Aloha friends,
After 18 years living with an ostomy and designing support belts, I get asked one question almost as often as "horizontal or vertical?" It's this: "Where can I find honest information from someone who actually lives with an ostomy?"
One of my go to answers is Vegan Ostomy, written by my friend Eric.
Who Is Eric?
Eric is a fellow ostomate from Canada. He was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2008, and in August 2013 he had surgery to remove his colon and now lives with an ileostomy. He has called that surgery day "the most important day of my life," and anyone who has been through it knows exactly what he means.
When Eric came home from the hospital, he looked for other vegan ostomates and couldn't find any. So he did what great community builders do: he started writing. More than a decade later, Vegan Ostomy is a trusted patient run ostomy site read by tens of thousands of ostomates. Eric has also spoken to patients and stoma nurses, including an interview with Shield HealthCare's OstomyLife at the WOCN conference.
What I Appreciate About Eric's Work
- He lives it. Every tip comes from real experience, not a sales pitch.
- He's honest. He writes about the hard days, not just the good ones, and he encourages readers to become their own advocates.
- He's independent. His site is patient run, ad free and sponsor free, so you know his opinions are his own.
- He explains things clearly. Many of his guides come with videos that walk you through step by step.
What You'll Find on Vegan Ostomy
Here are a few areas I send people to most:
- Ostomy tips: practical help with skin around the stoma, appliances that won't stick, liquid output, stoma caps and more.
- Eating a plant based diet with an ostomy: how Eric stays vegan with an ileostomy, including smart habits like chewing well and preparing fruits and vegetables so they're easier to digest.
- Recipes: real meals that work for ostomates.
- Podcasts and video chats: conversations with other ostomates answering the questions people are often too shy to ask.
- Product guides: including a helpful list of Canadian ostomy products and brands, great for my Canadian friends.
Why the Vegan Part Matters
I love that Eric is vegan, and I love that he proves it's possible with an ostomy. Food is one of the biggest worries new ostomates have. Eric shows that with patience and the right habits, you can still eat the way that fits your values. Even if you're not vegan, his diet posts are full of ideas that help anyone eat more fruits and vegetables comfortably.
As always, check with your doctor, stoma nurse or dietitian before making big changes to your diet. You can find a wound, ostomy and continence nurse through the WOCN nurse finder.
More Great Ostomy Resources
Alongside Vegan Ostomy, these are resources I trust and share often:
- UOAA New Ostomy Patient Guide
- UOAA Support Group Finder
- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
- Our full list of ostomy resources
And on our site, you might find these helpful:
- Horizontal vs vertical ostomy belt: which is right for you?
- How to find your ostomy belt size
- My own story: how ostomy surgery saved my life
Go Say Hi to Eric
If you've ever felt alone with your ostomy, Eric's site is a great reminder that you're not. Head over to VeganOstomy.ca, read a few posts, and tell him Richard sent you.
Mahalo, Eric, for everything you do for our community.
Aloha,
Richard O'Hamill
Founder, O'Hamill Inc. / HIRO
Ostomate since 2008
This post shares my personal experience and opinions and is not medical advice. Vegan Ostomy is independently run; Eric has no business relationship with HIRO.
Photos: Charlotte Karlsen and Frames For Your Heart on Unsplash; Ella Olsson on Pexels.