5 whole years since my stoma surgery. Half a decade. Crazy.
It’s hard to believe that this time, 5 years ago, I was on the operating table and having my bowel removed. Thinking back to that time, it’s scary to think just how ill I was. I can’t belive how quickly that time has gone either.
It’s sometimes hard to remember life without a stoma. Seriously I forget that not everyone has one! But at the same time, I learn new things all the time.
So, to celebrate this day, I thought I’d share 5 things I’ve learnt during these past 5 years!
You can still travel with a stoma (and even fly with just hand luggage!)
I remember one of the first questions I asked my stoma nurses. It was would I be able to travel to places and fly. Let’s just say that in my head I couldn’t work out how air pressure and stoma bags would work! But yes, you can fly.
As I started going on planes more, I wondered whether it would be possible to go fully hand luggage only. Last summer I tested it out and the short answer is yes, you can travel hand luggage only with a stoma!
What you can and can’t eat changes
I was terrified of eating when I first came out of surgery and it took about a week to become comfortable with the idea of food and stomas. This was partly due to food making me really ill due to my ulcerative colitis.
However, I’m a MASSIVE foodie and it didn’t take me long to start exploring what foods do and don’t agree with me.
Something I’ve started to realise is that just because you can’t eat something at the moment, doesn’t mean you never will. For example, mushrooms (aka one of my fave foods) would cause me pain and blockages so I stopped eating them for 4 years. Then last year, for some reason, I decided to try them again and I’ve been fine!
Obviously everyone’s stoma is different. But don’t be afraid to try new food – just remember to chew well and drink lots of water!
Your stoma won’t ‘cure’ your IBD – but that’s okay
When I was told I had to have surgery, in my head I thought that would mean I was essentially cured of ulcerative colitis.
However, that hasn’t really been the case. And it’s something I’ve definitely struggled to come to terms with. But my body finds new ways to attack itself and I still have other gut problems which my drs the process of figuring out!
So whilst I haven’t been cured, my IBD is better managed and I will forever be grateful for my stoma as I wouldn’t be here without it.
There is an amazing ostomy community out there
There is such brilliant ostomy community online which are so supportive!
Next week I’ll be posting a massive list of ostomy bloggers and influencers who you need to be following but for now, I really recommend searching #Stoma or #OstomyAwareness on instagram and you will come across so many positive and relatable accounts.
Having a stoma can change your whole outlook on life
Having a stoma has changed my life in so many ways, a massive one being my general outlook.
I push myself more (in a good way) and get out of my comfort zone. I speak up for myself, take any opportunity which comes my way. A big thing is that I try to be more optimistic and positive and feel less scared than I ever was before.
Essentially, I appreciate life a lot more.
Every year I mark my stomaversary because it really is important to me. It marks a massive change in my life. And it marks a complete change in how I view things.
Something I’m forever grateful for is that from my surgery, it gave me the confidence to start writing about my health and over the past 5 years of blogging about chronic illness, stomas and health I’ve done amazing things, met amazing people and grown a business.
Keep an eye out on my YouTube channel because there’s going to be some new stoma related videos going up next week as I share my next stoma project with you!
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