Ostomy Book, 3rd Edition

Living Well with an Ostomy

Barbara Dorr Mullen, Kerry Anne McGinn, R.N., B.S.N., O.C.N.

Winner of the Medical SelfCare Book Award

This third edition of The Ostomy Book brings the award-winning classic up to date for the person who has or will have a colostomy, ileostomy or urinary diversion (urostomy), either permanent or temporary, as well as for family, friends and health professionals. Written by a mother and her daughter, the book serves as a complete but easy-to-read handbook about ostomy surgeries, ostomy care and the good life possible with an ostomy. Just as importantly, it presents a beautifully-told story of the entire experience from the first shock of diagnosis through rehabilitation and beyond.

New information in this edition includes:

• Updates on surgical procedures, including alternative procedures such as J-pouches and neobladders
• What's new in ostomy care and living with an ostomy, from pouches to eating well to travel, from sex to exercise to insurance, and plenty more
• Changes in the organizations that support people with ostomies
• Current resources, with website addresses

Rave Reviews

“It combines in a most admirable way, factual information with sensitivity…For anyone about to undergo ostomy surgery or in the immediate post-operative period and for their families, this book should be compulsory reading…For those with professional involvement in the care of ostomates, this book will have equal appeal…I recommend it unreservedly…”
—J.R. Kirkpatrick, MD, Member Professional Advisory Boards, United Ostomy Association, International Ostomy Association

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - I'm Going to Have a What?
Chapter 2 - What is an Ostomy?
Chapter 3 - It's Your Body
Chapter 4 - Before Surgery
Chapter 5 - Surgery, and Just After
Chapter 6 - On the Mend
Chapter 7 - But How Do You Really Feel
Chapter 8 - That Strange Big World Out There
Chapter 9 - Permanent Colostomies: Changes & Choices
Chapter 10 - Ileostomies and Alternatives
Chapter 11 - Life Without A Built-in Bladder
Chapter 12 - Pouches and the Skin They Touch
Chapter 13 - Pouch Skills
Chapter 14 - Temporary Ostomies
Chapter 15 - Eating Well
Chapter 16 - Catnaps, Strolls, and Good Belly Laughs
Chapter 17 - You're looking Great
Chapter 18 - What About Sex
Chapter 19 - Work? Of Course!
Chapter 20 - Swimming, Skiing and Other Diversions
Chapter 21 - The Other Side of the World
Chapter 22 - Pregnancy? Yes!
Chapter 23 - Children with Ostomies
Chapter 24 - A Word to the Teenagers
Chapter 25 - Checkups and Follow-ups
Chapter 26 - Helping Hands: Ostomy Organizations and ET Nurses
Chapter 27 - In the Family

About the Author