ostomy discussions

Hello everyone.
I just found and joined this site a few days ago. I wish I had discovered it sooner. So many helpful tips and hints that even the hospitals don't seem to know.
Anyway, with that being said, I begin the countdown to my ileostomy reversal.
Five weeks from today.
I know that sounds like it's far away, but in my head, it's coming fast and I have no idea what to expect.
A brief his ...

I am almost 3 weeks since reversal date and all has gone well. Haven't needed pain meds for 3 days now and am sleeping on my sides again, so all that is big progress for me. The large gaping hole where my stoma was is closing up more each day. I have times where I am running to the bathroom to get there on time, but not always. I mostly feel in control but am comforted by being able to have a ...

Hi - Eight days ago, I had 15 inches of my colon removed and a colostomy placed due to severe diverticulitis with abscesses. It appears I've had this for a long time and it went undiagnosed, with my first bout in August of 2015. I almost died, they tell me.
Now I have this bag, and I'm overwhelmed.
Aside from being exhausted from major surgery, every twinge makes me anxious.
Has there been any ...

When did everyone get their ostomy? I've had mine since November 2019

Well hello everyone.
Needs your prayers. Just saw my surgeon today and they decided to remove my rectum.... Has anyone had this done? How long was the hospital stay and recovery?

Hi everyone:
As some of you know, I had emergency surgery due to Cdiff in September. At first, I thought I had no large colon left. Then I thought I had just enough for a reconnection as I was told by one of the doctors before I left the hospital. Then I found out through a flex sig that I have 18 cm plus. I told them to stop because I was in pain, but I was happy to hear that I have that ...

Hi.. My name is Sandy.. I'm 58, was diagnosed with rectal cancer on Feb 4..... I did the chemo, that was the easy part.... Then the radiation... Whew... Nobody told me about all the PAIN.... And so now, I'm looking at surgery on Friday, July 17, to reconstruct and to add a colostomy bag... Which will be with me the rest of my life.... And I don't mind saying, I'M SCARED.... I worry about what ...

Going in for Hartmann reversal, my surgeon would like to do it laparoscopically but apparently I have a "narrow pelvis" so she may have to do the incision again. Being a planned surgery, I thought I would be less nervous but my mind is racing with everything that could go wrong so thought to post here to alleviate a bit of that, :-)
Funny how writing and posting can be a relief.
That is all. I ...

Hello Friends,

I’m sitting in the calm of a sleeping house all prepped and ready for surgery. It’s currently 1am here in Washington state. We’re a tad behind the rest of the world.

I’m not sure if a bowel prep is better with or without an ostomy. I had the grand pleasure of putting 2 Liters of soapy (go figure ‍) water into my stoma. I have a loop ileostomy, so there� ...

Hi everyone! My name is Nicole. I am 30 years old. I was diagnosed with UC when I was 16. I have been struggling this entire time, switching medication and diets, trying to find something that will work. And unfortunately, nothing has helped. I am currently getting Entyvio infusions every 4 weeks, taking Lialda every morning, 9 fiber pills a day, and sometimes maxing out at 8 Imodiums a day. I ...

Hi there.
It's been just over 12 months since my colostomy operation due to diverticulitis and peritonitis and now I am waiting to have a reversal. I have developed a hernia behind my stoma (it looks like a perky boob with pursed lips LOL and have another one on the right hand side which the doc tells me is an incisional hernia. I now have what I call my front bum LOL. Hopefully I will have th ...

A LONER WITH A STOMA.

Laughter simply drained from me
after I gained my ostomy.
It turned out just as I had feared
as all my friends just disappeared.

I don’t know where or why they went
after all the time we spent.
No longer seen around with me
and that’s down to my ostomy.

I was bereft within myself
for feeling left upon the shelf.
And I was lonely ...

Is anyone else having issues with their ostomy supplies coming super hot and damaging the supplies?

Hello, I'm a new ileostomy patient. I'm a bit frustrated about the death of my sex life. I'm a very happily married man with a beautiful daughter. Since my operation, I have been told in very clear terms that there is going to be no sex for the duration of my bag. Luckily, it's only 6 months until I have my reversal, but when you add the 2 months prior, it seems like a life sentence. I underst ...

My stoma nurse said we can't eat anything raw, nuts, seeds, lettuce, tomatoes, or fruit, only bananas...
I've just read on a post that someone ate a salad sandwich. I would love to eat salad.
ANY IDEAS.