Hi I just wanted to introduce myself since I just joined. My name is
Jeanne, I'm 30, gonna be 31 on Sept. 22 of this year. I joined this
group because I wanted to find out more about how life is with a
Colostomy because the more I talk to my doctor the more it seems that
I will have to have one sometime this year and lets face it I'm
scared s***less ( i wish. lol ). The reason for the doctor saying
that I will have to get one of them is three fold....

1. I have ulcerative colitis and have had it since 1989 at least and
I have had an active flare of it since January 2004 and the doctor
has not been able to get it under control even with Asacol,
Mercaptopurine and Prednesone. At this point the doctor thinks that
something is prohibiting my ability to use the medications perhaps an
immunity of some sort to it.

2. On a scale of 1 - 10 my quality of life is about a 1 or at the
most a 3 now since I'm almost afraid to go out of my house due to
attacks of my colitis and my fear that I will get somewhere and not
be able to goto the bathroom. Also I have been off work for a couple
of months now due to the inability to control the Colitis. Plus I am
sick and tired of taking almost 25 pills a day when they don't seem
to be helping at all.

3. My grandmother and both her siblings had Colon Cancer. She
survived but her brother and sister did not. Ulcerative Colitis
increases the risk of this.

I was wondering if any of you can answer some questions I have about
a colostomy.

1. What common problems could I face when I get a colostomy done?

2. What activities can you do and what can you not do? I'm most
worried that I won't be able to go swimming which is my favorite
activity. If this is possible is there some places, like the
ocean...some lakes, that I am not going to be able to swim in?

3. How much do supplies cost and what usually do you need for basic
upkeep? Where can I get supplies?

4. How often do you have to empty the pouch for your colostomy? Is it
averaging once / twice a day? More? Less?

5. Is there any work you can or cannot do with a colostomy?

Thank you for your time and patience.

Jeanne