Living with a Stoma from Youth to Old Age

Hi.

I had an ileo when I was 15-24, then that got changed into an ACE. So I know what it's like growing up with a stoma and hope to find out what it's like being old with one too
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(unless some new technology/procedure/medicine emerges).

I have never spoken to other people with a stoma before, and after 15 years of having one, thought maybe it would be a good idea because, well, unless you have one, you can't really understand what it's like. I might need to pick the brains of people older than me and how they managed when they were my age; likewise, if there are any youths here, I had my ileo when I was at school/college/uni, starting my first job. So I can give you some advice or an ear for any questions. Or if anyone just wants to chat about other stuff and forget about their stomas and problems.

Cheers,

Brogie

Well Brogie,

When is it best to catch up with you in chat? It seems during the week around 5 or 6 PM EST is good, and at 11 PM as well. But who knows, maybe next time you're here you could just pop into the chatroom and you will get to talk with some of the folks at that time.

However, I have noticed that folks forget to hide the chat if they don't plan on chatting, so it looks like they are in the chat but they're not
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. I've only had my stoma for the past 10 years, so I have no idea what it must have been like growing up with one. A blog might be interesting, if you felt the urge, just saying.

Have a good weekend~

Brogie, what was it like when you had that surgery? What is an ACE?

To create an ACE stoma, the surgeon will cut off the appendix, still with its blood supply, and connect one end to the large bowel and the other end to the wall of the abdomen at the navel or lower down below the level of most underwear. This small opening or stoma is used to pass a tube called a catheter into the bowel so that fluid can be introduced to flush faeces out through the anus. This is called an ACE washout. For people who have previously had their appendix removed, there are other ways of making an ACE stoma. For example, a tiny segment of small bowel may be used.