Speed Bumps and Road Blocks
Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck on a one way street with speed bumps every 10 feet and road blocks at every turn. Ever feel this way? It is so frustrating!
Just when I think I've got this ostomy thing figured out, along comes another mishap.
I ran to Walmart the other day after working out. Actually, I drove but that's not the point. I was grabbing stuff and rolling down the isles when I felt something wet on my leg, upper thigh to be exact. Well, I was having an ostomy moment. Thankfully, I caught the leak before it ran all the way down my leg! Also, I was wearing black shorts which helped disguise the oops. Of course, I was mortified so I found a deserted isle to check out how bad it was and see if I needed to head to the bathroom or blow the whole shopping trip and head to the car. I was very relieved to see that the leak was very slight and wasn't even on my shorts so I headed to the ladies room. What I found was at some, point the bottom of the pouch had popped out from the flange. Let me explain it like this: you know how Tupperware seals, well an ostomy pouch fits onto the flange (the part adhered to the skin) like a Tupperware lid. This minor gap in the seal was allowing a little fluid to seep out between the bag and the flange. Not enough to cause a full blown leak but enough that it could have been really bad if I hadn't caught it. I'm still not sure how I managed to pull it loose like that but I was able to snap it back on and wipe the leak up with no evidence left on my clothes! Phew!
These little mishaps make me nervous because they can become big deals quickly! I don't mind people knowing I have an ostomy however, I don't think anyone wants to find out because I have poo running down my leg. I'm all about ostomy awareness and making people comfortable with it, but I'm afraid, a groddy scene like that wouldn't help. Plus, I'd be looking for a rock to climb under.
I came across this little saying today while I was waiting to pick up a kid from football.
This is such a true statement! I don't look at my permanent ileostomy as something bad. I see the disease that caused it as bad. Ulcerative Colitis is bad, it's a crappy, crappy disease. (punny, I know) It stole my colon from me but it did not define who I was. Sometimes it made me struggle to remember but it never over took me. That was a choice I made. I refused to become the disease that gripped me and threatened to take me down. I eventually surrendered my colon but in return I got my life back. Instead of being defeated, I rose up and took back what was mine. I traded a very sick body part for a new life which happens to include an external poo pouch. There are worse things that could happen.
I now have more good days in a row than I can count on 2 hands! I no longer take handfuls of meds, or steroids, or enemas! My joints don't feel like that of an 80 year old. I can run again! I can eat almost anything! My eyes are no longer fighting the side effects of inflammation. Life is good.
It's been an uphill battle to make it good. It's not always easy. I will still encounter struggles in the future but I have a choice--I can CHOOSE to let it build me up, not tear me down. I will be strong. I will make it and thankfully, I don't have to go it alone, and neither do you! IBD can be a very isolating disease but you are not the only one fighting! There are lots of us out there and many are willing to share their own experiences both good and bad.
Check out Facebook pages:
http://www.facebook.com/IntenseIntestines
http://www.facebook.com/WestTexasOstomySupportGroup
http://www.facebook.com/LoudandProudwithanOstomy
http://www.facebook.com/unitedcolonvlog
http://www.facebook.com/c3life
http://www.facebook.com/charitybcuk
http://www.facebook.com/OstomyLifestyle
http://www.facebook.com/pages/IBD-or-known-as-Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease/207576322603140
http://www.facebook.com/FullFrontalOstomy
http://www.facebook.com/awestomy
http://www.facebook.com/IBDgirls
These are only a few of the many that are out there. Check them out and know you do not have to be confined to the bathroom forever!
Just when I think I've got this ostomy thing figured out, along comes another mishap.
I ran to Walmart the other day after working out. Actually, I drove but that's not the point. I was grabbing stuff and rolling down the isles when I felt something wet on my leg, upper thigh to be exact. Well, I was having an ostomy moment. Thankfully, I caught the leak before it ran all the way down my leg! Also, I was wearing black shorts which helped disguise the oops. Of course, I was mortified so I found a deserted isle to check out how bad it was and see if I needed to head to the bathroom or blow the whole shopping trip and head to the car. I was very relieved to see that the leak was very slight and wasn't even on my shorts so I headed to the ladies room. What I found was at some, point the bottom of the pouch had popped out from the flange. Let me explain it like this: you know how Tupperware seals, well an ostomy pouch fits onto the flange (the part adhered to the skin) like a Tupperware lid. This minor gap in the seal was allowing a little fluid to seep out between the bag and the flange. Not enough to cause a full blown leak but enough that it could have been really bad if I hadn't caught it. I'm still not sure how I managed to pull it loose like that but I was able to snap it back on and wipe the leak up with no evidence left on my clothes! Phew!
These little mishaps make me nervous because they can become big deals quickly! I don't mind people knowing I have an ostomy however, I don't think anyone wants to find out because I have poo running down my leg. I'm all about ostomy awareness and making people comfortable with it, but I'm afraid, a groddy scene like that wouldn't help. Plus, I'd be looking for a rock to climb under.
I came across this little saying today while I was waiting to pick up a kid from football.
I now have more good days in a row than I can count on 2 hands! I no longer take handfuls of meds, or steroids, or enemas! My joints don't feel like that of an 80 year old. I can run again! I can eat almost anything! My eyes are no longer fighting the side effects of inflammation. Life is good.
It's been an uphill battle to make it good. It's not always easy. I will still encounter struggles in the future but I have a choice--I can CHOOSE to let it build me up, not tear me down. I will be strong. I will make it and thankfully, I don't have to go it alone, and neither do you! IBD can be a very isolating disease but you are not the only one fighting! There are lots of us out there and many are willing to share their own experiences both good and bad.
Check out Facebook pages:
http://www.facebook.com/IntenseIntestines
http://www.facebook.com/WestTexasOstomySupportGroup
http://www.facebook.com/LoudandProudwithanOstomy
http://www.facebook.com/unitedcolonvlog
http://www.facebook.com/c3life
http://www.facebook.com/charitybcuk
http://www.facebook.com/OstomyLifestyle
http://www.facebook.com/pages/IBD-or-known-as-Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease/207576322603140
http://www.facebook.com/FullFrontalOstomy
http://www.facebook.com/awestomy
http://www.facebook.com/IBDgirls
These are only a few of the many that are out there. Check them out and know you do not have to be confined to the bathroom forever!
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