Tips from Beka’s experiences
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Changing my bag went from 40 mins to 5 mins
In the beginning it took me forever to change my bag. Every time I tried to change it, I would have some output come out, or it would leak.
My first suggestion is, don’t eat for about half an hour before your bag change. It really helps and makes changing so much easier.
Marshmallows can be the sponge you need
This was a suggestion from my stoma nurse. Have marshmallows about an hour before changing your bag. I am not sure what marshmallows do, but they somehow stop the output for a bit, which means changing the bag becomes easier.
In my early days I did that quite a lot, and it really helped. But then again be careful as having too many marshmallows might not be good for you.
Embrace your stoma
The best way to get over the stigma of a stoma is to embrace it and talk about it. Talking to friends and family to begin with helped me build my confidence. It is part of me, and it changed my life positively. It is not like one day you have it and the next day you don’t. If you have a stoma for life, then embrace it.
Smells and Noise
I used to be paranoid about smells. I thought I was going to be a smelly person walking around. The truth is no one around you can smell anything. If you are not sure ask your friends or family. They will tell you the truth and that will help build your confidence.
If you maintain a good hygiene routine, your bag or stoma shouldn’t smell. Regular bag changes, keeping it clean is all you need.
Yes, it smells when you are changing your bag or releasing your output, but then everyone has a smell when they go to the toilet. That is normal.
I also worried about noise. People around you can barely hear anything. If they can, you just tell them you have a stoma, and they will understand.
It will not change your sex life
Once you are confident with your partner seeing your stoma, having a bag doesn’t affect your sex life at all. Embrace it and enjoy it.
Think of the things you couldn’t do before your bag, and now you can.
It’s a small price to pay, it doesn’t define you. It doesn’t change who you are!
JB-003084. Date of Prep: August 2024.
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