Waking Up an Ostomate

By C. A. Stone

A guide to coping with life as an ostomate. The trauma associated with surgery to place a stoma is beyond difficult to handle. Particularly, if you, like me, was not expecting it. In this 45 page book, you will learn the ins and outs of how to deal with your new "normal" both in the hospital and at home. Most importantly, you will learn how to deal with the emotional, mental and physical challenges of becoming an ostomate. Depression, hopelessness, anxiety and shame do not have to remain. With support (via this book and resources contain within) time and practice, you can recover from the trauma and regain a normal, healthy life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. A. Stone
• Release date: May 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223334804

Book preview

From Shock to Acceptance: Finding Emotional Healing After Ostomy Surgery

Being told you need a stoma isn’t easy. Whether it's due to an emergency surgery or a planned operation, the news can be overwhelming and emotional. Suddenly, you find yourself having to process a new reality and adapt to a new way of life. The physical changes are not the only challenge you face; the emotional impact of an unplanned ileostomy, colostomy, or urostomy is life-changing and traumatic.

Waking up from ostomy surgery for the first time is a daunting experience; it’s very difficult to even attempt to describe the feelings and emotions you experience in that moment. I didn’t know I could experience such a wide range of emotions in such a short time; from shock, fear, and anxiety, to confusion and vulnerability, I experienced them all. You will likely experience some of these feelings too, if not all of them. As if that’s not enough, coping with the emotional aftermath of surgery can be a challenge. I want you to know that your feelings are valid and normal, and it’s okay to feel them.

Some people are fortunate enough to get some time to mentally prepare for surgery, but for those who suffer through emergency surgery, there’s no time to prepare, and with everything happening so fast, you can feel like your whole world is falling apart. However, although experiencing fear and anxiety is okay and normal, I can assure you that things will get better.

Reasons for Ostomy Surgery

Intestinal cancer, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel disease, and accidents are only a few of the reasons one may require an ostomy surgery. We will discuss other reasons in detail in the chapters to follow. In my case, I underwent emergency surgery due to diverticulitis, which caused a hole in my small intestine. This led to waste and air leakage into my abdominal cavity. The experience caused the most intense pain I have ever felt, surpassing even the pain of childbirth (and I’ve had five home births with no pain medication). I sought medical attention due to excruciating abdominal pain and spent three weeks in the hospital only to leave an ostomate.

During my emergency surgery, the medical team cleaned out my system. They kept me asleep and went back in to remove the damaged part of my small intestine and place a stoma. After two full days of unconsciousness, to my surprise and dismay, I woke up with an ileostomy. During my hospital stay, I was not fully coherent. However, when the ostomy nurse arrived to teach me how to manage the bag, including emptying and changing it, reality set in and I became sad and anxious about this major change in my life.

Transitioning back to my home environment after leaving the hospital was a different experience altogether. Now having to manage the ostomy bag on my own, I was unsure of all the necessary steps, causing me to experience deeper emotional distress. The thought of changing the bag filled me with dread. Unfortunately, I made mistakes during the process and had leaks, leading to painful skin irritation. These leaks were particularly disheartening, as I had not experienced any accidents since infancy. It was a humbling experience for a fully grown, middle-aged woman.

After I became proficient at managing the bag and my overall health began to improve, I was faced with a new set of challenges. I longed to leave the