How does one protect their stoma? I am so paranoid that I will somehow traumatize it. I find myself holding my hand over it whenever I am around a crowd of people or I am playing with my dogs. I am especially uncomfortable in situations that require contact like hugging or even sitting next to someone. I feel really disconnected because of it.

Its fine Its mostly mental I play full check ice hockey with mine.. and dont want to get into my hugging and other things with wife LOL! I work out, have hit it pretty good now and then and its fine. My Dr. said in hockey if I ever take a puck there or something real hard it may retract in.. he told me to push above and below at the same time and should pop out. I do everything and really once mentally you get use to it it shouldnt be a issue - I know some ppl dont like the seatbelt touching it... Again, just have to try and mentally get through it. But, trust me I am pretty hard core with mine and its done quite well !

I'm paranoid too.

I've made a search and i found some products could help.

http://www.cmostomysupply.com/cm_html/p_stomagd.html

http://www.cmostomysupply.com/cm_html/p_stomspt.html

http://www.ostomart.co.uk/ostoshield.htm

If anybody had dealt with this products or got any other ideas his feed back well be very appreciable.

Hi Annie,

Think about the likes of JillM who has a lively toddler. You'd never pick them up if you were too scared about injuring your stoma. I've had my nephews climb all over me but I don't even think about Wee Willie most of the time. I wear what I want and do normal everyday stuff like housework and gardening.

I did used to worry about my cat Nermal sitting on me when I first had my stoma, but not because I was worried she'd do anything to the stoma, just that she might put a hole in my bag with her sharp claws! The strange thing is though that she seems to know and although still sits on my lap at every possible opportunity she has never used her claws on me, not even when she does that funny padding thing that cats like to do.

Unless I were doing a very physical job or taking part in a contact sport It would never occur to me to wear anything to protect Wee Willie. Like Jason said, it's all about confidence and that will come with time.

Shell

Annie, I was worried in the beginning too, but after a while, you actually forget you have it. Depending on who was driving the car, sometimes, I would hold the seatbelt so it wouldn't crush me when they hit the brakes....lol

The only other thing I was really careful about was my sister-in-law's dog. I'm afraid of dogs to begin with, and this monster loves to jump on me, so I was always on alert around her. But like Shell, and Jason said, it does come with time. When I think back, it amazes me that I did all I did with my ostomy. I hope you find it easier soon,

janna

I have a lively 5-year-old son who was only 3 when I became an ileostomate. No problems whatever. I'm careful when picking him up not to dislodge the bag from the wafer, but it's never occurred to me to protect the stome. I'm with Jason on this one: not to worry.

SHell and Rudolph are right - my toddler kicks my stoma 20 times a day. Not to mention the times he runs into me, pulls on my shirt, often grabbing the bag, follows me into the bathroom and pats the bag, etc...

Everyday activities certain aren't a problem. If you do something more involved like Jason (full check hockey - yikes! Not for the stoma, but for all your other body parts!) there are things you can purchase, but they really aren't necessary for daily life.

BTW Jason, we are a hockey house, with two Boston University graduates - until we had Alex we were regulars at the Beanpot tournament (now we watch on TV) - BU, BC, Harvard and NOrtheastern in a 2 week playoff. BU has the most wins in the history of the tournament

And Shell, I love that your cat's name is Nermal My cat is Pompey, named for a Roman general who was part of Caesar's triumverate - that's because I married a geek!

Jill, another thing then I love about you! We are a hockey family 100%. Season tickets to the penguins (6 of us) and been playing forever. Watch the bean tourny all the time .
When I play hockey I wear a lacross rib protector over the rib cage/stoma area.

Of course you know the Beanpot if you are that involved with hockey! The new BU arena is gorgeous and we had season tickets the year before Alex was born. My husband can't wait to start taking Alex to games. OF course we're all baseball in the summer/fall being part of Red Sox Nation, but hockey is our winter!

My husband keeps asking what I'll say if Alex wants to play hockey - I'm not a morning person and you hockey players practice at 5am!

Shell brought up a really interesting point about Nermal, that she never uses her claws on Shell's tummy. I also noticed that about my parrots. They, especially my crazy ****atoo, like to jump on us when we are lying down. Ever since I got my ileo, my birdies act more careful when jumping on my belly or walking around on my belly. I don't know if they can feel a bump there and that's why or whether they are just sensitive creatures. I'd like to believe the latter. They definitely act gentler and careful when either myself or my hubby are sick. They too have pointy claws at the ends of their toes and if I don't keep them trimmed, they get really really sharp.

SHELL - Just be glad Nermal is a girl and only does that "padding thing", unlike my very peculiar male Quaker Parrot who does what Doug & I call "the dirty birdy dance" on whatever he can grab with his foot and hold on. I believe that should probably be a "You Tube" moment.

Sorry to go off topic. But I really related to Shell's comments.

Cat