Not every bag change is smooth. Some days the skin is irritated. Some days there’s a leak waiting to happen. Some days your hands are steady and some days they’re not.
Difficult bag changes don’t mean you’re doing something wrong. They mean you’re living in a body that’s healing, adjusting, and responding to a lot.
I’ve had changes where the skin burns, the seal won’t cooperate, and patience feels thin. Those moments can feel heavy, frustrating, even defeating. But they’re part of ostomy life, not a failure within it.
If today’s change was hard, you’re not alone. Take your time. Be gentle with yourself. The next bag change might be easier. And even when it’s not, you’re still doing the work.
With an ileostomy, I empty my bag about 5–7 times a day. That’s normal for me.
Ileostomies tend to be more active because the output is liquid and moves through faster. For me, emptying regularly helps prevent leaks, discomfort, and overfilling.
That said, everyone’s body is different. Your routine might look nothing like mine, and that doesn’t mean anything is wrong. Output frequency can depend on your body, what you eat, how much you drink, your type of ostomy, and even the time of day.
There’s no one “right” number. There’s only what works for you.
If you’re new to ostomy life or still figuring out your rhythm, give yourself grace. You’ll find your flow.
One year ago, I had a proctocolectomy, and my body had to relearn everything.
Today, I’m active again. I’m back in the gym, moving my body with intention and respect. I’ve also started swimming lessons, something that once felt completely out of reach. These aren’t small wins to me. They’re proof of how far healing can go.
Activity looks different now. I listen to my body more. I rest when I need to. Strength isn’t about pushing through pain anymore, it’s about consistency, patience, and trust.
If you’re early in recovery and wondering whether movement will ever feel possible again, it can. Not overnight. Not the same as before. But in a way that’s grounded, empowering, and deeply earned.
What started as a deeply personal need has turned into something I’m proud to share with you. Livingfullostomywear.com is now open, and my Living Full Ostomy Wrap is officially for sale.
This wrap was created for real life. For commuting, moving, resting, laughing, leaking, healing, and everything in between. Support without bulk. Comfort without compromise.
I’m also offering other thoughtfully chosen ostomy essentials designed to make everyday life feel more manageable, more comfortable, and more yours.
This launch isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. About showing up fully in the body you have now.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting. Here’s to living full.
Nothing says “good morning” like your ostomy bag deciding it’s time to start its day before you are.
All I wanted was a few extra minutes of sleep… and instead: Stoma gurgling Eyes barely open Mental debate about whether to get up or fall back to sleep
The morning struggle is real, but somehow, we show up anyway. Sleep-in plans: canceled. Ostomy: undefeated.
Anyone else’s bag have a personal vendetta against snoozing?
If you’ve been quiet lately, overwhelmed, exhausted, healing, grieving, rebuilding, or simply trying to get through the day without falling apart... I see you.
Spring movement. Summer heat. Autumn layers. Winter coats. Different clothes, different rhythms, same body learning how to live fully again.
There was a time I thought healing had a finish line. Now I know it has seasons. Some loud, some quiet. Some about strength, others about patience. All of them mine.
This body has adapted. It has carried me through surgery, recovery, setbacks, and ordinary beautiful days. I’m not waiting to feel “back to normal.” I’m building a new normal that moves forward.
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
Not every bag change is smooth. Some days the skin is irritated. Some days there’s a leak waiting to happen. Some days your hands are steady and some days they’re not.
Difficult bag changes don’t mean you’re doing something wrong. They mean you’re living in a body that’s healing, adjusting, and responding to a lot.
I’ve had changes where the skin burns, the seal won’t cooperate, and patience feels thin. Those moments can feel heavy, frustrating, even defeating. But they’re part of ostomy life, not a failure within it.
If today’s change was hard, you’re not alone. Take your time. Be gentle with yourself. The next bag change might be easier. And even when it’s not, you’re still doing the work.
16 hours ago | [YT] | 12
View 2 replies
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
With an ileostomy, I empty my bag about 5–7 times a day.
That’s normal for me.
Ileostomies tend to be more active because the output is liquid and moves through faster. For me, emptying regularly helps prevent leaks, discomfort, and overfilling.
That said, everyone’s body is different.
Your routine might look nothing like mine, and that doesn’t mean anything is wrong. Output frequency can depend on your body, what you eat, how much you drink, your type of ostomy, and even the time of day.
There’s no one “right” number.
There’s only what works for you.
If you’re new to ostomy life or still figuring out your rhythm, give yourself grace. You’ll find your flow.
2 days ago | [YT] | 3
View 2 replies
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
Hey! The Live is starting now! youtube.com/live/1ATPsJoAnII?si=YaduA9u_rWMnjhrb
4 days ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
Hi 👋!
Tomorrow (Sunday 2/8), I will be holding my first Live at 2:00p EST.
The topic question is the following: If You Could Tell Your Pre-Surgery Self One Thing, What Would It Be?”
I hope to see you there!
Much love ❤️
5 days ago | [YT] | 8
View 4 replies
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
One year ago, I had a proctocolectomy, and my body had to relearn everything.
Today, I’m active again. I’m back in the gym, moving my body with intention and respect. I’ve also started swimming lessons, something that once felt completely out of reach. These aren’t small wins to me. They’re proof of how far healing can go.
Activity looks different now. I listen to my body more. I rest when I need to. Strength isn’t about pushing through pain anymore, it’s about consistency, patience, and trust.
If you’re early in recovery and wondering whether movement will ever feel possible again, it can. Not overnight. Not the same as before. But in a way that’s grounded, empowering, and deeply earned.
1 week ago | [YT] | 12
View 2 replies
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
It’s official. Living Full Ostomy Wear is live.
livingfullostomywear.com/products/unisex-ostomy-wr….
What started as a deeply personal need has turned into something I’m proud to share with you. Livingfullostomywear.com is now open, and my Living Full Ostomy Wrap is officially for sale.
This wrap was created for real life. For commuting, moving, resting, laughing, leaking, healing, and everything in between. Support without bulk. Comfort without compromise.
I’m also offering other thoughtfully chosen ostomy essentials designed to make everyday life feel more manageable, more comfortable, and more yours.
This launch isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. About showing up fully in the body you have now.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting.
Here’s to living full.
1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 14
View 5 replies
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
Ugh… mornings. Haha!
Nothing says “good morning” like your ostomy bag deciding it’s time to start its day before you are.
All I wanted was a few extra minutes of sleep… and instead:
Stoma gurgling
Eyes barely open
Mental debate about whether to get up or fall back to sleep
The morning struggle is real, but somehow, we show up anyway.
Sleep-in plans: canceled. Ostomy: undefeated.
Anyone else’s bag have a personal vendetta against snoozing?
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 12
View 1 reply
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
Hey! I'm just popping in to say "hi".
If you’ve been quiet lately, overwhelmed, exhausted, healing, grieving, rebuilding, or simply trying to get through the day without falling apart... I see you.
No big message today. No lesson.
Just a check-in.
How are you… really?
Drop a 💛 if you don’t have the words right now.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 11
View 2 replies
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
Nonresistance isn’t giving up.
It’s stopping the internal argument with what already exists.
When I resist what is, I collapse into one narrow version of reality.
When I accept what is, options quietly reappear.
Acceptance doesn’t mean I like everything.
It means I stop feeding it with emotional friction.
And without that friction, the experience loses weight.
The moment I stopped trying to fix, fight, or spiritually override my situation, something unexpected happened.
Life didn’t get smaller.
It widened.
Nonresistance is not passive.
It’s precise.
It’s choosing not to energize what no longer needs my attention.
From that space, reality reorganizes itself.
Not because I forced it,
but because I stopped interfering.
Acceptance isn’t the end of movement.
It’s the doorway to a different version of it.
And from here, things shift naturally.
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 9
View 0 replies
Living Full: My Gutless Journey
I have had my stoma in every season now.
Spring movement. Summer heat. Autumn layers. Winter coats.
Different clothes, different rhythms, same body learning how to live fully again.
There was a time I thought healing had a finish line. Now I know it has seasons. Some loud, some quiet. Some about strength, others about patience. All of them mine.
This body has adapted. It has carried me through surgery, recovery, setbacks, and ordinary beautiful days. I’m not waiting to feel “back to normal.” I’m building a new normal that moves forward.
Every season, still here. Still showing up.
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 14
View 2 replies
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