This topic is about someone who is six months into their journey after having an emergency colostomy due to diverticulitis, bowel perforation, and septicemia. They are feeling positive overall, with improvements in mood and a decrease in depression. However, they have a few concerns and are seeking advice on weight loss, diet, and potential hernia issues as they prepare for a possible colostomy reversal. Here are some helpful insights and advice shared by others:

- Weight-loss and diet tracking:
1. Keep a detailed diary of food intake and output to identify foods that might be problematic or high in calories.
2. Introduce only one new food at a time to see how the stoma reacts before trying another.
3. Eating four smaller meals a day can help manage hunger and reduce snacking. Drinking a glass of water before meals can also help create a sense of fullness.
4. Focus on weight loss one meal at a time, and use the goal of seeing the scale drop below 200 pounds as motivation.

- Stoma supplies and comfort:
1. The Hollister 3803 drainable 2-piece pouch has a smaller flange, but some find the rigid plastic coupling uncomfortable when sitting.
2. Coloplast offers samples, which can be useful for comparing fit and flexibility.
3. For recessed or hard-to-fit stomas, some prefer a convex one-piece pouch like the Hollister 8958, which has a Velcro closure and doesn’t require a clip.

- Parastomal hernia experiences:
1. Hernias are common after ostomy surgery, and multiple repairs over time are not unusual.
2. One person had a hernia repaired with laparoscopic mesh placement around the stoma, which involved minimal incisions and manageable soreness.
3. Another had extensive abdominal-wall reconstruction with mesh covering the entire abdomen, reporting good results despite a challenging recovery.

- Post-surgical recovery habits:
1. Take it slow, rest often, and listen to your body to avoid setbacks, especially during busy times like holidays.
2. Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial, and recognizing each small milestone as progress can be very encouraging.

- Reversal surgery expectations:
1. Surgeons often require patients to meet certain weight-loss or time milestones before agreeing to a reversal.
2. Many ileostomy reversals are relatively quick, with a typical hospital stay of 2 to 3 days and about three weeks of recovery, compared to over 8 weeks for the original surgery.