Just had permanent colostomy placed 4 weeks ago. Had this placed to relieve me of misery from a two year battle with a ileostomy reversal. Being 4 weeks post op my ostomy is still "uncomfortable ". Worse when up and moving. Wondering if anyone else experienced this and how long or if it ever becomes "part of you" and you don't even notice or think of your ostomy. Thank you for thoughts.
Indy5
Aug 27, 2021 8:00 pm
Bill
Aug 29, 2021 7:29 am
Hello Indy5.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and predicament.
4 weeks is still very early days and post-operational discomfort is what they describe as 'normal'. This discomfort is not likely to suddenly stop, but more likely to gradually reduce over time (time which is difficult to predict because we are all different in the healing process) I used to describe it as 'JND' - short for Just Noticable Difference. and I would be alert to to these minute-subtle changes on a monthly basis. As for getting to the stage when I: 'don't notice, or think of my ostomy' . This only came after I began irrigating and had no output during the day. Hence, there was no reason to be concerned about the stoma except during irrigation.
I was told not to consider irrigation until at least 6weeks post surgery, but others have been told different times dependent on what was wrong with them and the whims of their medics.
My recommendation to anyone with a colostomy is to investigate whether they would be suitable for irrigation and, if they are, to GO FOR IT!
Iriigation will change your practical life and your perception of having a stoma for the better and you will stand a much better chance of reaching that state of mind where you 'don't notice, or think of my ostomy' so much quicker.
Best wishes
Bill
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Posted by: iMacG5
About seven years ago, just about every aspect of my life was ostomy related. From the moment I was told an ostomy might be needed until some months down the road I existed as a person afflicted with a colostomy. I feared someone other than my immediate family might find out I had a bag. Ugh! What could be worse? Suppose it filled real fast when I was out with no place to hide and take care of myself. God forbid should it leak in church! Suppose I roll over on it in bed. I was a lesser creature, destined to a life of emotional anguish and physical routines different from most of the rest of the world. I felt like a freak. Then I found folks like you guys here, read your stuff, really “listened” to what you had to say and I began looking at things differently. We know perception is everything and I began to understand how good things were relative to what they could’ve been. So many folks had it so much worse than I did. That didn’t make my discomfort go away but it exposed how fortunate I was to be dealing with my stuff and not their’s. I felt a little guilt, maybe selfishness but quickly forgave myself by understanding I just wasn’t smart enough to fix my feelings. Then, I wonder what smarts have to do with feelings. My perception was warped so my perspective toward my existence was warped.
I learned over the last few years with the help of lots of folks right here at MAO that I could be better at living just by accepting some facts. It is what it is and so what? It’s not the worst thing to happen to a person.
I think everything is, in some way, related to everything else. I just put the ostomy thing in the back seat and drive forward.
Respectfully,
Mike