While friends and family can be very supportive, it can be tremendously helpful to talk to someone who has actually experienced what it's like to live with an ostomy. Both sharing your own learnings with others and listening to their experiences can give you a whole new perspective on life and on your ostomy.
How do you find others with an ostomy?
You can try asking your healthcare professional for guidance in finding people in situations similar to yours. Often, your nurse will know of local networks or support groups.
You could also look for ostomy forums or networks online. Many have found support in some of the thriving online communities.
A good place to start could be [LOCAL OSTOMY ASSOCIATION or NETWORK at www.URL.com [Link to local ostomy association]] or [LOCAL PATIENT GROUP SUGGESTION at www.URL2.com [Link to local patient group, network or similar]].
