emptying bag?

I'm new, just signed up today. I had my ostomy in July 2013. I was told by my home nurse that once I healed I would only have bowel movements about every two to three days and usually in the morning. I would say, at this time, I probably am in the bathroom cleaning this out every two hours in a 24 hour period. They told me I would be totally healed in 3 to 4 months. They told me a lot of things that were not true. I don't know what a loop is, this bag is permanent. So idk if there is a difference in how things work.

end ileo 7 mos after subtotal colectomy (no interest in converting to jpouch); 5-6 a day for me, almost never at night for me. even when it's busy i find that i have a few hours i can wait if it's not convenient to go, and even then i could ignore a few more hours if i was wearing loose pants (but why?) of course, if i am about to go to the gym or play tennis or whatever, i will pee before hand and do a quick empty for the heck of it, so i guess not counting those i could be 3x a day if i didnt care about a bulge. with 5-6 a day it 's invisble when i wear ostomysecrets boxers. if i didnt use such boxers i guess i'd go a bit more like 6-7 but with the ost. secrets it spreads things out. my output is normally of oatmeal like consistency.

Post Edited (Probiotic) : 12/15/2013 12:23:45 AM (GMT-7)

Around 6x a day, I think.

@Zywie - From your two posts, it sounds like you have a permanent (non-loop) colostomy (is it on the left side of your abdomen?). I feel for you. Most folks here have UC and temporary loop ileostomies, so you might be better off joining a colostomy forum. Not that the advice given here is bad, there just won't be anyone in your particular shoes, I suspect.

Having a BM only once every 2-3 days sounds unrealistic, but you shouldn't be having more than 1-2BMs a day with a colostomy (unless the majority of your colon was removed). It doesn't sound like anyone is even trying to help you: I'd switch hospitals and seek a new medical team at this rate.

I think being on here withe a colostomy is fine. And ostomy can be ileo, colo, or uro. It's just harder to find colostomy people.

I have a very high loop. I empty whenever I go to the bathroom. But I tend to empty about 10 times day or more. I end up having to pee in the middle of the night (stupid TPN) and end up emptying since I'm up. If I eat the wrong things, my bag can fill up with 350ml in about an hour.

I have a permanent end ileo. I empty:

1 - when I get up around 6.15am.
2 - about 11am at work,
3 - around 3pm at work,
4 - around 5pm just before leaving work
5 - around 8pm at home
6 - around 11pm before going to bed
7 -around 3am in the morning when I get up to pee.

Most of the time I just empty when I have to pee (it happens a lot as you get older, esp in females lol).

I empty 10+ times a day. I don't like when it's even the slightest bit heavy. Of course, it predicts where I am throughout the day. I tend to empty once at night, just because I always fall asleep on the couch and sluggishly wake up to crawl in bed.

Zywie, you're in the right place. Lots of very knowledgable, caring folks are here to help you.
Mike

Thank you everyone, I don't know about making a thingy just for me. Seems kinda selfish. There are many people on here need help too. I am just a bit more vocal about spouting the way I feel, good or bad. Also helps to be kinda anonymous. :) I am trying to adjust; am having a very difficult time of it. It was nice to see some people that didn't like it and was not having a good time of things or loving life because of it. I was on a few sites before this and all I kept reading was how wonderful life was now with the stoma/bag or how wonderful life will be again after the reversal. There is absolutely nothing wonderful about this for me, at all. I just do what my Dad always told me, "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps and keep going". I am sure those of you who still have your partners in life have found ways to keep yourselves sexually satisifed. It is easier to do with someone you have known for a long time. But my someone died and I really doubt a new someone would be so willing to accept this mess right off the bat. I can't figure out how that would work, let alone expect some strange man to be able to accept it. I don't like all that I have to do just to keep clean with this thing. There is so much....I won't bore you with it. You all know. Some of you have come to terms with it, some of you have not. I am a "have not". I do appreciate your thoughts and help and this site has been better than any I have seen so far. You are helping me, even if it's to not feel like such a freak. Thank you.