Hi. So I keep reading so many different stories about Ileostomy and I just am trying to wrap my head around what life will be like without my rectum and colon. I never thought I would say this but I wish I could have regular colostomy vs. ileostomy. Is stoma really always active? So how the heck does anyone ever sleep if they have to change the bag every few hours? How do you not feel it and be able to sleep. If it is always active then it is all stiff and perky so must be much more noticeable? I was thinking I could maybe not eat before a meeting or something so it wouldn't bulge and make noise or give off gas but I am also reading that it doesn't make a difference and you have to keep eating regularly. Does anyone have one and have a different experience than this! I wasn't planning to tell people other than my close family but it sounds like I may not have a choice but to tell coworkers. It really is what stops me but I am not going to have choice much longer. I will do what I have to do to live and see my kids grow up but if I didn't have them...I could see myself slipping into big depression...