Tag Archives: ileostomy

How to select ostomy pouch styles for the outdoors

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

Last weekend I was reminded why I love using closed-end ostomy pouches on hikes and climbs. I was up on a long ridge between between Loveland Pass and Mt. Sniktau in Colorado. Though it was a gorgeous 75-degree day down … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking and backpacking, Products, Tips and Tricks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wilbur the stoma gets a biopsy

Posted on May 8, 2013 by

On Friday I was having some major déjà vu. However, it wasn’t all in my head. I actually was in a place that I had been before: the outpatient surgery pre-op area of the hospital where I had the colonoscopy … Continue reading →

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Back in the wilds!

Posted on April 22, 2013 by

Heart pounding, quads burning and lungs barely able to keep up — I could not believe I was standing at 13,000 feet again. Yet there I was! Doug and I spent the weekend in Breckenridge with his parents. Our rental … Continue reading →

Posted in Avascular Necrosis, Exercise, Hiking and backpacking, Nature and recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Reaching out (feat. new video)

Posted on March 4, 2013 by

Last Tuesday evening, I left work in a gorgeous swirl of falling snow but promptly got stuck in standstill traffic due to slippery road conditions. I half-thought of exiting the freeway and heading home, but the destination was too important … Continue reading →

Posted in Emotional Health, Friends, Hiking and backpacking, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Phoenix magazine now available online

Posted on February 11, 2013 by

Beyond great doctors and following the treatment plans they prescribe, one of the things I find most important when dealing with difficult medical conditions is maintaining a sense of hope.  I simply have to be able to believe that the … Continue reading →

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The My Hip T: a great product for ostomy pouch coverage

Posted on January 29, 2013 by

I have always been a bit of a gear junkie. I like having just the right backpack, sleeping bag or outdoor clothing for the specific adventure I am embarking on. This plethora of outdoor gear often comes at the expense … Continue reading →

Posted in Products | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

A new year!

Posted on January 1, 2013 by

Happy New Year everyone! Ouch! It has been an achy start to the New Year for me. No, not because of avascular necrosis (AVN), but because I went sledding yesterday. Doug and I are up in Wyoming visiting his brother … Continue reading →

Posted in Avascular Necrosis, Emotional Health, Family | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A fear becomes reality

Posted on December 11, 2012 by

The appointment yesterday started like so many others: weigh-in, check oxygen levels and blood pressure, and review my symptoms with the nurse. Then the orthopedist came in. We talked a bit about my recent shoulder pain and everything seemed as … Continue reading →

Posted in Avascular Necrosis, Remicade and other medications | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Lessons from a winter hiking trip

Posted on December 3, 2012 by

Sometimes after a busy summer season of packing and unpacking for an outdoor trip practically every weekend, I need a break. October and November were quiet months. I did some trail running, but didn’t go on any major adventures. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking and backpacking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Two years!

Posted on November 13, 2012 by

November 8th marked the two-year anniversary of my ileostomy surgery. It had been a hectic week, and I was in the mood for some quiet reflection time. I climbed a mesa near town, took in the scenery, and sketched and … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and drink, Nature and recovery, Stoma | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments