Smarter, not harder
The ideology of working smarter, not harder, is diamond. In every field I’ve worked, when I discovered a more efficient way of doing things, without sacrificing accuracy, I did my best to present it and convince the higher-ups to implement it. Amazingly, I often countered resistance, not from upper management, but from those on the same level, or lower, than I.
Their reasoning?
“We’ve always done it this/that way...”
On the bright side, for the times my idea was accepted, once it was implemented, and folks got used to it, they appreciated the time and effort it saved them, especially in environments that required lots of tasking and hectic schedules.
Presently
In June of 2022, I had surgery to remove cancer and have a stoma built into my abdomen.
Stoma (per Google): An artificial opening made into a hollow organ, especially one on the surface of the body leading to the gut or trachea.
My colostomy is non-reversible.
Colostomy (per Google): A surgical operation in which a piece of the colon is diverted to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall, to bypass a damaged part of the colon.
Now that I’ve got one seems I’m perpetually learning to navigate life in ways I’ve never had to before.
No pressing my abdomen against the sink when washing something.
Sleeping on my side or back. No more tummy-snoozing.
I gotta keep a stoma-supply pack with me whenever I leave the house, even on short trips.
Gotta ensure it's filled with more than I think I’ll need and if I have to be away for a good while, I often take a change of clothing with me, in event things get messy.
I’ve started calling pouching system (stoma device) failures, bag-tastropies.
Intervention
Confidence in the pouching systems ostomates (folks with ostomies) use, is needed, but sadly, even the best of the best pouching systems can (and usually do) fail. All sorts of things can cause it. Damp skin when placing it, thick output, very thin output, or even a defect somewhere in the system.
Not all incidents are terrible and difficult to sort, but at the time, they at least feel like an epic event, until the immediate response of panic subsides.
I’ve read some horror stories by other ostomates that were sincerely terrible, and seen some incidents shared on YouTube that made me cringe!
In general, if it’s a big failure and we’re a good distance from home, without a change of clothes or a nearby bathroom, equipped to handle the situation, it’s a big challenge to clean up and get a new pouching system in place. The ordeal is as emotionally taxing as it can be (for many) physically, at least that’s my experience. Mortified is a good description.
I can’t imagine how difficult stoma life must be for ostomates with poor eyesight or restricted mobility. My heart breaks for them.
I can usually see well enough (and even carry a magnetized mirror with me), to remove and replace a pouching system. They have to be placed very carefully to prevent injury to our stomas and reduce the risk of leakage.
Disaster response
Past that, there’s the cleanup. It can be a huge challenge because we have to hold one hand (with a cloth, paper towel, whatever we can grab that's clean) over our stomas. We use our free hand to wash, apply whatever products we might have to use (anti-sting skin-barrier spray or wipes, paste and sometimes a few other things. Then allow for our skin to dry before putting the new system in place.
The struggle is real for me, even at home. I can't help but wonder how folks who have limited hand usage, or maybe even prosthetic hands, manage ostomy life.
Oh, the excitement!
The latest bag-tastrophe taught me to ensure my portable stoma kit is carrying more supplies than I think I might need, and a change of clothing. Even if there’s a bathroom, where we can rinse things out, wearing them wet and having to step outside in frigid weather was just...
Yeesh!!!
Remembering the good, when things don’t seem so good
I’m thankful it wasn’t worse. It was more than bad enough, but still could have been worse. I’m also thankful my friend (who was driving me), stayed as calm as a windless sea during the whole episode. That was an absolute blessing because the more anxious I feel, the more my gastrointestinal system reacts to the stress (not in good ways).
Seeing she wasn’t wigging out helped my stress to a minimum, allowing me to focus on getting myself cleaned up and sorted with a new pouch as fast as possible.
I’m happy to report that I lived through another something I used to think I’d just die over.
In the know
As is, I feel obligated to tell most folks I spend time with (that aren’t already aware) about my stoma. Things like...
- It can make rude noises that I can’t always hear, nor do I have any control over it.
- My pouch’s filter occasionally works, and it’s not always at a good time.
- We have to pull over at the nearest place with a restroom because I’m suddenly, and without warning, at maximum capacity.
- Thank you but I have to decline. My tummy’s feeling wonky and I have to stick with safe food today.
- Nope, I can’t spend the night, but when I get a van, I can camp in the driveway! (Vans are wonderful vehicles when folks with stomas need to be away from home for lengthy periods.)
That’s at least a few points of the heads-up speech some of us give when we feel the need to warn those we’re with about what hanging out with us might entail.
Shook
This post came about because I’m not quite past the shook feeling from the last incident. The memories and associated anxiety tend to linger. It happens every time.
Yup. I do realize the correct term is shaken but, shook is still the better description so I’m engaging artistic license.
The culprit
Before I had the colostomy, I didn’t have trouble with intestinal blockages, but that changed after surgery. Since then, I’ve had several episodes. Sometimes the blockages are due to food reactions. Others are prompted by intestinal inflammation, an aspect of the gastrointestinal disorder I was born with.
They cause abdominal discomfort and output challenges due to gas pressure or sudden overfill in the pouching system. These cause the adhesive on the flange to pull away from the skin around the stoma, which allows for leakage.
Remedies
After many months of being bombarded with medications that caused intense gut reactions, I’ve been researching how other ostomates manage these blockages. I incorporate those that work well. Sometimes they work fast, but usually take a few days. One that tends to be my go-to, is seasoned vegetable broth. I add vegan bacon bits, sesame or olive oil to it, and sometimes blend in a tablespoon of nut butter, per soup mug.
It tastes great. It’s filling. It helps decrease intestinal inflammation and break down the blockage.
Years ago, one of my doctors prescribed low-impact jogging. While my health has permitted it, I’ve done it and it does help keep down the inflammation in my GI system. It’s a slow pace, but when I’ve not been interrupted by bouts of illness, I can maintain a steady pace for a good distance--my record being five miles.
Since surgery, I made it up to just under a mile a few weeks ago. I’ll increase the distance soon as the mile is comfortable, even on the uphills.
Resources
Ostomates, and their loved ones, have access to a large compilation of online resources, where they can learn how to live with a stoma as well as discover products and services available to help them with the challenges they face.
I’ve listed a few below...
United Ostomy Associations of America
American Cancer Society
Stoma and Ostomy Support Group (Facebook)
Ostomy Inspire
The wrap!
Thanks for making it this far! I didn’t mean for any of this to come across as complaining.
I felt the need to write it so I could do my part in helping raise awareness of the challenges ostomates sometimes face in public. Too, I want to be supportive of other ostomates (and their loved ones), who're maybe new to stoma life and are maybe feeling alone or isolated in it.
This is my way of raising my hand, to let them know they’re not. As for me, I have the Lord Jesus Christ, who has comforted, encouraged and strengthened me through every bit of this journey and maintains with me moving forward.
For I, Jehovah thy God, Am strengthening thy right hand, He who is saying to thee, 'Fear not, I have helped thee.'
Isaiah 41:13
(Young’s Literal Translation)
My thanks for your visit today, and as always, for your support of the independent blogging community.
Shalom
