Update - first visit to the stoma nurse

[Dawn Gibson]

Just a quick update from me. Yesterday I went to see the stoma nurse for the first time. It's great that it's literally two minutes up the road from my work. The other nice thing was that I got to sit and chat with her for an hour and ask loads of questions, rather than a quick 5 minutes with my consultant.

She gave me lots of information, and also a "fake" stoma to stick on and practice changing and emptying bags at home (using water though not the real stuff!).

Seeing the equipment I will need for real did bring it home to me what is going to happen, but all in all it was a positive experience. My next visit is not scheduled in yet as I still need to have my flexi sig to see if they can save my rectum, but the next time I go will probably be to mark out where my stoma will be.

I'm still anxious, but a good friend of mine told me to get on with it and not look back - pretty good advice I think.

 

[DMac]

Hi Dawn

As with most specialist nurses, stoma nurses are fantastic at offering help and support. Even though many of them have a substantial number of patients to assist. It sounds as though you're in good hands and the fact that your able to have the bags at home and actually put them on and get to grips with them, should really help you to be a lot more confident come the time when you have the stoma.

It probably seems daunting, but trust me it gets better and easier and don't be afraid to contact your stoma nurse if you're feeling particulary anxious, or just want some help and reassurance. That is what they're there for. It is hard not to think about it, but just know that you have support from many people and this site will always have people, way more qualified than me, to offer you some fantastic advice.

You'll be absolutely fine and this will be somewhat of a journey that can have some great benefits, especially in re to your outlook on life. It's certainly changed mine. All the best

 

[2thFairy]

I was also able to practice with a fake stoma and bags before my surgery too. I tried out several different brands over a 2-week period (sometimes wearing 3 at a time) to see if I would have an allergic reaction to the adhesive and was able to eliminate a couple of brands beforehand. It is mindnumbing at first. It really did help me, in the end, to have had a couple of weeks to practice and sort of work into it all. Don't get me wrong, it is still a whole different thing doing it for real (bag changes, emptying, dealing with skin breakdown, etc.), but it does help to be able to practice ahead of time.

I'm so glad you found a good stoma nurse that you feel confident with!

 

[DMac]

[2thFairy]it is still a whole different thing doing it for real (bag changes, emptying, dealing with skin breakdown, etc.), but it does help to be able to practice ahead of time.

Very good point 2thFairy

It is good to get a feel for the bag and the way if feels, positioning, type of bag etc... but it is a slightly different prospect having to actually deal with the things you listed. Some people adapt very quickly, and others take a little bit longer. We all get there in the end.

 

[Misty-Eyed]

I also had a fake stoma. I still have it somewhere! I think they are very good for getting your head around things and things are less of a shock or surprise when it happens.

I think it will really help you mentally. It did for me anyway.

 

[Terriernut]

So glad to hear you have a very good stoma nurse to depend on! It will make things so much better for you. Great you get to practice as well.