@squeakyandliza

What a bummer! Have you told your boss about your ostomy and how you may need breaks to deal with your leaks? Hopefully, they will be understanding about it. 

Wishing you a better day today.

Stella

Any new workplace/job is daunting! Throw in a temperamental ostomy and it’s a whole other level. I agree with Stella on letting the employers know. It’s not always gonna be like that. As Captain Tom said “ Tomorrow will be a good Day “ 😀

Oh Liza! The stuff we ostomates have to endure! Thank goodness we’re all superheroes. I agree with the advice to tell your supervisor about your ostomy. Most people would be understanding.

I’m really glad you had a fabulous vacation. I have swum with sea turtles too (not in Hawaii) and it is surreal - they almost look like they’re flying through the water. You will never forget it. 

John is right - tomorrow will be a good day. We will all be thinking of you.

Laurie

Thanks for the encouragement guys!!  I just met my boss face to face today. He was pretty busy and the ostomy didn’t seem to flow into the conversation, but I will tell him, for sure.  No leaks so far today, but me skin is so sore I can hardly stand it. It almost makes me want to rip my wafer off, so there is probably some breach that I’m just not seeing yet. Ugh. 

There is one sort of cool thing I forgot to mention yesterday. @chrisandbagpus will believe in this for sure — I have a friend who died almost a year ago. I’ve known him since 2002 - he was working at Fannie Mae and I was the Housing Director for Consumer Credit Counseling Service. We lived about 3 hours apart but we worked together to get some low income people in houses and became friends in the process. We bonded over our mutual dislike of my boss at the time and he always told me I should be in a much better job.  As time went on, he left Fannie Mae and I moved on as well but we always exchanged Christmas cards and emails a few times a year. It was very upsetting to learn he had died around Christmas last year. Fast Forward to yesterday, my first day at my new job. I logged in to my email to remind myself where my orientation was. Scrolling through my email that had come in overnight, I had a junk mail from Fannie Mae. I get dozens of junk email every day and i have NEVER had one from Fannie Mae before. So I 100% believe that was my friend Randy wishing me good luck on my first day!!  

So Chris, I’m still waiting for a sign from my Dad, but I sure got one from my friend yesterday. ❤️

@squeakyandliza 

You brought tears to my eyes, Liza. I don't believe in coincidences, but that  email from your friend was ordained by One greater than ourselves. There was a reason that you didn't find it till now. Our comfort, encouragement, etc. comes at just the right times when we most need it.

After my youngest brother died from cancer many years ago, my mother hadn't the heart to go into his room for a month. When she finally did, she felt so greatly saddened. She was on the other side of the room when a book fell from my brother's shelf. (There was no reason that it should have fallen.) The book was opened to a particular page where she found a poem called "Safely Home" which started with these words, "I am home in Heaven dear ones...". It did so much to bring encouragement and comfort to us all when we heard Mom's story. I hope this story brings encouragement to someone today.

God bless,

Stella

@squeakyandliza...oh my goodness! Such a gift to receive that email. I so feel for your sore tummy. I was immediatly concerned about your skin & pain leaving it could cause. That painful burning is just not nice in any way shape or form. I hope it heals quickly for you Liza!

For sure tell your supervisor what your dealing with. I'm pretty sure allowances can be made. It may be a good educational moment leaving room for her/him to ask questions. 

You know, after my Dad died & my  son & I came home the 1st thing we saw when bringing our luggage in the house was a Petunia growing between 2 very snug fitting 14 × 14 inch cement patio blocks. I could not even slide a piece of paper between the two. This petunia grew there all summer right until after our 1st snow fall & covered an area of 4 of those blocks.  Petunias were my Dads favorite flower to plant every spring. The last 3 yrs. these Petunias continue to grow in different areas on the deck. It still amazes me! I remember seeing them the 1st time & calling it a little gift from Dad all the way from Heaven! 

Also, after Doug my hubby died, on my loneliest days while walking my dogs, I oddly enough I started finding dimes on walks on the days I was especially feeling the loss.  This has continued since though not as often. Just last week while walking my little dog Missy around the block & with my beautiful little granddaughter walking beside me tightly holding my index finger with her little hand, I had actually looked up &  said out loud..."Oh Doug, you would so love these little grands of ours & I miss you so much honey!"  As I was fighting back tears Gwen decided we needed to "SIT"  as she patted the bench we were about to pass....so ofcourse we sat. She'll be 2 in 2 weeks & walks with me like a real little champ!  As we got up to leave, there in the bark mulch was a very shinery dime beckoning me to pick it up. 

I haven't kept track of all the dimes over the past 12 years, but there have been plenty of them that it could not go unnoticed along with the way I was feeling. Coincidence...maybe, but in the 3rd year I googled it & I have read that "Dimes from Heaven" are a real thing! I stumbled across a poem about it one day too. Go ahead doubting Thomas's...google it, lol.  I certainly had to after the 1st few years & finding so many of them! To this day I still consider them a hug from Heaven.  

Sounds like you need to wear a back brace or hernia  belt.  Often workers at big box stores wear these(back brace).  I wear one for 15-20min to get a good compete seal on a new bag. 

Also with a skin fold, even gaining 1/8 to 3/16 inch of belly fat can noticeable reduce wear time, increase leaks.

I’m into my 5th week on the job. Today is my 4th full day in the office and my 3rd day with a leak at the office. 😡 Squeaky does not seem to like coming to the office. But I’m getting proficient at changing in a bathroom stall.