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 Support Group.

Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jan 3, 2020

In reply to @hanseron "PCP just said to check back with Ostomy Wound Care nurse. I'm just looking for any..." + (show)

@hanseron Have you spoken with the Ostomy Wound Nurse? The clinic where the nurse probably has someone on call on the weekend, so call! What did he/she suggest? I think the fluconazole and antifungal powder is still your best bet. Make sure everything is clean and free of yeast. Use new appliances, gloves, etc. Be sure to let me know!

TERESA LOGAN | @quiteachiver75 | Jan 4, 2020

In reply to @rwfliess "I see that this group isn't very active, currently. I had my ileostomy at Mayo in..." + (show)

THANK YOU FOR OFFERING TO HELP. ITS A SCARY DIFFICULT TIME. MY MIND GOES ROUND & ROUND. I DONT HAVE A BAG NOW BUT THAT COULD CHANGE. IT WILL DEPEND HOW I AM. TAKE CARE

Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jan 5, 2020

In reply to @quiteachiver75 "THANK YOU FOR OFFERING TO HELP. ITS A SCARY DIFFICULT TIME. MY MIND GOES ROUND &..." + (show)

Hello @quiteachiver75 I know times are scary now in Australia because of the fires. Are you also referring to your own health? Is there something that’s bothering you right now?

TERESA LOGAN | @quiteachiver75 | Jan 5, 2020

YES THINGS ARE VERY DIFFICULT HEAR IN AUSTRALIA. MY HEART AND LOVE GOES OUT TO THOSE CAUGHT UP IN THE FIRES.
MY GUT AND THOSE PARTS INVOLVED IN THIS AREA CAUSE ME A LOT OF STRESS. I GUESS ITS THE UNKNOWN THINGS THAT COULD GIVE ME MORE PROBLEMS. READING THE POSTS DOES HELP. I HAVE BLADDER INFECTIONS AND GRAVES DISEASE WHICH ALL CONNECT IN MY HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH THE GUT. THANK YOU

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 5, 2020

In reply to @quiteachiver75 "YES THINGS ARE VERY DIFFICULT HEAR IN AUSTRALIA. MY HEART AND LOVE GOES OUT TO THOSE..." + (show)

@quiteachiver75 so sorry to hear about the fires in Australia and the stress it is causing you.

rdmishio | @rdmishio | Jan 10, 2020

Hello, @rdmishio here I’m new to the site. I’m 45 male and had a sigmoid colon resection done about 4 1/2 weeks ago. On a low residual diet, having off and on diarrhea. Having hard time eating much, down 15 lbs. About how long on average does it take for your digestive system to get back to normalcy if there is one? Thanks again.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 11, 2020

In reply to @rdmishio "Hello, @rdmishio here I’m new to the site. I’m 45 male and had a sigmoid colon..." + (show)

Hi @rdmishio, welcome to Connect. I think you might be interested in this discussion started by @virgo1952
- Sigmoid colon resection: What to expect for recovery? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sigmoid-colon-resection-10282019/

Do you also have a colostomy?

virgo1952 | @virgo1952 | Jan 11, 2020

In reply to @rdmishio "Hello, @rdmishio here I’m new to the site. I’m 45 male and had a sigmoid colon..." + (show)

Hi it’s virgo1952. I went through all of the above. I was experiencing some of your symptoms starting January 2020. At that point, I contacted the surgeon and he did a c-diff test for secondary bacteria. Was positive and I’m just finishing ten days of antibiotics. Bear that in mind for future reference if you are struggling more instead getting better. It’s a bacterial infection that you can contract in a hospital setting. I was in the age group 65+ and so I was a more likely patient to get it than you in your age of 45. This set me back, but even so, I started noticing my appetite coming back, less nausea and being able to eat foods that I found irritating and caused me discomfort (excessive gas) the first two months. Lost weight put some came back on but not all. Not the greatest diet plan, huh? I think drinking keifer helped or any probiotic. Other than that. You should start seeing some change in your stool towards becoming more solid. I started drinking citracil to help with that. It’s a process and I am just getting back to doing pre-surgery daily activities. Wishing you a speedy recovery. If something doesn’t seem right with you, make some noise.

rdmishio | @rdmishio | Jan 11, 2020

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @rdmishio, welcome to Connect. I think you might be interested in this discussion started by..." + (show)

No I don’t, it was elective procedure because of the many painful reoccurring attacks. Took out approximately 5-6” of the sigmoid colon. Thanks for the link.

rdmishio | @rdmishio | Jan 11, 2020

In reply to @virgo1952 "Hi it’s virgo1952. I went through all of the above. I was experiencing some of your..." + (show)

Thanks for the advice, no I don’t have any infections. I believe I am improving, I was just wondering about the diet and bowel movements and when things get back to normal. I thought two weeks and good to go but realized it is going to take a little while longer to heal up. Thanks again.