Good luck to you! I just had step 1 on June 8th. Doing great! Keep positive and GET UP AND WALK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! I got up the very night of surgery and walked, and was able to go home after 3 days because my gastro-intestinal system woke up very quickly. Walking is the key. Yes, it hurts to get up those first few times, but just dose up on the pain meds right before and remember that getting through that pain and just walking is key to a quick recovery! Also, make sure the ostomy nurse changes the bag system with you at least once before you leave the hospital, and if you can get a home health nurse, it helped me a lot (moral support, and making sure I didn't forget any steps or cut the wafer to small or too big). It is a little scary at first, but I've gotten used to my little stump. It's noisy and has a mind of its own (always wants to output while I'm changing the system), but it is SO NICE to not have to clench the butt cheeks and run for the bathroom in pain! Keep us posted on how you do! I have step 2 in August! Feel free to ask me any other questions, since it's all still very fresh for me.
