Your Ostomy Is Your Friend!

Colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy (urinary diversion)-any ostomy is not the end of the world.

What is an ostomy? It is a surgically created opening in the abdomen, to which the small or large intestine is diverted for evacuating waste when the digestive system breaks down. It may be temporary or permanent depending on the individual. A stoma—the Greek word for “mouth”—is the part of the intestine that shows at the opening of the ostomy. It is shiny, wet, dark pink in color, and similar to the inside lining of one’s mouth. The cut itself is usually round or oval in shape; sizes vary. The stoma requires very little care except to keep it clean.

Care for your ostomy should be directed by your health care professionals: physicians, nurses, ostomy suppliers. A multitude of products are available through various medical suppliers. Purchasing of supplies should be directed by your team of health care professionals.

For my small colostomy, I use a small, lightweight closed-end pouch, and a small skin barrier that the pouch is attached to called a wafer. Some systems are one-piece, with the pouch and wafer parts combined. When properly used, the pouch is leak-proof and odor-proof, which is good to know considering it is your portable toilet.

Whether you are mostly or completely bed bound, use a wheelchair and/or walker or other walking device, such as I do in combination, or are totally ambulatory, your ostomy is a fact of life, something to be dealt with every day, whether you’re male or female and at any age.

How do you live with an ostomy? Normal life is definitely the way to go. Simple exercises and even sports are the norm according to one’s ability to physically function. Your clothing styles are mostly no different from what you wore pre-ostomy. When dressed, only you know you have an ostomy; it does not show.

Work makes little or no challenge. I’m an older woman, single mother of two adult sons, home owner, a professional freelance writer and guitarist and balladeer, having resumed the two trades last year after years of illness.

Can one travel? Of course. Always pack sufficient supplies to fit the time and need, even when commuting to and from work, to the store and other trips.

I have selected some helpful sources for those faced with an ostomy and for those with them:
“Preparing For An Ostomy”—ConvaTec
“Living With Confidence After Colostomy Surgery”—ConvaTec
“Preventing and Managing Peristomal Skin Problems”—ConvaTec
“Health and Vitality Magazine”—toll free phone number: 1-800-422-8811

The three leading manufacturers of “ostomy” products that I know of are:
*ConvaTec-1-800-422-8811 (I use them)
*Coloplast
*Hollister

Dee DeJulio