Ostomy: Adapting to life after colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Sep 20, 2017

It takes time to become comfortable with an ostomy — a surgically created opening in your abdomen that allows waste or urine to leave your body.

Many questions may run through your mind as you practice good ostomy care and live your life. It can help to talk to others who have been there. Perhaps you'd like to ask others questions like: What can I eat? What about leaks? Can I go back to work after colostomy? Can I ride a bike with an ileostomy? Will everyone figure out I've had urostomy surgery just by looking at me? What about intimacy?

Welcome ostomates. Let's talk frankly about living with an ostomy. Why not start by introducing yourself? What type of ostomy do you have? How's it going?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ostomy & J-Pouch Support Group.

Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Sep 20, 2017

Welcome to Connect, @hanseron,

Thank you for sharing your insights; we're so glad you've joined this group. I can only imagine the worries and questions you must have had, adapting to life after the ileostomy.

@hanseron, I've read that there are several types of Ileostomies; may I ask what type of of procedure you had to undergo? What was your biggest worry, when you got the ileostomy?

Ron Hansen | @hanseron | Sep 20, 2017

I have had an ileostomy since 1967. Cause, Ulcerative Colitis. Lots of positive changes and developments in surgery, care and appliances since then. When I had my surgery there was very little help available. Appliances were terrible and ostomy care was practically non-existent. Todays ostomy appliance and equipment suppliers are more than willing to help new and old ostomy patients. In fact many of them have ostomy nurses on staff to help with treatment and questions. What a difference 50 years makes.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 20, 2017

Hi @1228angela @nythriver @manveen @dawn_giacabazi @hatethis @soul and @kidbjp, I'd like to invite you to this new discussion group about ostomy. People who have recently had an ostomy have many questions. I'm hoping that you can share your experiences to help us get the conversation started and make people feel welcome talking about adapting to life after a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy. Share your story.