Topic Explanation:
The forum topic is about a person with a spinal cord injury at the C6-7 level who is considering having a colostomy due to the challenges of manually evacuating their bowels, which is time-consuming and affects their social life. They are seeking advice and experiences from others who have had a colostomy.

Advice and Insights:
- Some individuals have had positive experiences with colostomies, finding them easy to take care of and not experiencing many problems.
- A 2-hour routine every other day with no output in between can be manageable for some individuals with colostomies.
- Some colostomy patients have trained themselves to manage their output by watching what they eat and taking supplements.
- It's important to consider all options and the potential impact of a colostomy on one's quality of life before making a decision.
- Irrigation is an option for some colostomy patients to manage their output and potentially reduce the time spent on care.
- It's advisable to discuss with the surgeon whether a colostomy would be a candidate for irrigation before making a decision.
- Some individuals have had successful experiences with colostomies, finding them to be life-saving and not causing significant issues with noise, smell, or leakage.
- It's important to consider the impact of the spinal injury and the colostomy on overall management and quality of life.

Helpful Insights:
- Some individuals have shared their personal experiences with colostomies, including the type of appliances they use, their care routines, and the impact on their daily lives.
- The forum members have offered support and encouragement to the individual considering a colostomy, sharing their own experiences and offering to stay in contact for mutual support.