Haha, as I read this I just finished playing accordion with the gas in my bag... The cat found it incredibly amusing! 

I guess because it's there, it gives us something to do! Mind you, I wouldn't normally play with my bag when it's sideways, but I'm trying a new appliance so it's dangling down and is more accessible! 

hehe you made my day yay im not the only one. before getting it, i was saying i would never touch it unless clear/emptying. oh how wrong i was  

LOL. It's amazing that after nearly 4 years I'm still fascinated by the bag and stoma. Better than hating it, right?! 

Yep totally. My cousin has a temp one and she hates it, but I see the other side of it and without it I would not be here and that's what my doctors said, so I feel awesome having my little Merffi :)

Ha! Yes.. of course...I try not to do it in public, however.

At first, and when I had a series of leaks, I was obsessively checking around the wafer for any sign of moisture. Now,  seem to need to 'pat' it for signs of fullness or ballooning.  I guess as long as we are discreet, we don't have to sleep with our hands outside the covers!

Hahaha... so funny. Yes, I do this. I have really thick output, like always. Most of the time it doesn't drop into the bag, especially if I'm wearing tighter clothes or lying on my back. I am always putting my hand on the bag to feel if I need to, uh, adjust things. If I need to adjust I go somewhere private. Luckily I have my own office so don't need to get up to go to a private area, I usually just make sure my back is to the door.

It is silly/stupid but I am usually messing with the bag in some way. A lot of times I'm just rubbing around the base and I don't even know it. I have a lot of little bothersome pains/irritations so for whatever reason rubbing seems to alleviate the itchy sensations. That is something I only do at home though. I just have to remember to be polite when people are at home with me, and leave the room to burp the bag.

Yes, I am also guilty of this.

I thought it was cause its new and the worry of leaks or forgetting to close the bottom but I guess not. Lol

Guilty as well. Have thick pasty output a lot of the time and I am checking all the time to make sure I don't have to push it down. I also catch myself rubbing the skin around the barrier, itches all the time. When I am changing my bag I sometimes watch Lumpy the stoma move in and out like he is happy to be free of the restrictive barrier and bag. I know that sounds a bit odd but don't judge me too harshly :)

Hi Cassoday, NO harsh judgements here! We have all been there, done that and if we haven't its probably just a matter of time.  We are still learning about our 'new friend'!  And, sometimes it requires a pretty steep learning curve.

Posted by: Dona

...and if we haven't its probably just a matter of time. 

Yes! I'm convinced that everyone, at some point, will either fidget with their bag, play with it, or check on it more than they need to :)

Yes... checking constantly. Doesn't help that with my thick output, it feels like... playdoh or silly putty in the bag! We're all just weird playing with, and making jokes about poop. 

Although I have only had my ostomy aka "Phil" for a month come tomorrow, I do find that it has become normal to check things out occasionally. I'm so happy with the choice I made and how good I am feeling, and the recognition that an appliance is part of who I am from this point forward. Phil is my new buddy and deserves all the attention and care he gets!😉

Posted by: sgraffrn

 

Although I have only had my ostomy aka "Phil" for a month come tomorrow, I do find that it has become normal to check things out occasionally.  

When I wear glasses I'm always adjusting and fidgeting with them, so I don't see a problem here =)

During the winter months my bag keeps my hands warm at night:)  I find that I'm checking my bag a lot to see if it needs burping.  The other day I burped it while in the car with my daughter - oops! She opened the car windows because she said the car smelled like farts - not that I thought it smelled like a bakery!

Posted by: Laura

During the winter months my bag keeps my hands warm at night:)

haha! Did you catch this segment (at a minute and 26 seconds in) in the "Crap Ostomates Say" video?

I relate to all comments on this subject. It's nice to have a place to share with people who understand without worry of judgement!  I do all of the above haha. It is amazing to me because I had dreaded the surgery and put it off for years of misery. At first I must say it repulsed me and I assumed it would repulse anyone who knew it was there so I was constantly emptying it. As time went on I'm shocked by my change of attitude about it. It actually fascinates me and is such rare look at how our body works. It has a mind of its own and do the same as cassoday12 and watching my stomach when changing my bag! 

I knew I wasn't the only one. Now if I could figure out how to keep my feet warm without wearing socks to bed . . . 

Posted by: Laura

 

I knew I wasn't the only one. Now if I could figure out how to keep my feet warm without wearing socks to bed . . .    

LOL. Family dog?

Posted by: Jattzl

 

I relate to all comments on this subject. It's nice to have a place to share with people who understand without worry of judgement!  I do all of the above haha. It is amazing to me because I had dreaded the surgery and put it off for years of misery. At first I must say it repulsed me and I assumed it would repulse anyone who knew it was there so I was constantly emptying it. As time went on I'm shocked by my change of attitude about it. It actually fascinates me and is such rare look at how our body works. It has a mind of its own and I do the same as cassoday12 and watch my stoma when changing my bag!