This topic is about someone who has found a new lease on life after getting a permanent ileostomy. After years of struggling with illness and undergoing multiple surgeries, they now feel healthier and more vibrant than ever. Here are some highlights and insights from their journey:

- They have regained enough strength to work, earn money, and even enjoy going out clubbing two weekends in a row.
- Their surgeon's final check-up was so positive that they only need to return if any problems arise.
- They are gaining weight back and no longer feel like "a skeleton in a dress."
- Their confidence has grown significantly. They have shared their ileostomy experience with three male friends, all of whom reacted with total acceptance and support.
- They are excited about meeting another ostomate from the site in February, feeling like they have already found a "long-lost twin."
- They wanted to share this "burst of huge positive energy" to uplift anyone who might be feeling down.

Additional insights from their experience include:

1. The timeline of their surgeries: a temporary ileostomy in July 2009, a J-pouch with loop ileostomy in July 2010, and a permanent ileostomy in September 2011. They mention that leaks and mishaps still happen, often at inconvenient times, but they have learned to cope, and life no longer revolves around constant trips to the toilet.

2. Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial. It not only uplifts you but also inspires other ostomates. Celebrating progress helps everyone stay motivated.

3. Mishaps are part of the journey. Accept them, prepare for them, and remember they are easier to handle than living with an active disease.

4. True friends and potential partners will not be put off by a stoma. As Dr. Seuss said, "those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind." Keep an open mind and assume acceptance until proven otherwise.

5. Having an ostomy often reveals who your real friends are. People who avoid you because of it aren’t worth keeping in your life.

6. Many ostomates find creative outlets, such as poetry, to channel their experiences and discover unexpected resilience and strength.