Changing the Stigma Around Ostomy: Why I Prefer "Pouch

I am an American and this might play differently abroad, but this is my view and my mission and that is to change the stigma associated with being an Ostomate.  and it begins with the word  BAG.........Bag has and is easy to attach a negative or foul word with.........ie............bag of crap,  bag of shit,  he looks like a bag man( homeless),  bag of doo doo  etc...........It is a word that doesnt conjur up thought s of sweet smelling roses or good positve thoughts as well....It starts in a negative space and we need to change that.



    My thought is we all start using the word Pouch and this is why I say this...........I was at a clients house who did not know I was an ostomate and when i expalined that I had a pouch     (I did not say bag,  for if I did say bag , their next line would be " I am so sorry to hear that"),  His next line was.........."Oh You are marsupial and we all started to laugh.....I said I guess you are right...........IT led to immediate understanding and laughter and to me that was and is a good place to start..............Lets all start using the word Pouch..It will help us in our acceptance as well as the rest of mankinds immediate word association to a good place and not a bad or negative place..................Love to you all............Your fellow Marsupial..........Michael

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Who doesnt smile when thinking about Kangaroos.?...........We all smile............

I hate the word "Bag" and I have ever since I got into this Ostomy business... Other than a few times in the very beginning of having an Ostomy I never use the word, and I hate to hear it.



What I also really dislike is when people describe having this kind of surgery as “having a bag done” “having a bag fitted” “he/she had surgery to have a bag” things like that… I have heard it many times in hospitals and other places, and it really annoys me!

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. I would rather hear something like “they had to have an OSTOMY”

Yes, our native animals absolutely rock and to be associated with them can only be good hey!





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Cheers from Skippy the Bush Kangaroo!!!





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No matter what you call it, an ostomy is most people's worst nightmare and it IS in fact fulla chit.   I believe it is not what you label it but rather how you choose to live in spite of it.  Life has been and continues  to be good to me call it what you will.

I'd love to see the Joey with the bottle up to its mouth and a half dozen or so sticking out of its pouch, or is it BAG, like as in us folks. Ed

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Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Hi Ya Michael, interesting post, got me to thinking because I interchange pouch for bag and it depends on the company I'm in. Also I usually say I have a colostomy rather than use Ileostomy, seems most people have never heard of an ileostomy and I hate having to explain the difference, maybe I should start changing that habit if we have to educate the public about all the different reasons to have a pouch. Ed

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Great post big bro!

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     OK Michael .... POUCH it IS!!   It does seem a lot nicer, sounds better and leaves a lighter impression in everyone's mind.....yup, I like it.  

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Love and hugs to everyone from your Doe

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I've  never used bag myself. I always used pouch myself. I'm a marsupial!

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I mean no offense Michael, but isn't that just being politically correct(which I think is way out of control) it is what it is.  Bag is just a word, 50 years from now " pouch" may carry an unwanted assoication. We accept it because we must, people who love us accept it because they do love us not a bag, pouch or whatever.  Anyway this is just another point of veiw whatever the individual is comfortable with works.

thanks

eddie

"Bag" or "pouch" I just tell people that really want to get into the details that my waste elimination system is just in a different place than theirs - and sometimes a lot more convenient as a result.