Had my first meeting with my stoma nurse :)

It went really well! I'm currently wearing a fake stoma and bag to see what it's like... I've had it on for six hours now and haven't noticed it once! I have this stuff to put in it to let me know how it feels when it is full, so I will do that tomorrow after I sleep with it. She said that my positive outlook will help me after the surgery, which I am thankful for. I just want it to happen now—I don't want to wait two whole months feeling the way I feel, but nothing can be done about that, I guess!!! She said that the recovery time is 3 weeks... I will be having a loop colostomy with keyhole surgery if anyone has any experience of that?! xxxx

Hi Laura. It's great to hear you are being so positive. For me, that was one of the key things towards my recovery, that and having total support from the stoma nurses and a loving husband. (I'm now 6 weeks down the track with my colostomy and don't regret it for a moment.) I hope all goes well for you. :-)

Hey Laura, welcome to the site. It's nice that you get to kind of experience a stoma and pouch. It is an adjustment, but when you are healed and have found the right products for you, it isn't so bad. I believe attitude is everything! Best of luck to you, and keep us posted.

Hey Laura,
Prior to my J-pouch surgery, I had my original ostomy site placed by my stoma nurse. It seemed like the right location, but ended up too close to my belt line. Sweatpants were the norm for comfort, but not practical for the long term. The J-Pouch surgery did not work, and I made the decision to go with a permanent end ileostomy. When my stoma nurse was prepping me for my stoma, I put on a pair of my favorite jeans and sat in a chair...then said to mark the stoma site. It was above my belt line and has been the most comfortable and practical location I could have imagined.
Best of luck to you.

Laura, keyhole is better than a couple of hundred stitches/staples (permanent colostomy). It's been over 20 years since my surgery and, given that it was cancer-related, I'm quite happy to see this face in the shaving mirror!! What ever you put up with at the start will be well worth it for the journey which follows ...

My Ostomy Journey: Jearlean | Hollister

Hey Laura, it is so good to hear that you have this positive outlook early; it will help you a ton! My initial surgery was done by keyhole (or in technical terms laparoscopically) 8 days after the surgery. I arrived at another hospital for critical illness, and they never knew I had surgery just a week and a day ago because the scars were simply just bruises! Another week or so later, and those bruises had disappeared. Just a shame I had to have a second open surgery because my abdomen would be perfect right now. The recovery time is significantly reduced with keyhole too, so we're looking for good things with you, young lady. Please, please, please, keep us updated. I wish you all the best in surgery and recovery. And welcome to the team (-:

try this tip!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdHnwzSU8Cg