Feeling like crap

It's been a little over a year and a half since my colostomy, and I just experienced my second public leaker. My pouch was empty when I got to Walmart to do some grocery shopping, but I had just finished eating half a box of Godiva chocolates that I got from my husband on Valentine's Day. There I am, filling my cart with groceries, and I suddenly felt my pouch rapidly filling with poo, not realizing that my pouch was starting to leak. I bumped into a friend of mine who usually gives me a big hug when she sees me, but for some reason, she just said hello and ran off in a hurry. I thought maybe she was just having a bad day. After I was done filling my cart, I thought I felt something warm and wet on my thigh. Oh shit! What do I do? Leave my cart of groceries and go home? Or do I go to the line and pay for my groceries and hope no one can smell poo? I decided to go ahead and pay for my groceries. I didn't feel like making a second trip to the store later. Luckily, there was only one person behind me and no one in front of me. I got home and sure enough, I had leaked, and it was running down my leg. Must have been the chocolates I ate. I cursed and cussed all the way home, feeling embarrassed and angry as all hell about it. Donna

I doubt the chocolates are to blame, Donna. In my experience, food in itself does not break the seal, something else does. Did you let too many days pass between changes? Did you allow the bag to become more than a third filled at anytime? Did you adjust your car's seatbelt properly? The best way to reduce blowouts is to understand and make adjustments for the real causes. Anyway, all of us know the emotional trauma behind your experience. Thank you for reminding us that we are not alone in this situation. PB.

Hello DH. Thanks for your post. I think that most of us have been there at some time. I'm with PB in thinking that it's probably not what you ate. Over a period of time I have had seals break completely for no apparent reason and some that are stuck so well I have a job to get them off even with the remover. Sometimes I think that the products are simply not as consistent as we might expect. 'Fortunately' for me, I have a hernia that requires pressure immediately around the stoma - so for the most part my device holds the plugs in and the seal secure even if it's not sticking properly.(I don't wear bags now I'm irrigating) However, even that is not foolproofas I've had plugs pushed out and one or two have actually broken off their mooringswhich was a bit concerning! Anyway, I hope you can look back on your traumatic incident with acceptance and perhaps come to see that the old cliche has some pertinence in these situations What doesn't kill you - makes you stronger Best wishesBill

Hi DH, oh how I can relate. Chocolate goes through me quickly too. I have come to realize that I can only eat no more than three pieces a day and not eat them again the next. It probably is not the cause of the leak, but it sure does make things loose for me anyway. I would hope someone I consider a friend would say something to me in the nicest possible way. But if it was only someone who I associate with (like people at the job), then I guess they wouldn't know what to do. If possible, try to keep some emergency supplies with you for a quick change. I have gone to a cashier and told them that I have had an emergency and not to put my things back on the shelf, went into the restroom, cleaned up, and checked out. I do keep extra clothing in my car for just that reason, but also an extra bag and wipes and things in my purse.

Are you kidding me? You don't carry a kit for just that problem on you at all times? Ladies have purses. Men have pockets. I carry a flange, bag, and a couple of small moistened wipes in my back pocket. Combined, they are half as thick as a wallet. In my car, I have a full meal deal, a bigger kit with soapy water in plastic bottles, flanges, wafers, bags, and a couple of pairs of spare underwear. I can't imagine anyone with an ostomy not having this stuff all the time on their person. As far as the cart full of items, simply leave it and make a beeline for your car.

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Hi, I think it's inevitable that it's going to happen to all of us at some point. The first time it happened to me was pretty bad, but I just left the trolley and went to the bathroom to sort myself out, and then quickly paid for my stuff and left. Luckily, I had a big long coat on so you couldn't see the wet patch on my trousers!

It happens to all of us, and no matter how prepared we are, there are those rare times when we don't always have everything with us. But it still really sucks when it happens.

Hi! I've had a shocker! One time, my friends and I were going camping up north for a couple of nights, and the truck broke down not far out of town, so we arranged another vehicle to get us to the spot. Four hours' drive later and halfway through the night (having had a few too many drinks), I realized my bag was leaking and completely buggered! I just thought it was a slight inconvenience and that I would change it in the bushes, only to realize I had left the smaller one of my bags with my supplies in it 4 hours south in the broken-down truck! I was already not on form from the drink, so I took my problem to my two closest friends, and considering the bag was useless, we called an ambulance! I woke up in the morning thinking, "Where the hell am I?" and the events of the night came back to me! To make matters worse, I was at a hospital even further north! I rang my friend, and he said they were nearly home because they thought I'd gone to the hospital in our area! Lucky for me, they turned around and came all the way up to get me! Worst incident I've had so far!

Hey, don't worry, we all go through it. When it happens to me, I use the drive home to clean up to reflect on how lucky I am to be alive. Without the surgery that gave me the ostomy, I would have been dead two years ago. After I clean up, sometimes I'll play hooky to remind myself how lucky I am. When you have an accident, use the rest of the day to do something nice for yourself!