Hi there. I had a life-saving colostomy in December 2024. We went to London to see a carol concert, and I ended up in Guy's Hospital Westminster with a torn bowel that had turned into a hole they could not repair! They were wonderful. I was in there for a month but have been in the local hospital a lot, so more in the hospital than at home this year. I am 80 in November, so put my age here as 80. Now I have been given (after measuring) support panties. I developed two hernias within 4 months. Well, I tried them on, and I HATE them. I am still getting used to the pains I am having all the time, and these just make me feel strangulated. I think I will ditch that idea. At my age, I am of the mind I should feel comfortable! I have had the days of a slim figure; I am only 7 stone 8 now, losing two stone with this operation. Any input from other older members?
For support, I wear a tummy sleeve from a maternity shop. Something to look into.
They want you to have support because the hernias can get worse and cause problems. If that happens, you'd need another surgery. It isn't about looking slim.
In the UK, I think those supports are covered by your health care plan. Talk to the stoma nurse about getting less snug panties. Surely, they can provide support that isn't so uncomfortable.
Personally, I wear a support belt, but my stomas are too high for panties.
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Angelica- As usual, you've written another interesting post. February 5th, 2019, was my reversal surgery after having an ileo for 6 months. I'm one of those fortunate success stories. Of course, things are different now, and I still have to be careful about what and how much I eat, as I don't have a colon. At first, I was afraid to leave the house. My biggest fear was having to use a public bathroom and have the toilet not flush! Even now, when I know that I'll be in someone else's home, I won't eat anything beforehand. I read other people's stories and sometimes feel guilty for having had it so easy, not to mention that I have a significant other who is 100 percent supportive. I've gotten so much out of this website and truly feel for those of you who have it so much worse than I. But I feel it necessary to let folks hear about the success stories.
Ask your stoma nurse to refer you to a CUI nurse who will do a house visit to measure you and show you all the options available to you.
They have different strength support, so if the ones you have now are bothering you, perhaps you can get something a little more stretchy. They also have an option of either wraps or panties…
Best of luck to you.
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I still think I will do without. I have enough discomfort as it is. Forcing it in did not help; it caused more pain. But thanks anyway.
Avoiding Ostomy Bag Leaking | Managing Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden
