Page 9 - OASC February 2021 Newsletter

February/21
Building Confidence with an Ostomy...
You can help others as well as yourself by speaking about issues you have been through during surgery and afterwards. This shared information can be invaluable but keep in mind that everyone’s experiences are different. You can help others by sharing your personal stories and experiences.
How to build confidence...
by Eric Polsinelli, VeganOstomy.ca
When I was receiving home care after my surgery, many of the nurses commented about how well I was handling the situation. They told me that many of their patients refuse to acknowledge their stoma, having a loved-one do appliance changes or empty their bag.
I’ve heard of several people who HATE their stoma, and my heart truly goes out to them – I can’t imagine having such a negative view of mine, since it saved my life and improved my quality of life 1000%, but I know that surgery can come as a shock to many, especially if their stoma was unexpected.
Confidence is what gets a new ostomate out of the house and back to enjoying the things they want to enjoy. For many, that could include going on vacation to a sunny destination, dating or just hanging out with friends.
Note: This article covers confidence-building, which is not the same as building self-esteem (how we value ourselves).
Practice Makes Perfect...
Let’s face it, we aren’t born knowing how to change an ostomy appliance or how to handle leaks, and it can be overwhelming at first. Learning how to change an appliance properly can give you the confidence in knowing that it’ll be secure and reliable.
Before my surgery, I was given a kit with a few ostomy appliances to touch and feel. I was told to put the appliance on my skin so that I could get an idea of how it would feel on my abdomen – so I did! It was great practice, and I also got a sense of how it would feel under my clothing or when it was full (I added water to mine).
Not only did it prepare me mentally, but it made me a lot more comfortable about talking about the appliance with my kids.
If you have the option to test out an appliance before your surgery, I’m sure you will benefit from the practice, too.
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