I was so excited when mine first started getting active. I was constantly asking "Did you hear that?"
You probably will empty A LOT for the first month or so, but it will slow down. Your doctor may put you on meds to slow it down if it is too active. Also, you will find out which foods help thicken it up and/or slow it down too.
Hahaha! Just when you thought your days of everybody needing to see your butt were put on hold!
During my hospital stay, one of the night nurses that was *very* skilled in stoma care, actually DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ULCERATIVE COLITIS WAS!?!?!
I hate to break it to you, but as soon as they took my catheter out and before I started on solid food, I was peeing every hour on the hour....it was sort of hellish (I had 2 IV poles at the time) but it was good at the same time...as as everyone has said, walking is a good thing...Too funny! Ok. They need to slow my iv down or something now. I'm never gonna be able sleep tonight with all the peeing I'm having to do! Isn't the point of this surgery to save me going to the toilet so much!? Man, can't win!
Are you still on an IV drip of just fluids or has that been removed already? I wonder if you are beginning to get dehydrated. So sorry you are having to deal with this! You have the right attitude about it, though, and that will go a loooong way. Good on you!!! :kiss:Holy set back batman! I'm off my pain pump and on solids and now I'm sweating and nauseous and in pain. This not cool. And now all of a sudden its impossible to get a nurse to pay attention to me. I can barely get up to pee now. I'm in so much pain and its pulling so bad.
Had my bag changed today. A bit cringy because it was all stuck to my incision. It wasn't as bad as I thought though. And now ive graduated to dumping my bag into the toilet instead of a bowl at my bed. Nurse seemed pleased with the thickening up of my output too. So all said so far today has been good. Hopefully it stays that way!
Amy,
Don't feel bad. I also pooped the other way twice so far. It's very annoying. I thought having the bag meant no more other poops. Talked to my surgeon and that's not the case! You will be fine. Sometimes crying cleans the soul. I want to cry everytime this thing leaks, but I just keep reminding myself this is better than being in pain ALL DAY!
It WILL stop. After a bit you may occasionally get a mucus poo, and that is all. Promise!Please tell me the poos from the old fashioned way stop! I can't handle it if it doesn't! What's the point of all this if it doesn't stop!
Ditto what Nitaboo said! The worst is the beginning- the incision makes the bag not as durable. This gets better very quickly. But also, the stoma shrinks in size, I think for about a month but don't hold me to that. So you will have to use cut to fit pouches and as the stoma shrinks and during this phase it is more likely to leak. It's not too bad, but using a two piece pouch and/or some 2 inch paper tape to reinforce the seal works well to prevent leaks You will soon get the point where the bag is an afterthought and you're eating normal again without any pain or worries. You may also experience an accident- where the bag's clip comes off, or the bag comes loose. IF that happens, please note we've all be there! Things do get better. So much better you may not recognize yourself anymore! Nothing about wearing a bag will prevent you from living a normal life again. In fact, you will be amazed at how quickly your life gets back to normal- the body is a very good at healing! Hang in there!Having that happen to your roommate had to be scary! They also placed my bag over my incisions and the first change was so painful that I knew I would die right then..... Then as soon as the nurse took the bag off, Stella started squirting EVERYWHERE! I knew I would die again. I was covered in poop and in pain, I thought I definitely had made a mistake by getting this surgery. But now........no regrets! I'm 12 days post op and I'm back driving, eating whatever I want (some restrictions), and living a overall better life! Even my husband sees the difference......
I say this to tell you it's gonna be horrible in the beginning, but things will get better and it will be totally worth it!
Yes...I had 2 die next to me in hospital, a most distressing thing to happen.What a day! My roommate coded and I got moved! I feel so bad for her and I really wish I could find out if she is alright. It was a very frightening experience. She wasn't responding to the nurse and All of a sudden there were 20 people in the room with a crash cart and they were getting me out of there.
On the very shallow upside. I got my family to bring me a sandwich and goldfish crackers. I feel awful even worrying about such silly things.
I prefer not to have gas in my bag because too much can cause a leak! I usually have to "burp" my bag several times a day, which gets annoying, especially at night when you look and see a balloon.
I also wanted to let u know to use Hollister M9 odor control drops in your bag. The odor really got to me and it totally eliminates it. An ostomy belt had also helped me! I'm on day 4 with no leaks, I will probably change it today to be safe!
Very true, Hobbes. The stink does lessen over time. I still use M9 because I'm paranoid, but there have been times when I didn't and the odor wasn't that bad. Definitely nothing as bad as the first 6 weeks!