Beyond the Bag Blog
Real talk. Practical guidance. Community support. Written by someone who's been there.
Worried about accommodations, bathroom access, leave, or discrimination at work after ostomy surgery? Stephanie Crawford explains the basics of ADA and FMLA protections, how to talk to HR, what to document, and when to ask for legal help.
Finding an ostomy therapist can be harder than it should be. Stephanie Crawford shares what to look for in a therapist who understands chronic illness, body image after ostomy surgery, cancer survivorship, medical trauma, grief, and intimacy.
Feeling dismissed by your care team? Stephanie Crawford — ostomy survivor and advocate — shares the exact scripts, tools, and language to push back on dismissal, ask for a WOC nurse referral, get your symptoms documented, and build the care team you actually deserve.
Living with an ostomy and chronic pain is a double burden — fibromyalgia, arthritis, neuropathy, IBD flares that didn't stop after surgery. Stephanie Crawford shares practical strategies for managing both, how to read peristomal pain, and why you deserve a care team that takes the whole picture seriously.
Before surgery, you had a passport full of stamps. Now you wonder if international travel is over. Stephanie Crawford — ostomy survivor and advocate — says it absolutely is not. Here's your complete guide to flying internationally with an ostomy: airport security, packing smart, destination tips, and the mindset shift that makes it real.
Been avoiding dating since your surgery? Stephanie Crawford — ostomy survivor and advocate — shares the honest guide to when and how to disclose, handling rejection, practical date tips, and where to find people who already get it.
You got cleared to exercise and you're terrified to push hard again. Stephanie Crawford — ostomy survivor and advocate — breaks down exactly how to run, lift, swim, and race with an ostomy bag. Gear, hydration, hernia prevention, and the mental game.
Arthritis making bag changes harder? Medicare coverage you don't know about? Stephanie Crawford — ostomy survivor and advocate — covers everything seniors need to know about managing an ostomy as they get older.
Your child just came home from the hospital with an ostomy and you're terrified. Stephanie Crawford — ostomy survivor and advocate — covers everything from the first week home, to school accommodations, sports, and how to talk to your child about their stoma at every age.
Can you still have children after an ostomy? Yes — and here's what nobody tells you. Stephanie Crawford covers pregnancy with a colostomy or ileostomy from pre-conception planning through delivery and postpartum recovery.
Sticker shock on your first supply order? You shouldn't have to pay out-of-pocket. Stephanie Crawford explains exactly how Medicare Part B, Medicaid, and private insurance cover ostomy supplies — and what to do when claims get denied.
That burning, raw skin around your stoma? You're not imagining it — and it's not your fault. Stephanie Crawford covers the 5 most common peristomal skin problems, 7 prevention habits, and exactly what to do when your skin breaks down.
When Stephanie came home from the hospital, nobody told her a WOC nurse existed. A wound, ostomy, and continence nurse is one of the most powerful tools you have — here's what they do, when to see one, and how to find one near you.
Nervous about going back to the office after ostomy surgery? Stephanie Crawford covers everything — ADA rights, what to tell coworkers, managing bag changes at the office, and the simple plan for when a leak happens at work.
The first time Stephanie heard the word "ostomy," she had no idea what it meant. If you're newly diagnosed and searching for a straight answer, this is the plain-language guide she needed and nobody gave her.
Stephanie came home from the hospital with a bag full of supplies she didn't understand and no one to explain them. Here's the plain-language guide to what you actually need — and what you can skip.
Nobody taught Stephanie what to do when she got home from the hospital. Her first solo bag change took 45 minutes and a lot of tears. Now she walks you through every step — so yours doesn't have to.
Nobody handed Stephanie a guide when she left the hospital. One bag, one choice — until she discovered a whole world of options. Here's how to find the right fit for your body and your life.
Can your ostomy be reversed? Stephanie Crawford shares the honest answer — including who qualifies for an ostomy takedown, what recovery really looks like, and how to find peace if reversal isn't possible.
Nobody clearly explained what kind of ostomy Stephanie was getting — or why. If you're newly diagnosed and searching for clarity, this is the plain-language guide she wishes she'd had.
Nobody tells you about the accessory world when you're discharged. Stephanie Crawford shares the guide she wishes she had — support belts, barrier rings, pouch covers, travel kits, and what to skip.
That moment when you feel the dreaded leak starting. Stephanie Crawford explains why ostomy bags leak, what to do immediately when one happens, and how to prevent them long-term.
Flying with an ostomy? Road trips, beach days, and hotel rooms — Stephanie Crawford shares the honest guide to ostomy travel tips she learned the hard way.
Can you exercise with an ostomy? Yes — and Stephanie shows you exactly how. From when to start, what to avoid, to building real gym confidence post-surgery.
What can you eat with an ostomy? Stephanie shares her honest ostomy food guide — including the ER night that changed everything she thought she knew about eating with a stoma.
Will anyone love me like this? Stephanie tackles body image, relationships, and intimacy after ostomy surgery with the honesty nobody else is willing to offer.
Nobody hands you a pamphlet for the grief that comes after ostomy surgery. Stephanie opens up about depression, isolation, and the shift that changed everything.
The pamphlets are incomplete. Here's what the first week home really looks like — sleep, showering, eating, and accepting help — from someone who's lived it.
A diagnosis changes everything — but knowing what's ahead makes all the difference. From emotional adjustment to practical daily routines, here's what the first year really looks like.
Stephanie shares the real, practical tips she wishes someone had given her: pouch changes, diet tricks, travel hacks, exercise, clothing, and how to find your community.
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