I am so sad for her. I had no idea this was such a horrible thing. Anyone out there who was able to have it attached back together and not have to live with that bag. Please give me some hope. I am very depressed and sad for her. Also any suggestions on how to care for her in the folloning weeks? Thanks!
2007-10-16 19:01:15 · 5 answers · asked by openminded 6 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
You and her both just need to be like, 'well, ok, this is what happened, no big deal'.
Likely no one else will be able to see that she has this. Make sure she knows the proper way to care for it. I dont have one so I dont know what other advise to give, but really the best thing to do is sit down with a nurse and they can explain and show every detail of care.
Maybe she could carry a purse in public so if she needs to empty the bag she can simply go to the rest room and do so with any needed supplies in her purse. Any body in her life that sh may be intimate with may be curious, but beyond that they wont care.
Try to act like its not a big deal around her. If you can show her that hey, its no big deal, it will make her feel more comfortable. Maybe even come up with some good points like she doesnt have to sit on the toilet forever trying to have bowel movement.
2007-10-16 19:44:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not really that horrible and it definitely is liveable :) It just takes some getting used to, that's all, just like anything that's new. I've lived with my ileostomy (ie all of my large bowel is removed as opposed to a colostomy where part of the large bowel is removed) for 31 years since I was 10 years old. I've travelled the world, swim every summer, ridden elephants and camels, been rock climbing, completed school, work full time, etc all without a problem. Your mum will be able to as well, her ostomy won't stop her from doing anything - only her mind will.
Whereabouts is her colostomy located? Depending on the part of the bowel the stoma is located, she might be a candidate for irrigation which means she probably won't have to wear a bag. It involves giving herself a water enema via the stoma every 24 - 48 hours thus returning all the stool at once, leaving her stool free inbetween irrigations. Her stoma nurse should be able to tell her whether irrigation is a possibility for her or not.
As for reattachment, that depends on what caused the ostomy in the first place and what her doctors say. For some people, an ostomy is only temporary while their bowel rests and heals, for others, it's a permanent fixture.
Ask your stoma nurse if there's an ostomy support group in your area so your mum can meet other ostomates face to face and hopefully, realise, that having an ostomy is not so bad. We're just like everyone else - we just poop differently. The good part is that no one need know we have a bag unless we tell them :) You've probably met quite a few ostomates in your day to day life but you just don't know that they have a bag :)
There are also some online support groups and message boards including one 'live' chat which I help to moderate. Just Google and you'll find us. There are many many of us out there all willing to help and support you and your mum in any way we can.
Take care.
Shaz
2007-10-16 21:58:24 · answer #2 · answered by Shaz 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reattachment of the bowel all depends on the disease that caused the colostomy in the first place. It takes time for the healing process so she may have to handle haveing a colostomy for a while.
How can you help her? Be positive!!!!! Learn about how to empty the bag, what supplies she will need, how to change the bag and what to look for if there is a problem. Pooping is a normal part of life that we all have to do, she is just doing it in a different way. She may have to change her diet a bit, and have a schedule for when to empty the bag. But she is alive! She and you can deal with this in a very matter of fact kind of way. Stop thinking about what should be and what you want to be and deal with what is!
2007-10-16 19:15:26 · answer #3 · answered by dizzkat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry, the best thing you can do is help her live a life as close to normal as possible, and try to cheer her up a lot, she'll need it.Also, I would ask the doctor for some antidepressants, trust me, she might need them.
2007-10-16 19:07:10 · answer #4 · answered by Alwaleed 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.medicinenet.com/colostomy_a_patients_perspective/article.htm
i found this website that you can read on. pls check it out it might help you
always pray for your mother that's the best thing you can do.
2007-10-17 04:05:22 · answer #5 · answered by chuminera 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋