You should also know that your stoma will shrink during the months following surgery. Your ostomy nurse can help you adapt your pouching system appropriately. Additionally, any changes to your belly size (from pregnancy, weight loss/gain, exercise, etc.) may require re-sizing of your pouching system.
After your surgery, you may have questions about many things: diet, clothing, returning to work, intimate relations, etc. Below is a starter list of questions you may want to ask your healthcare professional before you leave the hospital, or at your post-surgery appointments:
Leaving the hospital is an important milestone, but it also can cause anxiety for anyone with a new stoma. It’s normal to feel nervous about living with an ostomy, but it’s also important to remember that you are never alone.
You may find that you have many questions in the days and weeks following your surgery. During this time, you may also find that you are feeling depressed, down or angry. You may experience some frustration until you get comfortable with your pouching system. All of these feelings are perfectly normal.
Reach out to your ostomy nurse for help and encouragement. You can also contact our Customer Relations Center to ask product-related questions, or even if you just need reassurance that what you are doing is correct.
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