People can experience many different kinds of pain and discomfort throughout their stoma life. From post-surgical recovery pain, to intestinal blockages, to long term chronic conditions; Learning to understand the cause and establish relevant treatments for this pain can be somewhat troublesome, and is one of the most common reasons for contacting a medical professional or stoma nurse. This episode of TOZNP discusses different kinds of pain that an individual might experience if they have a stoma, describing the symptoms, the possible causes, and relevant treatment options for appropriate pain relief.

Welcome to 2020! The year of coronavirus. Living with a stoma is difficult enough. Learning to live with a stoma amidst a global pandemic presents its own set of challenges. This episode talks about the current covid situation and its impact on those who live with a stoma. It discusses the changes to stoma nursing services, patient education and the management of individuals who have either a new or existing stoma. We also discuss current concerns with obtaining ostomy supplies while in isolation, the availability of ostomy products globally and the availability of community assistance. Finally, we answer some common questions relating to coronavirus, the gastrointestinal impact of those who test positive, and how this virus will affect us all in the short and long term.

Living with a stoma at Christmas time can be slightly different than the typical person's experience. Diet concerns, travel arrangements and obtaining supplies can make the holiday season an anxious time for some of us. In this final TOZNP episode for the year we cover what to consider if travelling to see loved ones for christmas, what to eat, what to try and what to avoid, and even lists a couple of recipe ideas for cooking at christmas. Finally, a humble thank you goes out to all the listeners of 2019 who have helped make The OZtomy Nurse Project so successful.

Learning to live with a new stoma is overwhelming and scary. What's more, learning how to manage a new stoma as well as practicing self care can be a tricky path to tread. During the post-operative recovery however, your stoma nurse is not only educating you on the physical aspects of stoma care, but also gently guiding you through the minefield of thoughts and feelings related to these confronting new changes. This episode explains the concept of Psychological first aid, a technique designed to reduce the occurrence of abnormal emotional responses and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.

In the first of an upcoming series of ostomy product company interviews, I interview Jeremy Eakin and Mark Gilpin from Eakin Healthcare about the history of the Eakin brand, exploring how they came to be a thriving ostomy product supplier in today's market. For those who currently use Eakin products or for those curious few, this episode is a fun way to get to know the men behind the scenes of this highly successful company, which currently exports to over 30 countries through a network of 40 distributors, with other offices in Japan and the Netherlands. 

Unsure what you can, can't and should, shouldn't eat with a stoma? Sometimes our appetite can take a while to return after surgery. Also, concerns around low fibre foods that still have high nutrition can leave a person overwhelmed when it comes to meal prep. This episode shares three of my personal favourite meals to cook, as they are quick to prepare, easy to digest and can feed not only the individual, but the entire family too, including the kids! 

Did you know that not all stomas require a pouching system? The term "continent" stoma is a type of bladder or bowel diversion that utilizes surgically created internal reservoirs that can be emptied several times a day. These stoma's still require proper ostomy nurse care and education, but are an innovative way for individuals to retain their independence, and continence, instead of having an incontinent stoma, like a colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy. This episode highlights the main types of continent stomas- the ACE, MACE, K-pouch, Mitrofanoff, Monti, and Indiana pouch.

How we die is sometimes as important as how we have lived. It is a very personal journey that affects us all differently. But what should we be thinking about and what happens when we head towards the end of our life whilst living with a stoma? This episode aims to help you understand what may happen to a person with a stoma as death approaches, the practical things you may need to think about when caring for a person who is dying with a stoma, and what options are available for managing these changes, any unused stoma supplies, and what supports are available before and after death.

In reality, for most people, a stoma has little or no effect on the ability to enjoy sex, regardless of sexual preferences or lifestyle before surgery. Sex and intimacy when living with a stoma are complex subjects to talk about, and have many aspects to consider. This episode talks about the physical, emotional, and psychological pressures that influence ones’ life after stoma surgery. Also, we discuss the physical considerations like sexual function, sexual positions, timing, discretion, with tips and techniques, as well as where to find information about sex and how to live a happy and healthy intimate life with an alternate exit.

Stoma products: we certainly cant live without them, so how do we learn about them? This episode showcases the companies that supply products and accessories to Australians living in the stoma world. We feature each brand, the distributors that provide these products, and the highlights of each website that assist patients, families and nurses to learn everything they need to know about life with a stoma. From finding educational videos, to patient stories, to product sample requests, jump online today and get to know the home pages of each company, to find the info you need.