little ones

I have yet to actually get surgery but it's fast approaching, November 14. I have a 5 year-old daughter, & I was diagnosed after her birth. Since she's grown up with Mommy being sick, she is VERY supportive of my decision to have surgery. I can't tell you how many times we've been out together when Mommy has to pull over the car & poop on the side of the road, or Mommy has to run with the shopping cart to the grocery store restrooms, or how many times we haven't been able to go to the beach, the playground, etc. due to Mommy's stomach. When I made the decision to have surgery, I showed her stoma pics & ileostomy bags on the internet so she would have an idea of what exactly it was I'd been talking about. At first, she says "That is the most DISGUSTING thing I've ever heard of!". Typical 4 year-old honesty, huh? But after the first look, she thinks it's going to be great- now she says "Hey Mom, you can even poop while you're cooking!" She has seen an ileostomy bag & checke dit out. She's eager for me to feel better, so we can do more things together as a family. And finally put an end to the doctor visits, the hospital stays, the meds, etc. I find children to be much more resilient than adults re. body issues.

that is super cute! kids are so funny
i have been sick for eight years, so i was sick when my son was born, and he didnt' really understand, all he knew was that he had to spend alot of time playing in the bathroom, luckily he thought that was fun! it was worse for me than for him, becuase i couldnt' take him anywhere, but he didnt'realize that yet.
Anyway, he was 22months when i had my surgery, and as a result he had to live with my grandma for six weeks, because i couldnt' take care of him, and my husband had to go back to work. That was hard on him, and he his far to little to understand, he only knows that mommy's belly is broken. Well the first time i took him in the batrhoom with me, was right after he came back to live with us (that sounds awful) anyway he looked at the bag, and said, "what's that thing called?" and i said it's an ileostomy, and he said, oh an ileostomy (in two year old speak, but he actually pronoucned it pretty good) anyway he asked what it was for and i told him, and he went about his business, the next time he jsut watched, thought it was really neat. A few times later he asked me again, and i said, "i keep poo in there" and he said, "how did winnie the pooh get in there?" i lauged so hard! i explained it to him, again. and now he seems to get it, i stil have to be careful becasuse he is rather wild and wants to jump on my tummy, and i am afraid he will yank my bag off!

Physically, can you have children if you have a stoma? I've heard a lot of different opinions on this..

Stoma,

That is one of the reasons I agreed to having this surgery...so I may be able to have more children! Before the surgery, I did not eat enough to support my own body. There was no way I could have even considered getting pregnant. But now, it may be an option for me. I am going to give myself 1 1/2 years to heal and see how I feel then.

Well, I have been prego with a stoma. Yes, I had to have a c-section (personally I was only too happy about that!). There are some drawbacks. The first one is the ever changing stoma. At times it was like starting over to find the right fit. Then after I had the baby my stoma was completely different. It was larger and irregularly shaped. Also, I was always worried some strange person or person I would not want to touch my belly would--and they did! It was a co-worker so I told her then about my ostomy b/c of course she put her hand right there! My daughter has only seen me with a stoma and she is very accepting. When she asked why I just explained that I have a very bad disease and my bottom broke. I then pointed out all the cool and fun stuff we do together and remind the only reason I can do these things is b/c of my stoma. She has never told anyone since I told her it was no one else's business. I think if you make it a big dramatic deal then others will too but if you just act like it's nothing everyone is more accepting and generally forget you have it.

Thanks for the reassurance guys, I'd just heard that ostomies made carrying children difficult. Glad to know when the time comes I'll be ok! :)

LOL ~ What a perfect response from a 14 year-old girl!!