An ostomy changes the way body functions significantly, so it is understandable to have misconceptions about it. Those misconceptions are generally a byproduct of poor ostomy management and failure to follow instructions from doctors and ostomy nurses.
In this article, we will talk about a few most common ostomy myths.
Myth # 1: It always smells bad
It may have been a problem in the past, but modern-day appliances help you remain odor-free the entire time. The fear of smelling bag originates from the inability to use sphincters to control evacuations of your stool. Every time there is a bowel movement, the stool pass through the stoma into the ostomy bag. You may be sitting among your friends, family, or coworkers at that time, and you may develop a fear that someone might have noticed your stoma function. The good news is that modern-day ostomy bags form a tighter seal with the peristomal skin to prevent not only the odor completely, but also the sounds to some degree.
Myth # 2: You won’t be able to wear your favorite clothes
You may be thinking of buying an entirely new wardrobe to welcome your ostomy, but it won’t be necessary. Most of the people believe that having an ostomy means saying goodbye to your favorite clothing due to the possibility of the ostomy pouch forming a noticeable bulge. The thing is, most ostomy supplies allow you to wear whatever you want. Due to their discreet profile, those bags remain well-hidden under the clothes. You may have to change your clothing if your stoma is located at the beltline, but there are a lot more fancy options that you can consider. The good thing is that ostomy nurses and doctors generally prefer placing the stoma above or below the beltline to make it easy for you to wear your favorite pants and trousers without worrying about your ostomy pouch being strangled. Even if your stoma is at the beltline, you can consider wearing suspenders, which remains a reasonably fashionable option. Above all that, you don’t have to be ashamed of having a stoma. The right mindset and a will to live to the fullest can help you remain confident in front of others, even if they become aware of your ‘hidden’ feature.
Myth # 3: You may have to say goodbye to your social life
It couldn’t go more wrong if you think that having an ostomy is equivalent to the death of your social life. Again, it all comes down to the discreet profile of the modern-day ostomy supplies. The ability of these supplies to form a tighter seal, remain deodorized, and stay hidden under the clothing means that you can go to your workplace, dine with your friends, and have quality time with your family without letting your ostomy become an interruption. On top of that, your ostomy doesn’t affect your ability to form a physical relationship with your spouse, meaning that unless you are overly concerned about your body image, there is nothing negative about having an ostomy.
Colostomy Health 