I named mine Sylvester Stalloma; he's now my ring man fighting through this labyrinth called life.
For the most part, he's well-behaved apart from the odd battle cry he lets out at 2 a.m. some nights, startling me into action in the darkness. I think he does it just to remind me that he's still there fighting my corner.
Well, I never named my butthole either 🤣, but I think naming my stoma has made a huge difference in how I perceive my life with it.
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I had my name picked out for my stoma before I even got my stoma and before I even knew others named them.
No, the cutie is in its 36th year. I've never seen the point in naming it; it's only a stoma. I know from my experience, even before having a stoma, I've always seen them differently from most people. Each to their own; some say it makes them feel good naming them. Whatever works for you is the right thing.
Spot on, Ben. To each their own when whatever works for them.
This topic has been addressed many times in the forum sections.
Some interesting and clever names, too.
Tom, can you access those topics?
I named my colostomy Mona because she was very noisy.
And my ileostomy is called Squirt😂😂😂.
I only named them for my daughter's sake so she wasn't scared of it.
Ahh, that makes sense. My son asks me questions about my ileostomy all the time. He keeps asking to see it, but I haven't because I think if he actually did, it would scare him. I've seen it with the bag on and told him what it does.
Ahh, that makes sense. My son asks me questions about my ileostomy all the time. He keeps asking to see it, but I haven't because I think if he actually did, it would scare him. I've seen it with the bag on and told him what it does.
No names for mine. I don't see the point, really. If I refer to them by name, I'd have to explain, so it just seems like extra work. Though it does seem like more people than not name them.
As a funny aside, my husband once suggested I name mine Darryl so I could introduce my colostomy and urostomy as "my stoma Darryl and my other stoma Darryl."
I called mine Melody because in the first few days she was somewhat musical. 😂 I'd never had digestive noises before, so it took some getting used to.
I guess the reason I have not named my stoma is that I see it - as I have for over forty years - as part and parcel of me, i.e., for me, to name it would underline it as being external to me: rather like a favorite car or another member of my pack ....
Like Alex implied - acceptance is what acceptance is - one does not name an arm or heart, etc. .... that is, perhaps, until something is perceived as different about a part of our anatomy.
In my case, even when my stoma was put through a titanium collar and I was using the TIES device in place of the collecting pouch, even then no name was assigned; and in other examples like this, I did not name my arm cast when I broke my arm, or name my air boot, etc., when the ankle was knitting together.
Perhaps I see a stoma as an integral part of a person when they are needed - my mother had a colostomy in her later years - but as an accepting child, I just perceived it as herself going forward.
My own take on the subject is - if it helps folks, then great, and if a name works for you - or others close to you, then it's 'right' for you.
Going back to my own circle of folks - others have named cars of mine, for example, and when I have become well associated with a trusted vehicle that brings me joy - then it has often been referred to by a 'name,' often a play on its number plate - or a word by way of 'affection' or 'pet name.'
So just perhaps, the naming of something is to do with the joy of life - as in a reflection of gratitude for the stoma, as well as pet names of resignation - by definition part of the process of acceptance or acknowledgment.
In my own case, I have always been grateful for the life the stoma has afforded me.
When I dared to dream and went for the TIES implant - still the stoma went unnamed - even when managed through the titanium collar, arguably affording more 'freedom' ..... I certainly appreciated being bagless for short periods of time before all started to go wrong!
Since the long road to recovery - which is still evolving - following the explant of the device and the devastation it caused within my abdomen, I still have not named my refactored stoma - quite the reverse, in fact, for it is a hard knock to find oneself dealing with a trauma site following what one had hoped would be a 'new' and 'better' way forward - neither of which resulted.
Acceptance is an important part of any transformative process - living with a stoma - or not - is a transformative process, and we all 'adjust' in our own ways.
Whatever helps this adjustment in a positive fashion has to be good!
So my earlier comment was not intended to be a dismissive one ..... as when I reverted to using a collecting pouch - although a huge disappointment - no name was ever assigned.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ waves ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jayne
Interesting take. I never named a car, no matter how long I've had it or how much I've loved it.
At least I'm consistent. 🤣
Nice one, Susan - it's the classic ones that get named - like I say, not necessarily by me - but sometimes.
A few inconsistencies ensure life remains unpredictable.
Hope you are having a good day.
Kind regards
Jayne
My stoma was Kanga, but only post-op. I was literally carrying so many things on my tummy: drains, new stoma, all sorts due to my gynea surgery. I felt like a kangaroo carrying my tummy, and of course, Kanga is in Winnie the Pooh! Xx I thought it was pretty cute at the time; it just worked, and I will always be so thankful to Kanga and love her for our time together, good and bad. As tough as things can be, we need to embrace them. x
Sure do need to embrace our challenges ......
I love the concept of Kanga ......... both in terms of Piglet and Pooh, but more specifically the feeling of 'carrying' stuff ................ I felt like you describe after my major surgery - as I felt everything was 'hanging out' - but in reality, fortunately it was not - at least not then back when I had my first stoma.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ waves from the coast ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Bless you, thank you for your reply. Yes, I very much felt that I was carrying so much at that stage, not only physically but mentally. I also felt almost love and protection for my stoma, as much as I resented her sometimes, lol. But more so, I was so thankful to her for everything. So yes, I felt Kanga was very poignant. xx
Best wishes xx 😘
Mine is Spewy when he's not behaving, Stomy when he is. When I'm a little nervous about a possible blockage and he starts to work, I actually say things like, “Good job, Stomy, that's it!” I think I miss having a dog 😂.
That’s a nice thought gaia ☺️ unfortunately Sylvester will be with me forever, sometime in next few months I’ll be joining the ‘Ken’ club,
though rather be ‘action man’ a little bit more macho lol 😂
Although he kicks my ass if I forget and eat something I shouldn’t.
As hard as it must be, I have had an insight into how difficult it is, so I understand to an extent, but of course, I cannot understand the acceptance of having your ostomy long term. When I began to accept and become more used to mine, as very challenging as it was, my hard days did outweigh the good sometimes, trust me… but I also was so very grateful for my ostomy, and it became part of me. I actually, in a way, felt more empowered than ever and more confident. I know it's easier said than done, but I think once you learn to love yourself more for who you are, it does get easier. It took me time to post about mine, full stop, and join something like this, but it was the best thing I did really. When reflecting, as hard as our ostomies can be, they're actually our lifelines. xx
Hope things begin to become a tad easier for you. xx Best wishes