I am sorry that you are new to having a stoma. How are you coping with it? I have had two bouts of breast cancer and the only thing I know about a stoma is what I learnt from my best friend, who had one for years. She coped with it very well and it extended her life for a number of years.
Nothing is as good as what we were born with. I have had a double mastectomy, wasn't suitable for reconstruction, and have to wear a double breast prosthesis. This is far from ideal, but I am still here after 7 years, so I am thankful for anything that helps me to get by day-by-day.
I am sure that you too will come to terms with your stoma in time. If you want to talk to others who have also contended with a stoma, pop stoma into the search box and it should bring up some discussions on them.
Please keep us posted on how you are coping.
Remember that there is always someone here to talk to if you want to.
I had sepsis about 8 weeks ago. Had to have an emergency op and my sigmoid colon was removed. Woke up with 2 bags, a stoma from the remaining bowel and a fistula from the rectum.
I've had bowel problems for 30 odd years and presumed that at some stage I'd have a stoma. I've had no psycholical problems at all and accepted the 2 bags straight away. Having had 6 kids, to me, poo is just poo. Being calm and organised, with everything to hand, is what works for me when emptying or changing bags. I've had 2 or 3 leaks but now found the source of the problem; similarly with odour for a couple of days.
It can be a bit of an embuggerance because it's something that must be kept in mind at all times, eg. you have to be fully prepared before you go out.
In generel though, it's just a new way of going to the toilet. I will probably have the option of having it reversed but the intention now is to leave it as is.
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have and I'll try my best to answer.
