Judy's Story

I had surgery at the age of 16, following years of debilitating disease with Crohns.

When I was 16, knowing, and feeling, that I could be - and finally was - well (thanks to surgical intervention and a permanent ileostomy) meant all the difference in my world.

I married and divorced, neither in any way connected with the ostomy.

I worked in the world of business, as an Administrative Manager and Assistant. I was self-supporting.

I cannot tell you that living with an ostomy has been easy. For me it was not. I did struggle with my body image, but I never found it to be a real obstacle in terms of personal relationships. Just as I had to get used to wearing a pouch and changing it - and to the need to have open access to rest rooms at all times - so did friends and partners.

Because there is scarring in the area of my ostomy, I change my pouch daily, sometimes twice. I wear a disposable pouch with an open end. My ostomy is incontinent. I purchase all of my ostomy supplies from Torbot, in Rhode Island.

I am now 61. I write poetry for children. I was a small newspaper Editor-In-Chief for a well-known international society. I am presently single and my health is good.

I hope this helps someone about to have ostomy surgery. There most certainly is life with an ostomy. Make what you can and want of it.

Thank you.

...Judy

Previous

Stories

Next