Coping After Colostomy: Seeking Support and Advice

Consider counseling. You need to discuss your feelings with a professional.

It was a little... different... for me at first. Arranging poop in my bag. Looking at the output coming out of the stoma. After several months... no big deal. You get used to it. I've learned exactly where my stoma is, in the bag. So it's easy now for me to push poop around, without looking.

Over time, the ostomy will become familiar. It is an amazing medical advance that has saved and improved so many lives.

It gets easier. You have to be patient and nonjudgmental about yourself.

Choose to be happy.

I'm going a different direction than Maried here. Consider 2-piece closed-end bags; you can pop it off, clean the stoma to suit you, then pop on a new clean bag. It's faster and easier than a complete appliance change. It helps me to feel cleaner.

Heck, try both ideas and see which one suits you best. Everyone is different, and what works best for one may not suit another.

And seek some professional help, as BB suggested. A few sessions may help you get past whatever is holding you back. You deserve to enjoy your new life.

Beach Boy

This is heartfelt and practical detail - could not wish for better or more specific advice -

Pamela,

Like BB says - You are the only person to limit yourself now ....

So forward, one step at a time and then a few more and so on .....

[and yes sometimes there might be bad days - but tomorrow need not be a repeat of yesterday]

HUGS

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Waves ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

BW

Jayne

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Hi Pamela, you've already taken a huge step forward by posting in this group, so let's see what else you will do today to move along. What did you do? Go outside in the sun? Look at different bags? Drink a half glass of wine? Tell us! We are really interested in your baby steps. My tip for today is to pre-spray the bathroom with Febreze before I start my change, so I never smell poop.

I have extreme reactions to the last surgery I had even though I've had my ileostomy for 11 years. Sometimes it can just hit you. Totally agree with others—find anything to turn your attention to the positive. You have a life to live.

How to Manage Emotions with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Have you tried Hollister lubricant and deodorant (not much of a deodorant)? It helps stuff slide to the bottom of your bag. I also use hydrogen peroxide to keep the smell down - it was awful when I didn't because if I can smell it, so can others. The peroxide really helped a lot. I spray my sink with Poo-Pourri after I empty the bag into the toilet, so when I wash it out, it smells better. I empty my bag all the time because it bothers me.

Hi 

Have good and bad days with our stoma to let you know I had lot of troubles when I got mine last year and still have troubles with as well this year to try and foscus on the positive solutions also have a mild disability so it not easy for me either as well but i hope this might help you. I have to give up some food items I like some types of chocolated cause it caused a reaction with my stoma to work on new routine to. Also try and foscus on hobby or join fun groups to.