ALWAYS WEAR A BAG. At least in the beginning. I do irrigate everyday
(I may get lazy once a week) because it gets your body in a rhythm
and makes life a lot easier. Everybody is different so I can't speak
to the pain because I have none. But I have a radio in the bathroom
and I just sing and try not to let it get me down. I will have this
colostomy for the rest of my life so it becomes routine after a
while. I am happy to irrigate because, unless I eat something spicy
or a ice cream shake, I know I won't produce stool until I irrigate
the next day. So I don't have to worry about accidents, odor or a
full bag poking out of my shirt. For me, it makes life easier. The
few times I tried irrigating every other day I felt bloated. I
didn't know men felt bloated but I did. Bloated and gassy so for me
everyday is better.

But PLEASE wear a bag until you are SURE that you won't have
accidents. Again, everyone is different but I will never go out
without a bag. It's just too dangerous for me. Or maybe I'm just not
that confident.



--- In ukostomysupport@yahoogroups.com, "Barbara" <rnceus@r...>
wrote:
>
> Hello all.....Just joined in the last week, so hope this is an
> appropriate way to
> post a question to anyone wanting to give feedback.
>
> I've had a sigmoid colostomy for over 3 years, and usually irrigate
> every other
> day. Main reason for not irrigating every day is my dislike for the
> whole
> procedure in general, and the fact that I have terrible pain
(spinal
> cord injury,
> etc.) that makes the simple activity incredibly pa
> inful-stressful-irritating, etc. on
> my body.
>
> ANYWAY....do people have thoughts on the pros and cons of
irrigating
> every
> other day? Do those that irrigate generally do it every day? I'm
just
> wondering.....
>
> Thanks in advance for any help. I emerged from the bathroom the
other
> day,
> in a miserable mood, and started to tell my husband about it (he's
> really
> tremendously supportive..) and his answer was basically..."Sounds
> like you
> need a support group".
>
> So, here I am...Happy New Year to all, by the way, from sunny
arizona,
> Cheers, Barb