Hello Everybody!!!
I'm visiting my sister in Portland, OR (I live in Los Angeles). This is my first trip away from home since my ostomy surgery in January. I had so much angst being away from home with all I need to contend with since my surgery.
THIS IS WHAT MADE ME PROUD OF MYSELF!!! I was trying on clothes at a store similar to Target. My stoma is about an inch and a half above my belly button on my right side. Since I lost a lot of weight from being sick for a year before my surgery I can fit into pants from the junior section. That means that most of the waists in these pants fall below my stoma. However, I tried on a great pair of pants from the women's section and a beautiful top to go with them. I had so much energy that day so I was trying on clothes for a couple of hours (so awesome considering that while I was sick I couldn't even stand long enough to wash a cup). I was paying attention to my pouch but only if it was filling up or not. I was quite caught off guard when the pants from the women's section, which had a higher waist than the others, got caught on my pouch and pulled it away from my flange/barrier! I was even wearing the elastic belt to keep the pouch secure but it happened anyway. I looked down only to be MORTIFIED by the fact that not only was my pouch off but my stoma was active and poop was coming out of it at an unstoppable rate. I quickly attached the pouch back onto the flange. Luckily I had paper towels in my purse (never underestimate the need to be prepared for appliance disaster) so I was able to do a bit of clean up in the dressing room. Fortunately I really liked the top I was trying on when this happened because poop got on it and it only seemed right that I should buy it either way. After getting my own clothes back on I quickly headed to the bathroom to wash off the top. As I was nearing the bathroom the store manager was coming from the other direction. I thought it might look like I was stealing the top by taking it into the bathroom so I said to the manager, "I had an accident while trying this top on. I am going to buy it but would it be OK to wash it off in the restroom?" She had no problem with that. I never explained what my accident was and I wonder if she had any idea how you could have an accident while trying on a top. So I washed it off and paid for the top along with the other clothes that I wanted. I'm proud of myself because I SURVIVED A POUCH DISASTER WITHOUT FALLING APART!!! I never would have imagined I could get through something like this but I did! And the top and the pants and all the rest of the clothes look great! So I guess us ostomates can get through life even when the worst happens. You just do it and move on. I was very grateful for that lesson and for my resolve not to just crawl into a cave and hide. SHIT HAPPENS (hahaha!)
Sharon J.
I'm visiting my sister in Portland, OR (I live in Los Angeles). This is my first trip away from home since my ostomy surgery in January. I had so much angst being away from home with all I need to contend with since my surgery.
THIS IS WHAT MADE ME PROUD OF MYSELF!!! I was trying on clothes at a store similar to Target. My stoma is about an inch and a half above my belly button on my right side. Since I lost a lot of weight from being sick for a year before my surgery I can fit into pants from the junior section. That means that most of the waists in these pants fall below my stoma. However, I tried on a great pair of pants from the women's section and a beautiful top to go with them. I had so much energy that day so I was trying on clothes for a couple of hours (so awesome considering that while I was sick I couldn't even stand long enough to wash a cup). I was paying attention to my pouch but only if it was filling up or not. I was quite caught off guard when the pants from the women's section, which had a higher waist than the others, got caught on my pouch and pulled it away from my flange/barrier! I was even wearing the elastic belt to keep the pouch secure but it happened anyway. I looked down only to be MORTIFIED by the fact that not only was my pouch off but my stoma was active and poop was coming out of it at an unstoppable rate. I quickly attached the pouch back onto the flange. Luckily I had paper towels in my purse (never underestimate the need to be prepared for appliance disaster) so I was able to do a bit of clean up in the dressing room. Fortunately I really liked the top I was trying on when this happened because poop got on it and it only seemed right that I should buy it either way. After getting my own clothes back on I quickly headed to the bathroom to wash off the top. As I was nearing the bathroom the store manager was coming from the other direction. I thought it might look like I was stealing the top by taking it into the bathroom so I said to the manager, "I had an accident while trying this top on. I am going to buy it but would it be OK to wash it off in the restroom?" She had no problem with that. I never explained what my accident was and I wonder if she had any idea how you could have an accident while trying on a top. So I washed it off and paid for the top along with the other clothes that I wanted. I'm proud of myself because I SURVIVED A POUCH DISASTER WITHOUT FALLING APART!!! I never would have imagined I could get through something like this but I did! And the top and the pants and all the rest of the clothes look great! So I guess us ostomates can get through life even when the worst happens. You just do it and move on. I was very grateful for that lesson and for my resolve not to just crawl into a cave and hide. SHIT HAPPENS (hahaha!)
Sharon J.
