Welcome to the group Allison, hope we can be of some support and helpful
information.

I have had a perm ileostomy for almost two years and I can't imagine my
life without my little "poop in a pouch" friend. In fact, I would not
have a life nor be alive if I had not have had the surgery. I can go
approximately 7-10 days with the same flange and not have a problem.
Warmer weather gives me a little less wear time.

I am a two time cancer survivor (one year and one week apart with a one
year cancer free time going now!). As for finding that someone special
and them discovering the ostomy on their own, hmmm, my advise (and take it
or leave it) is to be upfront about your ostomy. There is no need to
blurt it out over a plate of pasta on the first date but if you sense
things are going to become intimate, I would by all means give your
partner a heads up. I am not 20, more like a brand new 48, but I have a
little experience on that new man situation. I have been with my new
husband for one year now. I was fresh out of radiation and chemo when we
met and I had a Glad bag stuck to my tummy. Imagine my nervousness in
telling him and image my complete surprise and tears of joy when he got
down on his knees and told me he loved me for me, ostomy and all. I had to
have my rectum removed with the surgery so I'm kinda missing the ol'
"plumbers crack" but that doesn't stop my sweetheart from caressing me and
telling me I am the most beautiful women in the world, inside and out.

Good luck, be positive and be yourself.
Kat

.....Hi everyone. I'm new, and thought I would tell you all a little bit
about myself. I am a 25 year old female with large granular
lymphocitic leukemia. Because of the leukemia, I get sick- and
hospitalized a lot. It seemed that every time I was hospitalized, I
would get typhlitis (sp), so my doctors finally decided to give me a
'temporary' ileostomy. It was supposed to be reversed once I got
healthier, but it doesn't look like that is the plan any longer. I've
had it for almost 3 years now. I have pretty much mastered it, as far
as I know anyway. I am a little surprised to see that some of you go
a week without having to change it. I decided a long time ago, due to
leakage issues, that I would go no longer than 3 days without changing
it all. It's a pain, but I'm used to the routine now.

Now, here are my issues with my ileostomy. First, I have this little
sore on the skin right under the stoma. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes
it doesn't. What is that? My only other issue is that I am a single
girl living in Southern California, and found it difficult to meet men
when I was "normal", let alone now. I am afraid to tell people about
it because most have no idea what it is. One of my biggest fears is
to not tell someone, and then have them discover it on their own and
completely freak out on me. Has that ever happened to anyone? So,
I've noticed that there is at least one other 20-something in this
group. Are there any more? If so, any singles? And if you are, how
do you cope with it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Allison


__