Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis Support Group

Crohn's disease is a systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of unknown cause, that results in chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. It can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, and can also cause complications outside of the gastrointestinal tract. There is no known medical or surgical cure for Crohn's disease, but there are many medical...

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Clostomy Bag and Resuming Day-to-Day life

Surfingoc8
Surfingoc8
I recently had surgery to cure my UC (about a week ago) and all went well!! I now have a temporary clostomy bag until i go back for the final stage of my surgery to get the internal J-pouch. So far the adjustment hasn't been bad with cleaning the bag and keeping the area clean (definitely an improvement to being in a constant flare and taking tons of meds for the UC) but was wondering if people out there had any tips or advice for emptying out the bag while in a public bathrooms or work, going out and being social while the inviitable "stomach and gas noises" are bound to happen, or if they found it hard to be confident while dating knowing you have a clostomy bag. I am fortunate in that, this is only temporary, however, once getting it I've noticed my confidence in my self-image has totally decreased and am finding myself shying away from being social because of the bag.

Thanks for the help!
AdventureEvryDay
AdventureEvryDay
I gotta say it takes a lot of courage to have the surgery and being a bit self conscience about the bag is completely understandable. I have never been in your situation but it seems to me that what you are going thru is a natural. Your body has changed dramatically although if I understand it correctly the bag is only temporary. Concentrate on the temporary aspect of the bag, realize that your disease will be gone forever and once you make it thru this time in your life that the limitations you had because of UC will be gone forever. Your future is wide open and the sky is the limit for you now. Once you have made it thru this just think what you can accomplish. Use this fear and doubt to fuel your confidence and I promise that all will work out for the best. Charlie
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi Surfingoc,

I'm afraid that I don't have any advice for you, but I'm glad you are posting as I might be faced with a similar decision soon (I might have refractory UC). I just wanted to send you best wishes!
deleted_user
deleted_user
This disease and things that come along with it (bag for instance) can mentally get ya down if you let it! Don't be self-conscious.. remind yourself that it is just a bag. You had a problem (EVERYONE has problems) that was called UC and you had to fix it.. and this is what it is. I am a 22 year old female and I have been mentally beat before, but when you look outside the box- it really isn't that big of a deal to be embarrassed of! :) Perhaps you can look for a clostomy support group in the mean time. Go out and be social! You finally don't have to be restricted in your activities bc you're sick with UC. Enjoy it :) If a girl judges you for it.. that's not the kind of girl you wanna be with anyways! See it as a blessing that this happened BEFORE you settle down with someone so you can see what people are really made of. It's easy for your significant other to be there through the happy, great times. Who isn't?! It is the times you need support and an understanding heart (not trying to be cheesy) that you find out what people are made of. GOOD LUCK!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Actually I am a 23 year old female as of June 9th! HAHA. oops. Also- the bag is temporary anyways! yaYYY for modern medicine :D
Surfingoc8
Surfingoc8
Thanks guys, I appreciate the support!

LNB8911, I didn't look at it that way and I agree with you. I guess those people that truely care for you and can accept what we all have to go through with this disease are the ones we really wanna be around with or call friends in the first place. I shouldn't have to shy away from being me just because of this. And yes the big thing I forget to keep telling myself that this is only temporary and will just be another "war" story to add to the list, once all this is said and done ha.

Sounds like you have some great support around you and you are able to keep pushing through things. I will definitely use your advice! Who knows "the bag" (as i like to call it) may be the conversation starter at some point hah. I'm sure weirder things have happened. Feel free to hit me up if you ever need someone to talk to.

By the way, happy bday!!
jn4025
jn4025
Just want to send good wishes for your continued healing. Thanks for posting, as I have been battling UC for awhile, and don't want to pursue taking any other drugs for flares besides prednisone. If I get to the point where that no longer works for me, I will have the j-pouch surgery if it is an option for me.