I have an ileosotmy, and I have a gyno appointment in a bit, and it just occured to me...What do I do? Will he still have to push on my abdomen to feel ovaries? I'm embarrassed! EEk! What was it like to go to the OB/GYN with a bag? Make me less nervous real quick!

Calm down, he's a doctor and knows what an ileostomy is. I bet he's even delivered babies for women that have them. Just tell the nurse when she comes in to meet with you before the doctor that you've had surgeries and have and ileostomy just so they're aware. They won't be embarrassed or freaked out, I promise.

Even though they don't do your gastro surgeries, they should be aware of all your other surgeries anyway since everything could be end up being related.

I had to tell my OB/GYN that I've had a Recto/vaginal fistula repair and for her to just ignore me if when they're doing my pap I yell out that my LEG hurts due to phantom pain from the place they took out of my leg and put inside me. Talk about weird situation! But they're totally cool and understanding about everything. I'm sure they've seen or heard of weirder things then me with my phantom leg pains and you with an ileostomy.

Don't be nervous or embarrassed. Oh, and yes, he should still push on your stomach. That would be the least of my embarrassment; it's more uncomfortable for me when they have to do the breast exam

Really it's no big deal and the ob/gyn will have seen far worse sights than your ostomy bag so don't worry about it. I certainly don't get embarrassed when I have to have another doctor check my abdomen or do an internal exam, after all Wee Willie (my end ileostomy) is always covered up unless I'm seeing my GI, which is more than can be said for "normal" people with a regular butt!

Take care and stop worrying!

Shell

LOL. Ok, I just got back. I was more worried about it hurting when he pressed on my stomach than anything, and having that be embarrassing. It did hurt more than it used to, but other than that it was okay. I tend to freak before the "unknown", so I knew I could count on you guys to tell me everything is fine and normal. Thanks for that!

In the future, the gyno does not even need to see the bag... when I had mine, I just went with a clean empty bag and rolled it a little at my belly. The sheet covered it both when she checked my top half and bottom half.