My Story Les Foster Ostomy Solutions
	In 1985 at the age of 36 I became sick with Ulcerative Colitis, a disease which would subject me to nine years of pain and frustration.  While I continued working and trying to carry on a normal life I found myself in a constant state of misery. The disease for me was relentless, and over those years my body paid a great price from the countless trials of medications and high doses of prednisone that I was taking.  In 1994 I reached the point where I made the dreaded decision to have a total proctocolectomy with ileostomy performed.  My Gastroenterologist had been urging me to consider surgery for a couple of years but it seemed so drastic! I think that a person needs to get to the point where they realize that there is just no quality of life anymore, and all options have been exhausted, and when I reached that point I knew it. My body could no longer tolerate the medications and I was just so sick of being sick. The decision was clear - I was ready to get it over with and to start living again. In the weeks prior to surgery I tried to educate myself about living with an ostomy and I checked into the hospital feeling confident that I was doing the right thing. Wow! - I was in for a shock when I checked out of the hospital 12 days later (with a new stoma installed prominently on my belly) at just how much I would find myself affected not only physically but psychologically as well. After the weeks of physical recovery from surgery I found myself dealing with another problem - depression.  Actually, it caught me by surprise! I was feeling so much better now that I was rid of my diseased colon and I was getting stronger every day. I was now able to do things that I hadn't been able to do for years!  There was absolutely no comparison between being sick with Ulcerative Colitis and maintaining this ostomy! This was so much easier, I was now spending less time in the bathroom in a whole week than I used to spend in just one day! And no pain either! So, why the depression? I realize now that I was not alone in the way I reacted to this change in my body - many of us go through the same thing.  The body image factor was the thing that took me by surprise.  In preparing myself mentally for my surgery I had reasoned that since I was older, and had an understanding spouse, and life was going to be so much better after the operation I would be fine. I did not foresee the impact of how I would feel when I looked down at this unnatural new appendage and its associated hardware.  As I learned to care for my new stoma I became interested in finding what products were available to make life better for me as an ostomate. I settled on a pouching system that seemed to be reliable and that gave me good wear time, but an important factor that remained was the body image concern that I now had. My new way of eliminating was functional but I wasn't very happy with the way I looked or felt. I found products that were designed to cover a pouch, and other products designed to provide support, but I saw a need for a comfortable item of clothing that could be worn as an undergarment to discretely cover my pouch and also be functional. I wanted a belt that could be worn comfortably for long periods of time and offer a means of support. The Better Life Ostomy Belt was designed to fulfill all of these needs, and has become a regular part of my clothing;  I wear it daily.  Over the last six years the belt has evolved to become what I consider to be the finest product on the market. The  Better Life Ostomy Belt is now manufactured commercially in the USA using the highest grade components. It is made of an extremely soft and comfortable Cotton/Lycra stretch fabric and is machine washable and long wearing. It is breathable and I have found that even on the hottest days I am not aware that I have it on. A filling pouch is less noticeable under clothing and I seem to get longer wear time from each flange. It is great for holding the pouch securely during exercise, and when you remove your clothing you won't feel self-conscious while wearing this attractive and discrete band around your middle. You may choose to wear the belt as a regular part of your clothing as I do, or just wear it as a cover for intimate times or for support while you work or participate in sports activities.  I find the Better Life Ostomy Belt to be of great benefit and I am convinced that when you try it, you will too.