esteem issue

ErinC11

New Member

Joined : Jan 2006

Posts : 1

Posted 1/26/2006 6:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hey, Im erin. this is my first time in this site so bare w me folks. okay, i am writing this in the hospital actually waiting to get surgery in Ontario. (I live in Atlantic Canada). anyway, the surgery is actually to remove my rectum and i REALLY dont want it done. the prob is, i have been practically liviing in the hospital for two years (i am 23 yrs old) and while all my friends are moving on w their lives, graduating and getting jobs and travelling, well, i am stuck doing NOTHING here.

i was just wondering two things, um, well, i am really having a rough time dealing w things, especially when i found out that my ostomy was perminent. i have kinda fell into a depression. i dont see myself as a true 'woman' or something. i am paranoid to date. i was just wondering if anybody had advice on getting over the whole self-image issue....

my other ques is, after getting the rectum removed, is it possible in ANY way to reverse this sucker?

okay, thanks for reading.

bye!

Sherrine

Forum Moderator

Joined : Apr 2005

Posts : 18467

Posted 1/26/2006 10:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hi! I'm so sorry that you are having these problems so young. I was 42 when I had my colon and rectum removed. My surgery was at the Cleveland Clinic and my surgeon said that he left the muscles intact just in case new technology came out in the future and the ostomy could be reversed. I don't think there is anything out there right now, but you are young and it could happen.

You are focusing too much on body image now. You need to try to be grateful for the surgery, since it probably saved your life. I know it saved mine. You are far more that a "body." You are an intelligent woman who, not only has her whole life ahead of her, but can be a great addition to this world. It can be a great life, too! My ostomy has not stopped me from doing anything, except moving the piano during spring cleaning! I've traveled all over the world, been snorkling, parasailing, etc. Attitude is 95% of the battle with an ostomy.

Now, when it comes to those intimate moments, many ostomates wear a womans tube top over their abdomen. They are stretchy and they can hide all that you want to hide.

The bottom line is, look forward to your future, not looking back to your past. The past is over and now you have a bright future ahead of you with, hopefully, much better health!

Sherrine

Preachers wife

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2006

Posts : 155

Posted 1/27/2006 1:17 AM (GMT 0)

I had to get my illiostomy when I was 22 years old. had everything removed with no chance of putting it back. It was a frightening time, but I didn't really have a choice. It was either do it or die. I chose to live. That is what I do every day of my life. I have a nine year old daughter, and she doesn't let me slow down one bit. Life will go on. You have to make some minor adjustments but you learn to deal with it and move on. I have always done whatever I wanted, I just figure a way to do it. I play softball on a coed team, I climb trees, go hiking, whatever I want to do.

My husband actually loves my ostomy, because of it I am still here with him. We get the chance to make more memories. Without it, we wouldn't have had that option. Hopefully we will grow old and walk off into the sunset with bunches of grandbabies all around. Not anytime soon though!!!! We are only 29, and 31.

My daughter knows all that has went on, she just feels that it is normal. She could even change the ostomy appliances if she needed to. Life has been so much better since doing this. I do have quality of life now that I didn't have before.

Preachers Wife

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