Colostomy Bag

Hi all, I hope you don't mind me posting here just thought it would be a good place to get some info..

I met up with a girl i met on the internet yesterday, everything went fine and we were arranging to meet this weekend. She told me tonight that she had a major op 5 years ago and had to have a large part of her bowel removed and now has a colostomy bag.. This was a big shock to me as shes only 27.. I realize this must have been very hard for her to tell me and i just wanted to get some information so i don't have to ask her awkward questions..

I guess i want to know how they work?
do they always have to be attached?
How would it affect her day to day life?
what else do i need to bare in mind?

Thanks for any info and your time..

Bags (or some people call them pouches) are attached with adhesive...kinda like a sticker. A bag just fills with poo 24/7. A rectum stores the poo and the anus controls when it's released, but with a bag you don't have that control so it's all the time. Depending on why she had the surgery will affect if she has a bag on all the time. For some folks they can irrigate. That means once a day they clean out their system and then either wear a small bag or stoma cap. For us crohnies, irrigation really isn't an option. For the most part it has no effect on day to day life. If an ostomate plays sports (contact sports) then the stoma needs to be protected. I don't play these so I have no idea what it looks like, how cumbersome, or anything. Keep in mind how hard it was for her to tell you such a personal thing and that it can cause major body image issues. I'm sure if she felt comfy enough to tell you about it then she would also be ok with you asking her questions directly. If you post your question on the ostomy board you're sure to get many more responses. I hope this helps.