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my ostomy leak nightmare came true (updated thread title)

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Posted 11/18/2013 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Ever since I got my ostomy, my fear has been to have it leak at a hotel. Of course, my fear came true and I had my biggest leak EVER.

I emptied my pouch a little after 5:00 and by 10:30 it had gotten so full that it exploded. Stuff was all across my abdomen, down my pants, etc. The cold wetness woke me up. I ran to the bathroom and just stood in the bathtub. My mom was with me and I'm like "what do I do!" I ended up just dumping the pouch in the bathtub. I took it off and started to wash my clothing a bit. Of course, I'm not able to shower without special bandages to cover my Hickman port (IV access in my chest) so I had "bath" splashing water up on me. I also had to hold up the end of my IV tube so that it didn't get dirty or wear down the bandage by swinging around. Ugh it was a disaster. Fortunately my mom prepped my stuff (she had been taking care of me when I wasn't functional for other reasons) while I cleaned up.

We made sure the maid could see the stuff on the sheets and comforter. Thankfully the mattress was lined with plastic. We left a good tip for a one night stay. So horribly embarrassing. My ego took a hit. My mom mentioned that the maids have probably seen worse (I'm not sure what though).

This makes me want to disinfect the entire room whenever I stay at a hotel! Now hopefully this never happens at a friend's house. I think I'll start traveling with protection pads.

Post Edited (ActiveUCer) : 11/18/2013 7:30:30 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/18/2013 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
That is why I always take my waterproof pad!
I'm so sorry that happened to you. But I'm sure they have seen worse, people are gross! And most of them on purpose. I also know for a fact you aren't the only person that's happened to. We had a family friend and before her son died he had a colostomy and a urostomy. We had a bad ice storm so they went to a hotel since he had other health problems too and having no power was a big deal. Anyway, his bag leaked, but that hotel made her pay to replace the mattress and everything! It was a Super 8 I know they've seen worse. And off topic a bit, but a maid at the motel 6 found a person under the bed a few months ago! A man killed her and took the bed apart and put her under it. They smelled something for days, but just put up air fresheners, somehow the maid found her! So see, they've seen worse!
Posted 11/18/2013 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Aww bless you The maids have probably seen worse try not to dwell on what happened it was beyond your control. You could maybe take a waterproof sheet( the sort they give you in hospital ) next time your away My hospital gave me a handful to use when I went on holiday in the summer just incase xx
Posted 11/18/2013 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Oh boy I'm sure the maids have seen much worse. Kids have accidents in their sleep too and sometimes they try to hide it... I gotta say when I saw this subject I thought your stoma died again! You've been through so much, this is nothing -- let it roll off your back, girl :)
Posted 11/19/2013 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Agree with Pluot.... I was worried something life threatening happened to you again... Before my surgery I had a huge accident in my friends' car, which at the time was kind of like, I'd rather die than have X happen..... but she had small children, wasn't phased at all, we washed my pants, the world didn't end, there was no reason to die, etc, and I was no longer so scared of that..... so I hope you can just let this roll.... not something you want, but you did the right things....

and definitely, they've seen worse.... good that you left a good tip; the people who create the "worse' messes intentionally do not necessarily tip at all...
Posted 11/19/2013 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry to scare everyone. Stewart the I and Stewart the II are pooping along quite nicely. I hold the fear of something going wrong in that way close to me. For some reason it seems more real.

Given how infrequently I stay in hotels and how infrequently I have a huge leak, I didn't think I would ever have this problem! But I'll take this over real problems. Thanks for your reassurances.
Posted 11/19/2013 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
@summerstorm - for some reason I had you blocked (no idea why) so if you had directed something specifically to me in the past and I didn't answer, I apologize.
Posted 11/20/2013 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry that happened to you - but it happens to everyone. I had my worst leak while at a rental house at the beach over the summer. Thankfully I had towels under me and a very helpful hubby! And Liz is right too - little kids have accidents all the time and most people don't even try to let anyone know. It was nice of you to make sure they would know to clean it up.
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