Hi Guys,
I was married for nearly 25 years, from age 20 on. My ex was my "first," but he also had an ostomy, so that was never an issue. But I developed a lot of confidence when I was a "teen" ostomate, and we had a young adult group. There were some "older" guys in the group, who were sexually active, and said there were times their partner didn't even know there was an ostomy appliance. Considering what the supplies were like back then (1960s), I can't imagine hiding anything.
But in the last 20 years, since my divorce, I've had several ongoing (serial monogamy) relationships, and those guys had no problem with being nude, bag and all. It took me a while to get that it didn't matter to them at all. I have more anxiety about my weight and my scars, and my stretched-out skin, than I do with my ostomy.
And yes... I've sent "nudies" with the bag discreetly covered... hoping that I'd never find myself on the internet. Sigh... at my age, who is really going to care?
The guy I'm currently seeing assesses my comfort level (on being nude with him) every so often. He is so pleased that I'm relaxed and at ease with him... we even shower together. I think we have to accept ourselves and our changed bodies first, but then I personally believe that it's up to each partner to make the other feel comfortable... I never really think of men being self-conscious about their bodies, but the ostomy is really a test for each person to master.
Marsha