Colosmy bag

I use my hair dryer to heat it up, the heating pad sounds like a good idea.

I change in the shower, so I use the hair dryer (on low) to help dry the skin around my stoma quickly, and also to warm up the flange before application, and briefly after application around the edges. I also start by pressing around the stoma first, then around and out towards the edges. 

My husband changed mine.

Mostly because I can't see it very well.

It doesn't stick out all the way. That was why he did it.

He doesn't seem to mind.

Well, I had two experiences today I thought I’d share, so you could see how it worked out.

I went to church this morning. I do rinse my bag when I change it. I spilt the rinse over the edge of the toilet seat and onto my leggings. So I dried them the best I could, took them off (I was wearing a dress), and folded the soiled parts under and put them in my bag - I went out to the car and got my backup pair (happened to also be a pair of black leggings in my clothes change). 

This afternoon, my filter was clogged and I was going out. So I put on a new bag - no leaking. I come home tonight, and my flange had leaked all around it. I have no idea what happened, so I had to change my bag and flange. I’m going through supplies kind of fast now. 

But yeah, just changed pants. I could have gone without (wearing a dress). I wasn’t due for a change, but I noticed leakage behind the flange, so I changed my bag. My skin was irritated. It happens. 

My standard reply: "Pay no attention to my stoma; it does what it wants."

Please do, often!

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hello,

I'm 7 months into my ileostomy surgery. I'm still trying different pouches because they all seem to leak on me due to the way my surgery was performed. I have a split line close to the stoma, and it's hard to stop the leak. So, what I've learned to do is carry a roll of Bounty paper towels just in case.

Hi, welcome to our club. We are basically in the same boat. I have had my ostomy for many years. When I had my surgery, I didn't know anything about it. No one I knew was familiar with the ostomy nurse who was supposed to explain everything to me. She got very sick, and I didn't see her again. Going home, I had a visiting nurse who taught me a lot. My children were young, so they couldn't help. My husband did the best he could, but he passed away 6 years ago. I learned by process of elimination. You need a lot of patience. Oh, back then, they didn't have this site! Everyone will be of help here. You're in good hands. Ask away and stay strong.

No nurses come except for home health.

I'm still worried about things like leaking in public.

What do I do if it happens in the middle of Walmart?

I just need someone to talk to.

I feel so alone. I have home health care who comes once a week, but never had an ostomy

nurse except for two visits in the hospital.

Talk away, we are here to listen. I haven’t been here long, but there are so many kind and helpful ostomates. 

Hi, do you have a friend or neighbor who can come to sit with you for a while, or maybe a church organization you could join that would help? If not, just message us on this site. Don't give up; it will be okay. We all went through these kinds of days, and this too shall pass!

We live way out in the country.

Neighbors are all busy with their own lives.

As for church, I haven't been for years for

personal reasons.

There just isn't anybody around here I can really confide in.

I would really like a friend I could just talk to about all this.

My husband and son always say "you're really doing a lot better"

And I am doing things like laundry, making supper, shopping, going out, and watering my plants, but they don't sit and listen to my worries.

I know I worry too much, and when I'm alone during the day I cry sometimes. I don't tell them that because they just say "Don't cry, it'll be ok."

I know y'all are busy with your lives, but it was nice to tell someone.

Thank you for listening to my ramblings

Sue

I totally understand you. My ileostomy is meant to be temporary too, got it in April this year and my body is taking longer to recover from the fistule that made me have it, so I have to wait a bit more to get the reversal.

I used to feel extremely lost, but then I found spaces like this one and a reddit forum for ostomates, started reading about other's experiences to learn about similar cases to mine, and I have found great advice to manage the bag a bit better.

I still experience some anxiety when I feel my bag filling up in public, but I'm slowly starting to care less, now I dare to wear clothes where my bag hangs out (using a cover of course, I don't want to showcase my poo).

I also fear leaking in public, but I'm prepared for the scenario and that calms my anxiety. Make sure to have a small bag that you can carry with you with supplies: a couple of bags (pre-cut if it's the case), a moldable ring, a couple adhesive removing wipes.

Remember that ostomy bags are made to last, they shouldn't leak easily, and if they do, that means it's not the right product for you, and you should look for a different type of bag (flat, convex), or a different brand. When I switched to soft convex bags my bags started lasting longer, now I change bags 2-3 times a week, before that my skin was damaged from changing bags daily, and even twice a day.

I wish you the best, you're not alone, this situation can be frustrating and maddening, some days I cry just by looking at my belly, but remember that this ostomy is keeping me alive and try to focus on that. I would suggest you also try to think about it as a life saving situation, rather than an inconvenience. 

Thank you so much.

I appreciate your advice and to know I'm not the only one who feels so anxious.

Doctor says 5 to 6 months for reversal.

I'm hoping for 5.

I just feel so lost.

Thank you.

Sue

First surgery was to remove a 16lb mass, non-cancerous, then they found out part of the intestine had died from blood loss, so temporary ostomy.

Dr. says reversal in 5-6 months.

I just feel so lost and anxious.

I guess I'm afraid of all this.

Sue

I just need someone to talk to.

I'm so lonely and afraid.

I guess it's the unknown of it all.

We live way out in the country, and what neighbors there are all busy with their own lives.

People I thought were friends only are when I get in touch; otherwise, I don't hear from them.

My husband and son are supportive, but they don't sit and talk about how I'm feeling.

And they go to work all day.

So there's no one but my niece, who I texted, and she will text back when she has time, but she's busy too. So I only have this group, whom I'm grateful for.

I can ramble on about my fears.

Thank you for listening.

Sue

I don't have an ostomy nurse.

Just home health.

Where do you get an ostomy nurse from?

Sue

They did give me an ostomy nurse, just home health care.

Sue

Getting over the fact of an ostomy.

Doctor says we'll talk about reversal at the next checkup in 6 weeks.

I know some people don't want it after things they read.

Need to ask a lot of questions when I see my doctor.

I think I'm going to go for it.