HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Questions, questions, questions...

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/18/2009 6:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone!

My surgery date is coming up quick (Nov. 23, sigmoid colostomy) and I have a few questions for all of you amazing people who have been through this....here goes...

1. What kind of underwear should I get? Sounds crazy...but my current undies go right across where the stoma is going to be.

2. Does the bag go into the undies or do you wear it loose?

3. Is a certain system better? ie: one piece or two piece?

4. Which pouch is better? Drainable or closed?

5. What the heck is a stoma cap????

6. How long was recovery time? I guess im just worried that I won't be up to celebrating Christmas with the family.

7. When the bag fills, does it get heavy? Will it pull on my skin?

I met with the ostomie nurse who gave me a ton of info, but I find as the date draws near, Im having more and more qustions. Funny, no question at all about wether I am doing the right thing...thats good right? LOL.

Thanks a bunch!!

Allie

Posted 11/18/2009 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
Allie,

First of all, good luck with your surgery on the 23rd! Make sure you walk a lot after surgery. This will help wake everything up. The sooner your bowels wake up, the sooner you can eat again, and the sooner you can go home. Also, bring chewable Gas-X with you in your purse. That will save you a lot of pain and aggravation, if you get trapped gas, because they have to call the doctor and send the request to the pharmacy to get you some, which can take hours.

I think you're going to find a variety of answers to your questions, because everyone is different, but here's what has worked for me:

1. I can really wear whatever undies I want. The stoma will not be hurt by a high waisted pair.

2. I tuck the pouch into the undies.

3. I love the Coloplast Assura Extended Wear wafer in a two piece system. The wafer last for 7 days, so I clip on a new pouch halfway through the week.

4. I like the drainable pouch with a velcro closure. It's just so easy.

5. A stoma cap is a hat for your stoma, so to speak. smilewinkgrin From what I understand, colostomates can irrigate (give it an enema) and wear a stoma cap, since you know there won't be any output for a certain number of hours. Ileostomates have output more often, so we can't irrigate and cap.

6. With my proctocolectomy (colon and rectum removal), I was out of the hospital in 4 days. You will have a month to recover, so you will be up to celebrating Christmas with the family.

7. The pouch can get heavy when it's really full, but all you have to do is empty it. Having it tucked into your undies will keep it from pulling on your skin.

I'll be praying that your surgery goes perfectly!

Cecilia
Posted 11/18/2009 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, that is next week:) here's my two cents:
1. Personal preference...mine do go right across my stoma and it doesn't bother it.
2. I am a tucker...again, personal preference. I wear high cut briefs so it will hold the tail of the pouch comfortably.
3. Your WOC/ET Nurse will set you up with what should work for you. I prefer a two piece appliance, but some like one pieces better. Try both!
4. I LOVE my drainable WITH velcro(I have an ileo, tho). A colostomy will give you a choice:)
5. If you irrigate, you use a stoma cap in between to cover your stoma...that alleviates the need for a pouch...another :)
6. You might not be up to dancing on tables, but you should be able to enjoy Christmas:)
7. You might notice it early in your recovery, but once the surgical pain subsides, you shouldn't. I don't notice mine unless it's filled w/air!!

Good for you...surgery is easier when you are not worried about it:) Does your doc have someone you could talk to twho has an ostomy? It might be too late to do it before surgery, but maybe after?
Posted 11/18/2009 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
1. I wear the flirtitude brand from JcPenneys, the boyshort or hipster kinds. They are cute and not very expensive and hold my bag in good.

2. I wear my bag under my undies, and tuck the tail back up under my underwear.\

3. I like the 2 piece but i have a ileo, and i think its different for colostomies

4. I like the drainable, people with ileos dont usually use the closed ones.

5. same answer as everyone else, lol

6. I think you will be ok to celebrate Christmas with your family, just dont be climbing on the roof chasing santa! And you might not feel like eating everything on the table,lol.

7. I cant stand to let my bag get full, cause i dont like the way it feels on my body. But when i first had surgery it did pull and hurt, but once my stomach healed, and i started tucking it up where it didnt hang down, and taping the top to my stomach, it didnt do that at all. Now, my clothes pretty much hold it to my skin.

And hey its great that you arent questioning yourself. BUT its ok if you do, just remember if you start questioning, how much better you will feel afterwards! i mean i came up with some crazy reasons towards the end, lol. But i would just get my list out and look at it and i was fine.
Posted 11/19/2009 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone!
My surgery date is coming up quick (Nov. 23, sigmoid colostomy) and I have a few questions for all of you amazing people who have been through this....here goes...
1. What kind of underwear should I get? I wore my same panties.

2. Does the bag go into the undies or do you wear it loose? I didn't like the feeling of the bag on my skin so I wore the bag on top of my panties.

3. Is a certain system better? ie: one piece or two piece? I like 2pc so I could take the bag off in the shower. Plus I could wear small bags during the morning while teaching cycling classes and tiny bags for romance :o)
4. Which pouch is better? Drainable or closed? I like drainable pouch with the clip. If your bag is closed, dumping the contents can get messy.
5. What the heck is a stoma cap???? I have 2 caps. One is for when I wear a 2pc. I keep the wafer on and put a tiny little bag (or cap) over my stoma for times when my hubby and I want some time to ourselves. However, once in a while, I will wear a one-pc cap that just sticks right on the skin and covers the stoma only. When my hubby and I finish our 'time' together, I would unstick the cap and place on a whole new wafer and bag.
6. How long was recovery time? I guess im just worried that I won't be up to celebrating Christmas with the family. I heal fast. Recovery time depends on your health prior to the surgery. I was back to running 3-4 miles after 5 weeks but that's just me.
7. When the bag fills, does it get heavy? Will it pull on my skin? It feels heavy even when empty at first. It feels uncomfortable. Your skin will get used to it and you will forget it is there...but that takes time.

Good luck with your surgery.
Posted 11/19/2009 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
You guys are great! Thank you so much!! 4 more days....YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will ask my dr. tomorrow morning if there is anyone with an ostomy that I can talk to. Im already talking to everyone about my "portable poo bag" and asking more and more questions and it would be great to talk to someone face to face that has an ostomy.
I'll hold myself back from dancing on the tables and going after santa, but come next year...I can't make any promises!!!!!
Posted 11/20/2009 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
oh next year you can def dance on tables! or at least dance floors! and its soooo much fun!
what area are you in?
Posted 11/20/2009 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario Canada, living the life in Edmonton, Alberta Canada! LOL.
Posted 11/20/2009 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
oh well i thought i might be near you, but not so much, lol
Posted 11/22/2009 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I think Santa lives near me and possibly the abominable snowman....
Posted 11/23/2009 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
hmmm maybe you could ask santa for an ostomy expert?
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply