I have a night drainage system so I don't have to get up every hour to drain my bag. If I don't sleep with my night drainage on, I just get up, drain it and go back to sleep. It's second nature.
Jearlean
Living with 2 ostomies since she was 2 years old
I've always slept on my side, having an ostomy hasn't changed that. If i have a leak when I'm asleep, I'll wake up because my skin will itch. I feel it and think, 'oh my pouch is full'. The same way someone wakes up and says 'I have to go to the bathroom.'
Stephanie
Living with an ostomy since 2010
I sleep better now because I don't have to deal with the illness I had. Over time, your body gets used to things, and so I just wake up at night when it's full now.
Ted
Living with an ostomy since 2012
Featured articles
Default Headline
Everyday life
Finding Your Footing After Ostomy Surgery
Start your recovery with confidence and clarity.
Community
me+ community story - Francesco
Interview with Francesco Murano, Ostomy Ambassador Read about Francesco's experience with Convatec me+ support
Everyday life
How can I stop my stoma leaking at night?
There are some simple things that you can try today that could help reduce stoma bag leakage at night.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Sarah B
Meet Sarah Biggart, living with an ostomy for more than 20 years.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Dana
Intuitively, Dana Marie knew that life after ostomy surgery could mean one of two things. She could either choose to ...
Community
me+ Community Stories - Meghan
Instagram Star, Meghan Brown, Shares How Easy Pouch Removal is with ESENTA™
Community
me+ Community Stories - Walt
Inspired by stories of others living with an ostomy, Walt Brilhart had dedicated his life to sharing the message of h...
Community
me+ Community Stories - Ronald
It was late Summer 2014, age 74, when I first learned that I had bladder cancer. Read Ronald's story.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Kimberly
In 2015, Kimberly was in the midst of cancer treatments, with a bowel perforation and an obstruction that required em...
Community
me+ Community Stories - Ellyn
For most of her life, 73-year-old Boca Raton resident, Ellyn Mantell, has suffered chronic stomach and bowel complaints.
Community
me+ Community Stories - Lauren
What do you get when you cross a yoga-loving ad exec with a house plant- obsessed fashionista? You get Lauren Beach o...
Community
me+ Community Stories - Jearlean
Jearlean Taylor has never known life without an ostomy. She has had two ostomies since she was just three years old. ...
Community
me+ Community Stories - Maggie
My name is Maggie and I received my ostomy at the age of 16. Originally, I had gone in for a resection of my terminal...
Relationships & Intimacy
Date Night with an Ostomy
Are you feeling nervous at the thought of date night after ostomy surgery? You’re not alone. With a little planning a...
Fashion
Fashion Tips for Men Living with an Ostomy
After ostomy surgery you can wear the same clothes as anyone else – and do it with style! Here are some fashion tips ...
Fashion
Fashion tips for women living with an ostomy
Here are some practical fashion tips from Jearlean Taylor, a successful model, author, and businesswoman who has neve...
Activity
Reducing Risk of Parastomal Hernia
You may have heard about a complication known as a ‘parastomal’ hernia, an abnormal bulge around the stoma. These tip...
Everyday life
Travel
Managing an ostomy pouch leak in public
Leakages in public may be a stoma wearers' worst nightmare. Leaks happen, but the good news is that it doesn’t have t...
Everyday life
Tips for Preventing Ostomy Leaks
Tips for preventing stoma leakages, find out if there’s something you could try today to help prevent leakages in the...
Community
me+ community stories - Ted Vosk
Ted has been living with an ileostomy since May 2012, after developing ulcerative colitis.
Everyday life
Community
Sleeping with an Ostomy
‘Learning’ how to sleep again after ostomy surgery may be odd. But when you have a stoma, your old sleep positions ma...
Everyday life
Bathing or showering with an Ostomy
Showering or bathing with an ostomy should not interfere with your regular cleaning routine. Here are some tips on ba...
Everyday life
Tips for Managing Anxiety After Ostomy Surgery
One of the biggest worries for people who have recently had ostomy surgery is what other people will think.
Everyday life
Fashion
Returning to Work with an Ostomy
From industrial jobs to the classroom, from long shifts at the hospital to dancers – and all workplaces in between – ...
Everyday life
Preparing for Winter Weather
If you live in an area that may be affected by a natural disaster or severe weather, these tips may help you feel mor...
Everyday life
Peristomal Skin Care
Knowing how to identify irritated skin around your stoma early and keeping it healthy could help avoid greater compli...
Everyday life
Travel
Navigating public restroom with an Ostomy
When you’re out and about, everyone needs to take a quick pitstop from time to time, and the key to a good pitstop is...
Activity
Everyday life
Travel
Managing Humidity and Extending Pouch Wear Times
For people living with an ostomy, humid climates and certain situations may cause concern in pouch wear time. The me+...
Everyday life
Caring for a Child with an Ostomy
Even though it’s often a lifesaving procedure, it’s still difficult to watch your little one undergo ostomy surgery. ...
Everyday life
Back to school with an ostomy
As your child begins to recover from ostomy surgery, it is normal for them to feel fearful or anxious about their nee...
Diet
Everyday life
Living with an ostomy: Hydration
Drinking more is one of the simplest ways to improve your health and well-being. These tips can help you stay one ste...
Diet
Enjoy your fruits and vegetables
Tips from our me+ contributor, Sarah Biggart about enjoying a healthier diet whilst living with an ostomy.
Diet
What to Eat After Ostomy Surgery
There is no specific ‘ostomy diet’ but there are important considerations as you discover the foods that work best fo...
Activity
Exercise After Surgery: Back to Basics
No matter what level of physical activity you want to pursue, ostomy surgery shouldn’t hold you back.
Activity
Swimming with an Ostomy
Having an ostomy should not prevent you from swimming. Here are some helpful tips to get you feeling confident in the...
Activity
Post-Ostomy Surgery: Dos and Don’ts of Exercise
Exercising after ostomy surgery is about patience and doing what feels right. It’s important to take your time and kn...
Everyday life
Where to Buy Ostomy Products
The me+ support team is available so that you don't have to figure it out alone.
Everyday life
Patient Assistance Program
Convatec is committed to helping people living with ostomies overcome the challenges they face—including affording os...
Everyday life
me+ Virtual Support
Have your ostomy care questions answered by a board-certified ostomy nurse through visual support or live demonstrati...
Everyday life
My Ostomy Journey App
With this easy-to-use app, you will be able to conveniently track ostomy-related activities without the hassle.
Travel
Ostomy Travel Tips
Extra security precautions are being taken at airports and other transit hubs worldwide. A little pre-planning and un...
Everyday life
Travel
Road Trips with an Ostomy
Now that you have an ostomy, the idea of taking long trips can seem daunting. But with a little extra preparation, yo...
