Facingmyfears,
My post in regards to the situation Janee had was not about just Janee . From reading hundreds of posts, I drew that conclusion.
I have read post after post, where the ostomate has been hurt by some offensive remark about their ostomy.
The re-action from others is just throw the bumb out. Anyone that makes a remark like that, is no good. We can't fight a negative comment with another negative comment or action. It is not the way to handle it.
We as ostomates have to look above that, be above that. I realise it can be tough to have that postive mental attitude.
Stop and think for a minute, ostomates are tough, look what we all have gone thru and we made it. Sure a few bruises both physically and most important emotionally. But we made it. We know we are not alone, we know there are other ostomates that know what we each have, and the rollercoaster we are going thru. However the people that have not gone thru this experience simply don't have a clue. That is why they make the off the cuff remarks.
If these same people saw an old person that could hardly walk they wouldn't comment about how slow he/she was, if this person saw someone missing a limb they would not comment, because those things they understrand. They don't understand ostomys. That is the problem.
I agree whole heartdly(sp) the comment made to Janee, about her bag was offensive, hurtful and without kindness or compassion. The guy was a jerk, the problem is there are a lot of jerks out there.
When I read Janee's post, it hurt me. I took it as an insult not only to Janee and myself but all ostomates. My first reaction was fight back, tell this so and so to piss off.
That is the wrong reaction, it will not solve anything but hurt us.
Ostomy carrys with it a conotation of unclean, filth. Because it deals with bodily waste. I don't like it, but that is the perception that many people have. Please remember I said many, not all
To try and strike back will only make things worse. We have to try and educate. I understand it can be hard to educate morons and folks who do not think before they say something.
I volunteer at the VA hospital. I see all kinds of stuff. Mental cases, amputees the list goes on, it is very sad. When ostomy is mentioned it is entirely thought of in a different light.
The very first thing that comes to mind in most people is waste. That is OK because that is what an ostomy deals with. What the people do not understand is their butt is heck of a lot More bacteria ridden than our stoma sites ever will be. Anotherwords they are the shitty ones not us, but they don't know it.
Because they don't understand an ostomy and how it has to be taken care of.
If they took care of there butts like we do our stomas. They would have the most pampered butts in the world! and the cleanest!
You know me long winded, sorry. Good to hear from you.
I am sure I will get a flack over this post. Yes my spelling is bad.
Rick.....