Meet Taylor

After a long road with many symptoms, Taylor was diagnosed with functional dyspepsia, gastritis, gastroparesis, anorectal floor dysfunction, pelvic floor dysfunction, migraines, seizures, and IBS-C.

Taylor was on her road to an ostomy journey for about 7.5 years and has been on her post surgery for a loop ileostomy for a year and a half.

She couldn’t go out much, walk much, or work much. Her quality of life was worsening and her body was poisoning itself. All symptoms of an underlying issue to this day no one can figure out. Post ostomy surgery, her severe constipation, gastritis, gastroparesis, and some of the swelling has resolved. Taylor’s loop ileostomy is reversible but because her quality of life has improved and the underlying condition has not been found, she has no plans to do a take down. “I’m grateful for my ostomy,” she says!

The Stealth Belt has impacted her life because it allows her to be more of an active participant in her life. It helps to conceal her stoma and give some support so her bag isn’t sagging which boosts her confidence.

Her involvement in the ostomy community consists of raising awareness about ostomies, reducing fear and shame surrounding ostomies, and demystifying ostomies using her Instagram page Ostomy and Stuff. She has also gone to speak to nurses at a local hospital several times to share her ostomy experience, give them suggestions on how to deal with ostomy patients, and share products and resources they can recommend to help ostomy patients. She has also been participating in the 5K that the United Ostomy Associations of America puts on each year.

Don’t be afraid to try new/different products to see what will work best for you. Let your skin needs, health needs, and your stoma guide you in your ostomy journey.

Interests/ Involvement

• Watching HGTV/DIY shows
• Sun bathing
• Helping people in need
• Interior decorating
• Playing board/card games
• Cooking