Hello Cindy,

I will promise you with every fibre of my being it gets EASIER!!!
I can remember the days after surgery like they were just yesterday,
honestly your thru the toughest part of it all, at least in my
opinion the first week after surgery was KILLER!!!! The pain, the
frustration the fear of this new thing on your body that quite
frankly when it first happens is GROSS!! I can remember being in the
hospital and having a stomal therapist (Definite God send) helping me
to change my appliance (BAG) and I literally passed out from looking
at it, luckily I was in bed at the time. I have had my ostomy for 23
yrs now and was 13 yrs old when we became one...hahaha.. You have
tons of support here for everything your going to be going thru we
have probably been there and are happy to assist in anyway shape or
form. If you would like to even talk on the phone I would be happy to
share my phone number with you, I am assuming your in the USA not
that it would matter just alot cheaper if you are... You didn't say
what type of ostomy you have?? I personally have a ileostomy due to
crohn's disease and have no option for being reconnected due to the
fact everything was removed... My email address is
Fitzshannonmarie@... and I'll be happy to share as much or as
little with you while your becomming a new ostomate. Your not
alone...Hang in there and the best advice I can say to your right now
is don't let that ostomy run your life!!! I know that sounds
incredibly hard right now but just remember you have been giving
another chance at life with the ostomy, and I know it comes with
time...

Fondly,
Shannon F.

--- In ostomatessupport@yahoogroups.com, Ponieboy96@a... wrote:
> Hi there.
>
> My name is Cindy and I just became an ostomate about ten days ago.
I am still very shaky about the whole matter and am feeling very
alone. I was hoping to hear from some experienced ostomates about
their experiences- right now I just want to know that everything will
be okay someday.
>
> I know I will have the bag for a long time, and right now that
seems very daunting. All the new stuff I have to remember to do- like
drink all the time. Does it ever get easier to deal with?
>
> Looking for help,
> Cindy