have our personal preferences when it comes to sharing personal details about ourselves. Some people like to join online forums or closed Facebook groups, where they can speak with others who have similar experiences but still retain some privacy. It might be also a good idea to share your condition and needs to some close friends and family in case of an emergency. But it’s completely up to you! 

Concerns?

If you are worried about your routine or the products you are using to manage your condition, you can contact us. Or, if you need medical attention, please contact your healthcare professional or call 111 for further advice.

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