You will be delighted to find that you can still lead a perfectly normal life, swim, dance, work and participate in things just as before surgery. If Ulcerative Colitis was the reason for your surgery, then you will be able to do more things than you did before surgery. The new ostomate has a tendency to become overly sensitive, particularly to odor. There are many ways of eliminating all odor, should this be a future problem. There are several drops or powders to be used in appliances or pouch if needed.
Most appliances are now odor-proof.
Yes, at first, you will be all thumbs, tackling an appliance, or irrigating according to which ever ostomy you have. Also, after becoming familiar with your apparatus, care time will be cut in half. Don t become discouraged. Summon up all of your patience and courage to see you through this phase of your rehabilitation. Remember, all of us ostomy graduates went through this period of adjustment, and we are available for help whenever needed, if only to bolster your morale.