Letter to my ostomy
Dear ostomy,
When I go to my ostomy center to buy my ostomy equipment, I think you’re so expensive.
When I wake up with an almost full bag in the middle of the night, but prefer to wait until morning, the risk of leaking stresses me out and ruins a good night’s sleep.
When I change my ostomy equipment and you stay asleep during my shower, but decide to leak on my brand new skin barrier, I hate that element of surprise.
When your skin is too dry in winter and itches under my skin barrier, it's no fun at all.
When I’m tired and want to change my ostomy equipment in a hurry, but you don’t stop leaking all over the place, you’re really not being cooperative.
When, one morning, I want to sleep in, but wake up with a bag as big as a football on my stomach, you completely spoil the fun.
When you haven’t caused me any problems for years and then you suddenly discover the joys of leaking under my skin barrier, you could still spare me once in a while.
When you fill my bag and I don't have direct access to a bathroom, you make me uncomfortable.
When summer is hot and your skin traps moisture under my skin barrier, you irritate me.
When you’re noisy at inappropriate times with your gas, I would like you to be more disciplined.
When you’re crazy active at night and force me to empty my bag in the middle of the night, you’re tiring.
However…
When I see the quality of life you bring to me, I'm glad you're here.
When I hear people telling me they need to poop, I don't miss that feeling in my body.
When I can sleep peacefully, without waking up with intolerable cramps like before, you reassure me.
When some health specialists tell me that you’re beautiful, I find myself lucky.
When I’m on the road and I don’t need to worry about finding a bathroom in an emergency, you brighten my trips.
When I wear tighter-fitting clothes, but you stay incognito, you make me happy with your discretion.
When I think back to that one horrible year when the disease had control over me, I’m so grateful to see you on my abdomen.
When I see the surprise in people’s eyes when they learn I’m an ostomate, I appreciate how unique you allow me to be.
When my experience brings comfort to someone, I feel like I’m accomplishing something good.
When I realise all the personal challenges I overcame in the last years, I’m proud to have experienced them with you.
When you have brought me so many positive things, and so few negative over the past eight years, I rule out the possibility of living without you someday.
Brought to you by: ANA