Living and Loving Life: 50 Years with an Ileostomy

With a blend of first hand advice, insight, and gentle humour, this down to earth book is an everyday guide to living your life with an ileostomy -- what to plan for when you travel, what to consider when you are participating in activities or buying clothes, and being aware of foods or practices that may need to be avoided. It is a "users" blueprint for a long and enjoyable life with -- and in spite of -- having an ostomy..

S. Reiff Howarth is an art historian who has been organizing art exhibitions and researching and writing about art for over 50 years. At the age of 22, after nearly 10 years of suffering with ulcerative colitis, and because of a medical emergency caused by perforated ulcers, she had surgery that removed her large intestine and colon. In spite of the challenges of living with an ileostomy for nearly 50 years, she has proved that it does not have to sabotage your chances for a life filled with happiness, love, friendships, travel, and a successful and satisfying career.
"Living and Loving My Life" does not offer in-depth medical information, but provides details of the basic surgical procedure that creates an ileostomy, and points out the differences between an ileostomy and colostomy It also does not go into extensive detail about the many different types of equipment and suppliers. That is the realm of the ostomy nurses and associations, and company sales people.
Rather it is a guide to living and enjoying life. There are many challenges with an ileostomy, and many things that take "getting used to." but after you get accustomed to it and learn what to be aware of and what to avoid, it simply becomes another part of your anatomy. You can do, eat, and act as you always have, and probably even better because you do not have disease or bad health pulling you down. So relax, learn what you need to know, and get on with your life! By helping those that are embarking on this journey, the book celebrates the astonishing and incredible healing ability of the human body, and the indomitable resilience of the human spirit.
Chapters include: What is An Ileostomy? - Some Famous People with Ostomies - Reasons for Ostomy Surgery - The Ostomy Nurses - Beginning to Recover, Sports and Activities - Bags and Supplies - Dining and Cooking a la Julia Child - Food Related Challenges - Dehydration - Odor and Gas - No More Bikinis, Clothing Solutions - Dating and Sex - Traveling around the World - Resources, Ostomy Associations and Suppliers.