I wanna hear all the reasons!

Why do you love your ostomy? The last couple of mornings, I woke up thinking about the little ways I'm thankful for mine, like I'm much more in tune with my body now and I have the cleanest butt in all the land without even needing to wipe! What are yours? I'm looking forward to hearing and adding to my list!

I can poop in line at the grocery store.

My daily life and activities don't revolve around being near a bathroom or fear of not getting to the bathroom in time. I may need to get to one sooner than later (and sometimes it's still too late), but for the most part, I don't have to run or waddle! 😜

I can poop anywhere and no one knows, and if I'm outside, I don't have to squat to empty!

I would have been dead by the age of 25; now I'm the ripe old age of 56. Life hasn't been a bed of roses; I have multiple health problems now, just how it goes. All the things I would have missed out on, it's only a stoma. Love it to bits for giving the gift of life. Life's what you yourself make of it; get out there and live it!

Let me count the ways! My stoma allows me to be an amazing multi-tasker. No more time wasted sitting on the loo. I can poop while shopping, doing housework, going for a walk, even eating dinner in a nice restaurant! I am no longer in constant pain and discomfort. Of course, the most important reason is that I wouldn't be alive without it. I am grateful every day.

Terry

Avoiding Ostomy Bag Leaking | Managing Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden

I would have died at age 28 and wouldn't have seen my 7 kids and 14 grandkids grow up.

Enough said ❤️

I'm alive and pain-free!

I love my urostomy because I can hook it up to a night bag and sleep through the night no matter how much I drink. I'm looking forward to hooking it up on car trips and skipping the bathroom stops. And now I can pee standing up. No need to sit in sketchy public restrooms.

I love my colostomy because it stopped the leaking of poop into my vagina and my bladder. I have clean, controlled output. Everything is where it is supposed to be. I can now poop whenever I want and go to the bathroom when it's convenient. I definitely feel cleaner and more in charge.

I love them both for giving me my life. I would be dead without them.

I'm alive for one, and I've learned humility with my stoma. Knowing and acknowledging my limitations, I've also gone through a great weight loss journey, losing 95 lbs. Only 5 more till I hit 100 lbs lost. I've never felt healthier, and gone are the days that I have to worry about if a toilet is clean enough to sit on. 😁

Would have been dead at 17, now pain-free, healthy, and enjoying life.😁

Many, many years of being a slave to the toilet and near death's door. Now my stoma is so perfect I sometimes forget to change it because it gives me no problems, so I put a sticker on the toilet saying CHANGE BAG to remind me. Yes, I love my ileostomy 🥰🎈

Regards, IGGIE

Hi all, I don't know if I love my ileo, but I'm glad it saved my life.

I would have died of COVID if I didn't have my ostomy. My ostomy has personality. He farts hello to me to keep me company. I get to laugh a lot more because of my ostomy. It hasn't slowed me down or prevented me from doing anything I want to do. No one knows I have one unless I tell them. I have gotten a lot healthier and lost more weight because I needed to for my ostomy and for my hernia repair. It's made me a better problem solver.

Congrats on the weight loss! That shows inner strength...which us ostomates have.

Great question! Like others, I'm happy to just be around to write this, and I'm so glad to be done with dis-impacting myself, lol. I like to think of myself as a superhero survivor (hope that doesn't sound vain; I think we all are)...feels good when I can dress up, teach a class, hike, etc., and I still look good; nobody knows I'm wearing a bag!

P.S. I have the prettiest and sweetest kitty named Mia😽

We are the few, the proud, the Stomarines.

Love? No, grateful. My little buddy saved my life! We have a conversation when he belches. No one calls me an AH anymore. I do use a lot of TP. Too short to lick my pouch clean!! hahaha

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I have had my ileostomy for 58 years. Yes, I'm old now, but I wasn't when I had the surgery. In spite of all the years, I remember clearly how sick I was, how much medicine I had to take, and how even dating was difficult. How do you explain to your date you don't want popcorn at the movies or find very little on a restaurant menu that complies with a low-residue diet? When the docs at Mayo told me there was no other option, I thanked them and said, "What took you so long? Let's get this done so I can start living." And that's what I have been doing all these years. There have been ups and downs like everyone else, with or without an ostomy. It saved my life, and I'm grateful for that. My ostomy gave me back a healthy life and continues to do so. That's why I love the ostomy.

Jane.

Mia,

I had UC back in the 80s when it was not talked about out loud. I am now in my late 60s, which I don't believe I would have accomplished without a stoma. I've been married for almost 48 years, and now I am thoroughly enjoying not only our kids but also our wonderful 5 grandchildren. Even after getting my first ileostomy, I was sure that after all the alterations and associated issues, I probably wouldn't live to 60. I was so wrong; I am just retiring now, and my wife and I are currently knocking things off our bucket list. I just got back from the Canary Islands. Life is great with a stoma, as it gives you your life back.

Apart from the fact that my stoma saved my life, I can eat and poop at the same time and, unlike others, not have to leave the table.

I love 💕 that I can never be accused of breaking wind in a room. 😊

🐼85

I can relate to that, it saved my life but also changed my life.

My ostomy gave me my life back. After 4 years of medical treatments and months of hospitalizations, surgery was the only option left. I was 15. That was more than 60 years ago! Since then, I dated, married, had two children, went back to college, worked as a teacher, traveled around the country (in the co-pilot seat of a single-engine plane), traveled around the world: Africa, China, Europe, Japan, Australia, and more. I cruised around the Caribbean and to Mexico and Alaska, walked on a glacier, swam in the Dead Sea, and went scuba diving. Would never have been able to do all the above.

Love this thread. Thanks for the laughs, all!

Just accused of breaking hearts, then? 🤦😉 Instead of breaking wind?

Your replies always make me smile. I write the date I changed the appliance on the tape around the appliance to remind me when I changed it! I am impressed with all the posts that show that life can be rich, meaningful, and with a sense of humor to boot. My best wishes to all who use this site; we possess a very special kind of courage.

Peabody.

Exactly!!!!!

Aww yay, this makes me feel so happy!

Aww, kitties are adorable! I'm so glad you shared and that you're here with us too 💛💛