Ostomies: fact or fiction? (changed from colostomies)

[steiconi]

how about demystifying ostomies? (changed from colostomies to include everybody)
They're the big, scary bugaboo of colon issues, and there are lots of rumors, myths, and wrong assumptions floating around.

For instance,
Myth: The bag attaches to your butt.
Fact: it attaches conveniently in front, on your belly, to make it easy to change.

Anybody want to explode another wrong idea?

[peanut_8]

fiction: people with colostomies smell


fact: only if they have forgotten to use underarm deoderant

[teacher49]

Myth: If you have a colostomy, you must stay close to home and you will require frequent messing around with it.

Once you find the type that works best for you, Hollister New Image minis are my go to favorite. Just stick on and keep on working. Always be prepared with an extra.
Took a trip to Belize with 3 different flights.....I didn't need the tiny plane facilities at all.

I work every day at the college. Have long classroom lectures...and board meetings. Not a problem. Actually you get a gut sense.....and if you can really get you system to stay calm when needed and then when you start preparing dinner.......that is when the noise begins.

[JudeD59]

Not a fact or fiction, but what are the advantages and disadvantages of sealed one time use bags and roll and clip bags? Do people use different ones depending on what they are going to be doing? Is the only advantage to the roll and clip bags that they are more economical? I've tried to look this up online, but most supply sites assume you already know the basics.

Judy

[Jachut]

That you poop 24/7 and that the bag is always full.!!!! Most of the time, my bag is flat and utterly empty. I poop once a day or less, same as I always did. It happens, I change and then I'm empty again. I never have to walk around with a bag full of poop.

To answer the question above, I use a closed one time pouch because I have a colostomy - therefore my poop is solid, same as it always was. I can't "empty" it out of a drainable bag without squishing it everywhere.

[cathy123]

Judy - I think you are expecting to have a temporary ileostomy? If so you will need the drainable bags probably, at least to start. The ileostomy output is more frequent and liquid so you have to drain them every few hours vs only a few times a day for a colostomy. You do have a choice of clip or Velcro.

Other than preparing yourself to see the bag and making sure a stoma nurse marks you I wouldn't worry too much about the bags or anything before surgery. They will send you home with plenty of supplies and you should probably have a home nurse come and help you select the right type for your particular stoma. I had some issues at first and just changed bags a few weeks ago so my nurse is still coming once a week although insurance is about to cut her off I think.

One thing that mentally helped me - the bags at the hospital were clear. I didn't realize it was an option at first but I now use covered opaque ones. So much nicer to not have to see all that.

[Annemiek]

Ha! Only old people have colostomies and therefor almost all information is accompagnied with joyfull pictures of senior citizens... ( thruth at least in Holland)

Look up fashion and colostomy and you find only grannies Pants! I do like the boyfriend jeans. Skinny wasn't for me anyways, but it's too bad nobody has come up with some nicely fitted trousers that snugly fit me and are comfortable with my colostomy.

Fiction: A colostomy means you smell and always have poop in your pocket.

Fact: everyone smells in the bathroom and I mostly have an empty bag ( except when on chemo) so I don't smell.

Fiction: you can hardly eat spices etc
Fact: depends on the person. I eat everything I like.

I actually find having a colostomy and dealing with diarrhea pretty convenient. Saves me from running!!

Annemiek

[Annemiek]

http://cdn1.mensfitness.co.uk/sites/mensfitness/files/styles/article_main_wide_image/public/moo_5916_copy_bg.jpg?itok=1M10mcNu

Fiction:
When you get a colostomy you will look like him

[Delinda2]

I had my temporary colostomy for 2 1/2 months. My biggest challenge was removing the whole thing to replace it - very easy to just switch out a clean bag only. Was always afraid I would trim it too big or too small.
One thing that really ticked me off was that no one mentioned the possibility of a prolapse. Had no idea what had happened when I saw my stoma was HUGE. Scared me to death but didn't seem like a big deal to (former idiot) surgeon. My take down was already scheduled for a week later, so I just took it very easy until then. Sure wish someone had touched on this possibility. XXOXO, Delinda

[Rasputin]

I have a permanent colonostomy as of April 9th.

I'm irrigating most mornings. Had a couple "Code Brown" moments I'll laugh about eventually. I take about 15 - 20 mins. to set-up and deal with poop and brown liquid squirting through the sleeve into the toilet. All the while telling my curious dog, "It all smells like shit." Then 30 - 45 mins. to sit in front of the TV and 'puter waiting for late returns. Another 5 - 10 mins to clean up and put on a regular bag, and I'm done with stoma care for the day. I've re-used the same empty, clean bag for three days.

Irrigation causes me anxiety, depression, and exhaustion (I have pre-existing clinical depression). As I get the techniques down, it is getting better.

When will the dull pain and low grade nausea go away? When I quit smoking again?

[CRguy]

Fiction: When you get a colostomy you will look like him

No actually that one is TRUE ... as soon as I had my temp ileo, I looked like him
...BUTT without the tats ....
I did, honest .... I did !

[Annemiek]

This is me in my new bikini: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/01/colostomy-bag-model-picture_n_5548863.html?ncid=webmail1

It is!! Really!

[Delinda2]

Lookin'good Anne! You could stitch up little bag covers to color coordinate with your outfits. XXOXO, Delinda

[Annemiek]

Sigh if only I was that thin

I'm too lazy for coordinated bags
Anne

[PainInTheAss]

Not a fact or fiction, but what are the advantages and disadvantages of sealed one time use bags and roll and clip bags? Do people use different ones depending on what they are going to be doing? Is the only advantage to the roll and clip bags that they are more economical? I've tried to look this up online, but most supply sites assume you already know the basics.

Judy

The biggest difference is that insurance typically only covers 20 drainable bags a month or 60 non drainable. Also, once the filter gets wet, the gas tends to get trapped. With a drainable, you can "burp" the bag so it stays flat. Non drainable, you have to change the whole bag. I like my bag tucked inside my clothes which pushes stuff up to the filter, so I prefer drainable because I hate that bulge of trapped gas.

When I irrigate, I prefer non drainable mini bags, so I go back and forth depending if I feel like irrigating. Sometimes, I just want to slap on a regular bag. Other times, I like a small, flat mini bag that I can wear under fitted clothes, like a dress, so I irrigate so the bag will stay empty. I use both, depending.