Helping Husband cope with his colostomy

Hello, Everyone. I am new to this site and am hoping for some advice. Due to a sudden illness, my husband had a colostomy done four weeks ago. He doesn't want to do anything but sit on the couch. He doesn't get out of his robe....saying he doesn't have anything to wear, even though I've bought him shorts with elastic waist bands. He doesn't want to go out in public because of the noises it makes, etc. I learned just before his surgery that he had stopped taking depression meds without my knowledge and I contacted his doctor who has requested he come in for a visit and my husband just says he is seeing enough doctors and doesn't need another appointment. I just don't know what to do. I can't go on like this. He was ill for for two months before the surgery. Any suggestions? Nothing I suggest goes well and I'm doing my best to be supportive, but I'm at a loss.

I don’t post often, but this situation sounds very familiar. I had emergency surgery 10 years ago and ended up with a surprise ileostomy. I had no knowledge of how to live with an ostomy and lived in a small town with very few resources. Here are some ideas that you might consider. Hopefully, some may sound helpful.
1. Your husband needs to process this. What may seem rather simple to others can be a huge mental undertaking to a new ostomate. I had fears I had to work through which now seem minor.
2. I would encourage your husband (and you) to check the internet for information. Forums like this are great and I would also suggest searching for issues and reading how others handle them.
3. This might seem silly, but you might try sharing the experience. Get a fanny pack or something that simulates the weight and size of your husband’s ostomy pouch and wafer. Wear it and experience, first hand, the issues he has with comfort, compatibility and visibility with clothing.
4. There’s one thing that has helped me since the beginning and still helps. I someone who relies on medical supplies such as insulin or an Epi Pen finds themselves without their supplies, the results can be serious or even life threatening. That is not the case with me.
Good luck and best wishes!