Failing Stelara, Opting for Ileostomy

Wow for just one week post op it sounds like you are doing great. It is Normal to be emotional or overwhelmed, it is so early. Even knowing you feel so much better it is a big change to your body and routine. The first 3 months were up and down for me being happy to have my stoma back and then frustrated with my new body and acknowledging it was forever.

Give it time. As you heal and adapt it will get better, especially for someone who already has a positive attitude.

At my 1 year anniversary I couldn't believe how normal it all seemed.

I also posted a tip on underwear in your output post. I don't use ostomy specific underwear. I use high waisted underwear I found and the brand is available at a lot of US department stores.

Plucky,

I am So Very Very glad you checked in!!!

It sounds like you are doing so well....and the positive outlook will help you so much!! Just 8 weeks out I could not believe how second nature everything was. Hey....sometimes I am a slow learner...and little red stomas....looking at it almost made me pass out the first 4 weeks...lol...wimpy wimpy wimpy....

You have been ill for a very long time and now surgery has helped with so many things...it is tempting to overdo...and...to sometimes feel overwhelmed or undecided about things. Right now is your healing time. Don't try to figure out if it is long term or short term...if your body is looking better for cosmetic reasons..just try to enjoy feeling better... These are all valid concerns..just turn them off or try to turn them down for now... It is difficult but please try... You are more than just your outter appearance. Try to think of it or compare it to your husband.... Does an illness that requires a surgery represent the whole you? When your spouse had surgery I know you were just so very thankful he made it...and when he had surgery to help him feel better and live longer I know you were thrilled that he was still there with and for you...and that he was strong enough and willing to chance that surgery to live his life with you and your family. I bet he feels the same way. Yes there will be some challenges, and yes you will probably be shy about your little stoma...but with the amount of courage you have...I believe in you. I know you can do this. So when the night comes...read our posts, hold your husbands hand, hug and kiss your toddler and know that you are loved.

I too love two pieces. I just can not bring myself to use a one piece unless I have to. I love the mio but wish it did not have the filter. If you swish please know that filter can fold up and nick your new little friend. (I was in a hurry once and didn't double check and it got me. Freddie swelled up like a bull frog!! But the stoma nurse said that happens and it heals quickly....and it did heal quickly.) I also use the filter "blocks" or even a piece of tape on the filter and I leave a little air in the bag when I empty. At first I emptied more than I do now. You will get a system going and it becomes easier day by day. I have very sensitive skin and I change my bag every other day. I use two adhesive remover packs per change. I peel very slowly and rotate that remover pad frequently. My nurse told me two things the first day...best advice ever...K.I.S.S. Keep it super simple when you are changing. You want to eventually know what you may need when changing yet keep it simple enough that eventually you can do it in a public restroom in under 5 minutes. This gives you the confidence to not worry about it if there is a leak. Put your supplies out in the order they go on....adhesive remover, skin barrier, stoma powder...y or no, eaken seal y or no, paste to fill in spots missed by eaken seal y or no, wafer (should be cut prior to starting), tape strips ( if the wafer does not lay down on your tummy flat-like your tummy is shaped like the end of a watermelon-or if the edges of the wafer peel up.......I didn't use at first..I threw the samples in a bin and just tried them a month ago...now I love them), bag and m9 or lubricant. I set my coloplast scissors out to the side in case I need to recut the wafer. AND you will need to watch the pieces of tape coloplast puts in their full boxes. My grand kids love my stickers!!! They stuck them in their back packs and took them home and stuck them everywhere!! Lol.

Underwear....Wal-Mart and Kohls has some support style panties that you can roll all the way up to just under your breasts. It holds my bag down and in place while acting as support. They also have some highwaisted just waist high support panties. They both come in different support categories. I did not get ostomy panties. I just didn't know if they were worth the money. I just bought the size I normally wear and the support panties from both places worked. The wraps I have I got from the hospital. I didn't wear it after I got the support panties. Will one of the companies send you one as a sample? I never asked......

I too thought about hospitals having ostomies going in and speaking to people planning an ostomt so they knew what they needed...and an ostomy personal shopper...that would be so nice....

Wrote a book-sorry all....

Clo