excited and wanted to share with others that would understand

[sassie]

WEll,I had my colostomy almost 11 months ago and it just never pooped, i mean NEVER.... so had to use milk of mag, and tested irrigation many times and was lucky several times....always wondered why i just never had a BM on my own and doc just replied, it will find its sweet spot.. after all these months i had just given up that idea, BUT today it happened "alice" pooped on her own, The only ppl that could relate to this would be all of you and i needed to share this awesome news with someone, Thank You for being here !!!

sassie

[Button]

Sassie:
I can understand your elated and over-the-moon emotions with Alice pooping on her own for the first time since your colostomy. It’s like a toddler using the toilet successfully for the first time, after months of a tentative mother’s guidance and coaxing. Taking care of a new stoma has similarities to mothering. And you are sharing Alice’s accomplishments!

Plus, you must feel a lessening of concern or worry seeing that your intestinal function and motility is improving. Good News.

Congratulations to your stoma, Alice. And accolades to you for adapting to an ostomy as well as you have and for taking such attentive and loving care of your skin and ostomy site/Alice.
Karen

[sassie]

Thank You Karen. I knew someone would understand and your so correct its like taking care of a baby and overjoyed when they learn something new, Your sure a asset to this forum, Thank You for all you put into this site..

sassie

[Button]

Sassie:
Awakening from an unexpected or urgent surgery to find a stoma sharing space on one’s abdomen can be genuinely shocking and deeply unsettling.

I had a quasi-awareness of what a stoma was before my perforation. I sort of knew what an ostomy was. The actual-life stoma that was mine was initially upsetting for me to process. Amid a pleoria of drains, tubes, IV lines, antibiotics, and ICU everyone was focused on saving my life but no one really checked in to see how I was fairing on an emotional level. My emotional reckoning with all that transpired came many, many months later into my healing and recovery. A delayed coming to terms.

There is a lot of internal self-work that accompanies a new stoma/ostomy. I try to never forget the confusion and vulnerability that I felt when trying to make sense of it all . I found my way to this forum only when I was looking through my hospital discharge papers, trying to find scribbled notes from an ostomy nurse, after a string of demoralizing wafer failures and multiple clean-ups involving copious liquid poop/feces. I wearily typed in “uoaa.org” into my yahoo browser. I was waving a white flag of surrender, of sorts, and posted a query “Is anybody out there?”

Like the coming of the cavalry, two members quickly posted a response to my initial post. Their responses were heartfelt and genuine, personal and relevant to me. Their connection was the “medicine” that I needed the most. People who I did not even know lifted me up and sustained me when I needed it the most.

This is what keeps me here. And I think it keeps other long-term posters here. And it fosters a quorum of new members who continue the thread of contributing as they become long-term members. I have been amazed at the process of people helping people. It is a powerful model.

Continues best wishes to you and your stoma, Alice as you learn and live life together,
Karen

[oliveoyl]

That's great sassie, and just think......it took 11 months, but eventually it happened. Sometimes we get discouraged when things seem to take forever, and the doctors don't help by telling you that things will be normal in "six weeks." I hope it will be smoothER sailing from now on.

[sassie]

Thank you both so much and yes awakening from a surgery was 2.5 weeks later for me, i had Anesthesia amnesia and no one was aware of that so 2.5 weeks after i walked into my bathroom at home and saw this thing on my tummy and freaked out with a huge WHO did this, when, why , who,s been caring for it etc. i never heard of a stoma in my life and was clueless as to what to do.. it was a long process but i made it and but for this type of forum and reading for months i would be LOST... So a huge thank you to all members who help others...

sassie

[Button]

Sassie:
I remember your first post where you described being at home, standing in the bathroom, when you became fully aware of your stoma for the first time.

I also had a delayed awareness of meeting my stoma for the first time. A haze of heavy-duty sedating medications and a hazy brain. It was like, “Whaola. Stop the press. What in the heck is this?”

Someday, someone new with an emergency/unanticipated surgery with an ostomy will make their way to this forum and come across your post and find that they are not alone in his/her circumstance. Your post will lessen a newcomer’s fears and give him/her every reason to believe that they can make it through. You are already transiting from receiving support for yoirself to offering support to others. High Five !
Karen