Comments on: Ileostomy Stoma Photos

By: Blood Games

Blood Games — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:36:03 +0000

Blood Games…

[...]Jpouch Life: Stories of Colitis, Crohn’s, IBD, Ostomy, Ileostomy & J-Pouch Surgery from around the world[...]…

By: vintage engagement photos

vintage engagement photos — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:20:01 +0000

vintage engagement photos…

[...]Jpouch Life: Stories of Colitis, Crohn’s, IBD, Ostomy, Ileostomy & J-Pouch Surgery from around the world[...]…

By: cancer cells

cancer cells — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:40:37 +0000

cancer cells…

[...]Jpouch Life: Stories of Colitis, Crohn’s, IBD, Ostomy, Ileostomy & J-Pouch Surgery from around the world[...]…

By: home remedies for blackheads

home remedies for blackheads — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:59:38 +0000

home remedies for blackheads…

[...]Jpouch Life: Stories of Colitis, Crohn’s, IBD, Ostomy, Ileostomy & J-Pouch Surgery from around the world[...]…

By: Relocating to Portugal

Relocating to Portugal — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:38:09 +0000

Relocating to Portugal…

[...]Jpouch Life: Stories of Colitis, Crohn’s, IBD, Ostomy, Ileostomy & J-Pouch Surgery from around the world[...]…

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 30 May 2011 06:34:25 +0000

HI thanks everyone for writing al the comments. I am 33 and about to have part of my large intestine removed in a little over a week and have an ileostomy. I am doing my best to stay positive and remind myself that my quaity of life needs to improve and this is the only way. i have had chrons disease for 14 years and the 4 years have been awful. Up till then I felt pretty good. There is hope that my intestine will heal finally and I will be able to have it reversed in the future. I am hanging on to that thought but I am still feeling really sad about the whole thing and scared. I found a support group in my town but what else can I do to move forward after? i feel like I have another long road ahead and im telling you its been a really bumpy year…………

By: Individual

Individual — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:21:39 +0000

Why is Ashley awesome? What special thing did she do?

By: Michael R

Michael R — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 15:47:03 +0000

Hey Sam,

You got to hang in there. I was told two years ago to have the surgery, but I didn’t want to because I was so scared about having my colon removed. My life has improved so much in such a short time (I had my 2nd pt surgery 2 months ago) that it’s impossible to explain. I don’t have to carry a change of clothes in my car, am not worried about having to run out in the middle of meetings at work, and am probably in the best shape of my life. I was not happy about having a bag either, but kept telling myself it was just temporary and counting down the days. Even the bag had it’s benefits over colitis and I’m sure you’ve experienced some of those. My transition was not smooth – I had two major blockages, one that put me in the hospital for three days, and my recovery from the 2nd surgery was a nightmare. I had to be reopened during my takedown so they could fix the kinks in my intestines and the pain during recovery was so intense I had to be put on painkillers given to terminal cancer patients. BUT I kept telling myself it would get better. In recovery I started a list of all the things I wanted to do that I couldn’t do before (or hadn’t done in 10 years) because of my colitis. This helped me stay focused on the positives. I also had read enough terrible stories about people’s colitis experiences on the web to know that my situation was not nearly as bad as what others had experienced. I tried to remember that no matter how bad I thought it was, there were others who had it worse and they made it through to the end. Keep your head up and know that good times are coming, even though it may not feel like it now. The bag is just temporary and it’s just a matter of time until you feel great again. Feel free to talk about your concerns or problems here and we will do all we can to help.

By: Mallory

Mallory — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 21:29:51 +0000

Sam–
I definitely did experience this, for quite a long time, and I suspect part of the cause was the fact that I had not anticipated having the bag in the first place–my surgeon was going to remove my large intestine, but leave my rectum and other “gadgets” in place, so I had only planned on having one surgery. The surgeon–as well as my father, who came to be with me during the process–spoke to me after I awoke from surgery, but they did not mention the bag. When I pulled up my hospital gown during the night to see my incision, I was horrified to see what I knew, even in my drugged-up state, was an ileostomy. Long story short, I wound up stuck with it for a year and a half, and I was depressed about it off and on (but mostly on) during that whole period. I did not realize this site existed at the time, so I was not in contact with other people my age who had experienced the same things.

Looking back on it, I think it would have been a lot more endurable if I had reached out to resources such as this one, or confided in people about it. After my takedown, I had (and still have, a year and a half later) a number of disastrous health issues that, unlike the ileo, I truly could not hide from people–and I was surprised to find just how supportive everyone was. I am a student at a small college, so it didn’t take long for everyone to notice that I was seriously ill, and everyone was basically bending over backward to help me. I’m very open in terms of discussing my conditions now, and that has been the most liberating aspect of it.

Of course, when you hate having an ileo, like I did, NOTHING is as great as the day you get rid of it, but to make the in-between, really sucky spell more livable, it truly helps to contact people and confide in them (such as what you have done here!), and to know that others have–and oftentimes, still do–experienced similar thoughts and feelings to yours.

Sorry this message was so long, but I hope at least some of it was helpful! You can also contact me via e-mail, even if you just want to vent about stuff–mal.tift@rocky.edu.

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:55:05 +0000

Sammie, I didn’t go through depression but it is understandable and you do need to discuss with your doctor. Excellent news is that you will have your bag reversal so soon! I had to wait for 10 months. I want to address the leakage issue: My “wound ostomy/stoma nurse” (available at the hospital) helped me through leakage and other “mechanical” issues. If you have that kind of nurse avalailable, she or he can help. I regarded mine as an absolute saint. Her mantra was to make sure that there was “no poo in the shoe”, meaning no leaks. Also, the companies that sell supplies have help lines if I recall correctly. I had a few leakage issues, changed my bag about every 5 days which was good. I emptied it frequently, never lettign it get more than 1/2 full, and “bleeding off” gas that expands the bag. But there are so many bags and attachment types that you need to find the right ones for you. That’s where the supplier and/or nurse can help. Best of luck to you and congratualtions on getting close to the bag reversal. There will still be challenges but that won’t be one of them! Please keep us posted on your progress. I’ve found this to be a very caring, helpful group, and we want you do do well. Terry