Im happy for you!   For me it starts getting uncomfortable by day 3 so far be been changing every 3rd day. I wish it could last a week. You got a nice fit in there too!

I meant to ask, how often are you changing?  Do you wait for it to get uncomfortable?

Ah good stuff, and ye do have that really well fitted, may be we should have a beauty pageant for stomas

I have been waiting until it starts to itch/ tickle, if it burns I've went too long. Usually 3-4 days, managed 6 one time. I changed early this time since I was worried that the seal was compromised by having the Ostomy nurses sticking their fingers in to break the clog up. It also was to put the  slightly higher volume bag on since I should be doing prep today for a scope in the morning. It was the only size they had to fit the smaller flange sample. Oscar is high up, about 2 inches above my belly button, maybe 2-3 inches out to the right. Usually my regular Hollister bag hits just at the top of my leg. This sucker hangs 2 inches lower, not including the drain spout. I think it's more a urostomy ouch.

I like seeing other ostomies. It's reassuring that what I've got is normal.

First time I saw a photo of a model with a centerline scar like my resection scar I just about lost it. I insisted my husband look I was so excited to see a scar like mine. I always tried to hide that scar and cried so much over it in my 20s. Here was a gorgeous model showing hers without a care. Ellie Mayday, she's mainly an underwear model. Seeing bodies/ scars like our own helps so much.

Oscar kind of looks like a cherry when he's at rest. Kind of a cute bugger til he opens his maw. 

Felicity,

I love reading your posts, you're always so upbeat and positive, just the exact opposite of how I was at first.  Have you tried the products by Ostomysecrets?  They are kind of expensive but the underwear is something I cannot do without anymore.  They also have beautiful models with stomas on their site.

I know what you mean cos I used to wonder if what I had was normal, when you think about it leaving the stomas to one side how many folk have scars from an operation of some sort or a wound from an accident

John, right!  I'd venture to guess the majority of people are scarred in some way.  We are just extra special!

We are indeed, our motto should be Wear your stoma with PRIDE

I've looked but been holding off. Trying to get a good broad view of what is out there. Ostomy Secrets does have some nice looking stuff. I'll likely get some eventually. Currently looking for a good belt/ protector for work. Saw a nifty looking system called "Celebration Belt" combining a hernia support, stoma guard and support for the bag. Supposedly low profile, at least it looks that way under a men's suit but there is so much structure to a suit. Who knows what it looks like under lighter women's wear... 

I try to be upbeat because it is too easy to get bogged down. Especially knowing this is part of my life from now on. I did cry a little when I woke and felt Oscar. I refused to look for two days, then decided I had to learn and did. I've been able to be so positive from seeing all the wonderful Ostomy Bloggers showing that the bag is not a limit on us. They helped me be able to accept the surgery when it was offered. In my recent life Oscar has given me my life back. I love to drive, I love my job and I love eating. Oscar got me back to those, and he'll get me back to camping, fire dancing and anything else I want to do.

Yep that's the right attitude, check out a company called Comfizz they have a lot of useful items

Holy hell. Percolating the Suprep through. So glad I got that urostomy/ high flow bag. Oscar is dancing away like mad, filled the bag in 10 minutes...

Hi Felicity! That looks like the perfect size wafer for you! Having used a larger wafer than necessary, I can understand how it feels so I'm glad you've got the appropriate size now! 

Pouchoscopy done. Up Oscar and down the other hole. Some erosion is my small bowel, so I've got some Crohn's activity in small intestine. It's almost certain the large intestine is go even though it's not as bad as he originally thought. Still pretty diseased.

So what's the plan then, Felicity? Will you be put on a new treatment or is that something that still needs to be discussed? 

For sure proctocolectomy, I'm not sure of the medicine side, the GI and GI Surgeon have me off anything at the moment so they've got a clean slate to work with. The GI was happy with how I looked and how I was dealing with having an Ostomy.

Tomorrow I see a specialist Gynocologist for her to get an idea of the involvement of my left ovary (adhesions webbed it in apparently) and in two weeks to see the Urologist about the left kidney. November will be the time plans will solidify for me.

Hopefully I'll get through this leg of my Crohns journey easy. I'm prepared and planning to have weight to spare if possible. We've got our family room set up for it. Family is ready.

take it one step at a time and all the very best wishes

Good luck, Felicity. Let us know how it goes.

Good Luck Felicity