Bob - While I no longer have an ostomy, I'm bumping up this topic in case you need more advice, so others see it.
I hope you find the appliance that works for you. My colon surgeon wants me to consider an inverted colostomy (flush with the skin), that I would irrigate once a day (fancy way of saying giving yourself an enema, with tubing and equipment). She claims it only takes an hour so in theory for 23 hours a day I'd be stool free (wearing a large AmPatch to cover the stoma). As of right now we cannot afford ANY surgery, our insurance is sorely lacking and we have two daughters in college, but someday maybe I'd consider elective surgery. I'm just not "there" yet.
But you could at least ask your nurse if irrigation might work for you. It probably wouldn't be an option but I'd at least ask.
- Rectal Cancer 4/29/99, Stage I, no treatment necessary
(5 hour colon resection: 90% sigmoid removed, 15 inches of colon removed, gall bladder removed, temporary colostomy, reversed 8 weeks later)
- Chronic IBS/D symptoms, multiple bm's, on low residue diet
- Takes Colace 50 mg each evening
Post Edited (Marsky) : 8/22/2009 8:47:58 PM (GMT-6)