Recovering from Ileostomy Surgery: Seeking Advice and Tips

Hi all



I am new to all this so just thought I'd try this site out. My name is alan and I have just had surgery and had and ileostomy formed and now gave a bag. 4/4/14...... I am. Finnaly home and feeling a lot better.



I am just after advice on how long until I will be back to doing normal things and how people react to you have bags?



Also my output is still watery. Is there any good foods to thicken it up??



Is there any chance I'd play football again and are there protectors for my stoma?



Also what clothes are best to wear?



Sorry for all the questions and hope everyone is well



Thanks

Most all of these questions have been answered somewhere in these forums.  I am sort of new to all this myself.  Surgery: July 2013 permanent colostomy.  Plus I have a very negative attitude about all this at the moment.  I am still having a lot of problems. I only answered so you didn't think anyone didn't care.  I am sure you will get all kinds of help once everyone has viewed your post.



I am still having watery output, but not every day.  It doesn't seem to matter what I eat.  I tried a pair of my jeans on a few weeks ago, while they fit me great, once I had them zipped and buckled it was too much pressure on the stoma.  I refuse to wear baggy jeans so I am now in the process of looking for cute sundresses (but I doubt that is an option for you

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Be patient.  They will be here to answer all your questions, or direct you to the name of the topic that will.

Hi Alan ~ I had similar thoughts concerning sports I enjoy. Convatec makes a sports guard and it's free in Canada. Perhaps you can find something similar over there. With my guard in place I can take a direct punch to my stoma, and an added benefit is the guard makes it possible to wear whatever I want.

You'll find the initial learning curve steep with an ostomy but it does flatten out eventually.

Here's a quote you may enjoy:

"Considering I'm a ghost driving a meat covered skeleton made of stardust, is there anything I need to be scared of?"

I remember bananas helped to thicken the output the initial weeks after my surgery.  I was 33 when I had emergency surgery and woke up with an ileostomy.  Initially, I was horrified and couldn't wait for a reversal.  As the weeks went by and I got used to the ileostomy, I wasn't so anxious for another surgery and the prospect of rushing to the toilet again several times a day.



That was 10 years ago and I am happily living with a permanent ileostomy now.  Luckily, my Crohn's symptoms disappeared so I can eat whatever I want.  I do all kinds of athletic activities and my life is not hindered in any way.  Except for one thing. . . . swimsuits, but there are plenty of swimsuit options for women now so it's really no problem.  Being a man, you don't have to worry about it with swim trunks.  

I don't feel that I've had to change my wardrobe - I did at first but over the years I've relaxed and don't let my ileostomy keep me from wearing whatever feels & looks good.  I've told my close friends that I have an ileostomy and they are always shocked.  Most people my age have no idea what an ostomy is so no one even suspects that I have one.  I am married with two young daughters and stay very active.  Thanks to my ileostomy, I am alive and healthy today!  Be patient - it will get better.