5 positive things my stoma helped with
Preoperative and postoperative can be quite daunting. You may not initially see the positives that having a stoma may provide.
These positive things may take you some time to realise. I’ve had several stomas over the last 14 years and I tend to see the amusing aspects rather than the positive.
My positives
My sense of humour is debatable at times. I’m more on the caustic sarcasm train, alongside gallows humour. When I get together with my brother our toilet humour often leads too, will you please both shut up, we are trying to eat our food here…..
- Having the stoma placed saved my life, if it wasn’t for that emergency surgery , I wouldn’t be here to see my daughter grow up into the amazing young lady she has become.
- It removed the worst afflicted parts of my bowel and for at least 6 of these years it has given me such an amazing quality of life where I have been able to enjoy life’s adventures with my 2 favourite humans.
- Nerve damage, this could be looked at as a negative, however the numbness to my abdominal area has made administering my immuno suppressant injections so much less painful because I can’t feel the needle when injecting.
- Apart from the odd bag leak I am no longer incontinent and I don’t have to wear adult nappies or have to stick suppositories up my rectum.
- It gave me back my love of spicy foods. Pre-stoma I was unable to eat spicy foods due to the amount of discomfort and pain it used to cause.
My current health has had me laid up since my hospital admission in June and I’m currently on the waiting list for further surgery to have a full hysterectomy and to remove Buddy the cyst. Even in these uncertain times I can still find the positives. I am using this time off on long term sick to get back into hobbies I stopped a long time ago.
My stoma allows me to be able sleep, eat, live life and love.
My stoma gave me back some much needed confidence and a platform to be able to help others who have also helped me in return.
Those are my postives, what are yours?
Many thanks for reading
Louise Xx
As always
Many thanks for reading