Having a colostomy or ileostomy bag shouldn’t stop you doing any of the things you used to do. But it can take time to get used to it and you may need to make some adjustments and plan ahead more. You can bath or shower with one on, and you can get a device to stop your seat belt pressing on your stoma and bag when you drive. Colostomy and ileostomy bags shouldn’t leak or smell (except when you change them, and you can buy products to reduce this). There’s plenty of support – see our section on other helpful websites for details.