some kind of normal

Hi, this is my first blog ever!!!!!

It's coming up to 6 months post-surgery. I now have no colon and about 3 feet of small bowel missing with an ileostomy. I had my gallbladder removed 5 weeks ago.

I actually feel well again. No tummy pains, no obstructions, and no more sickness. My output has calmed down, and I'm only getting up once or twice at night to go to the loo. People are commenting on how well I look. I may even come to terms with living with my bag.

I'm not sure how I will adjust my summer clothes and swimwear, but that'll be my next challenge.

Sounds like you're doing well, which is wonderful!

Good for you! Now that you are feeling better, you can focus your attention on other things like your clothes. If you have gotten this far, the rest will be easier and you will finally live your life. Good luck.

If you're trying to figure out what to wear for the summer, try looking at ostomysecrets.com. I bought a unisex wrap from them so that I don't feel so self-conscious about my bag. They sell all kinds of stuff for chicks and dudes in the swimwear section. I'm not trying to sound like I work for them at all, just trying to pass along something useful :-)

So glad that you are doing well and feeling much better after your surgery. That is very good news! I find wearing support undergarments is a help. They keep things in place, smooth things out, and add security. I also like wearing pantyhose with my dresses and skirts. Again, it provides support. I usually purchase one size bigger to accommodate my ostomy. I don't want to scrunch it. I never really liked wearing pants/slacks, even before the ostomy, but ones that are slightly roomier in the waist work for me. Some people wear low-rise, and I have low-rise summer capris, but I need to watch the pancaking if I sit too long. Overall, I wear most of my clothing from the pre-surgery days with a few minor adjustments. You will know what feels comfortable and what does not. Good luck and take care. Everything will work out; it may just take some time. LH

My Ostomy Journey: Jearlean | Hollister

Thanks for your supportive comments guys, It's been my life saver this site, I have gained so much knowledge and understanding from my fellow ostomates, it's got me through the last six months of my life!

Hi Angell, Ileo has it spot on, Ostomy Secrets are great and in the UK you can get it all on script. I use the 10-inch wraps and the vests are good in the winter.

Thanks, blueonthetyne. I have a waist wrap; I should probably go back to trying it again. I've had to buy all new clothes as my weight has gone up to a healthy 51 kilograms. I was painfully thin before surgery. I shall definitely try the vests too. Thank you. x

I lost weight after surgery and I'm better for it, but a bit more would not go amiss. I have 15 wraps now and wear one all the time; they are now a basic part of my underwear. I cracked my biggest fear this summer gone by going onto the beach and swimming in the sea. It's not that folk are looking at you, it's just you think folk are looking at you.

Hi Angell,
Good for you! Speaking as someone who has had an ostomy for over 40 years, the problems you have now with clothing are nothing compared to what you went through. Eventually, you will figure it out. I wear underwear up to the waist with light control to keep it all together, and I keep the pouch fairly empty. I wear regular bathing suits and find tankinis easier so that I don't need to pull the whole thing off when I need to empty. Blueonthetyne makes a good point. Most people are not even looking at your tummy area and will not even notice anything different. Take care.

Thank you for your supportive replies, blueonthetyne and Redondo. I have just purchased a selection of wraps from Ostomysecrets, so hopefully, I feel a bit more comfortable. I have been getting a lot of leaks, and the stoma has felt sore whilst passing waste. I have kept to a simpler diet this week, and it seems to have calmed down. I think the bag moves a bit if the stoma is trying too hard to push food out. Often, I need to change my bag twice a day. I had a leak coming back from a night out in London last Friday, late at night on the tube. I had to get off at Kings Cross station and run to McDonald's toilets, just in time. Boy, what a heart racer. I look forward to the day when I have no more leaks and I no longer feel anxious whilst at work or out for the evening. I did swim on holiday and wore a draped fronted black swimsuit, so that was a success. I need to bin my old jeans and trousers though, as the fastenings cut across my stoma. So it's high-waisted all the way! Hope you both have a lovely evening and thanks for reading/listening, Angell xxxx

Ahhh, it's very stressful. I wear my jeans with the bag on the outside, then the wrap goes over the top to keep it all in place. I also use Brava elasticated strips now, but you have to get them right. I'm just getting the Brava elasticated strips; they take a while to get used to, but I've got the hang of it now.

Hi, I've had the same thing with leaks; not nice. I changed pouch suppliers, and now the pouches have no problems.

Clothes? I wear what I want, when I want. At first, I was worried about lookers, so I got a flesh-colored stocking-looking thing from a stoma nurse. It hid everything. Now, it is what it is. Good luck!