Like a lot of other people, I care a lot about my self-image. After leaving the hospital, it became clear that I was going to need to learn to face the way others would look at me now. People are intrigued and are not trying to be mean, but it can make you uncomfortable. I was convinced everyone would notice my new pouch. I was worried and I asked myself a bunch of questions: “How do I hide my pouch? Will it leak? Do I need to change my entire wardrobe? Will everyone notice?” At least the answer to the last question was negative. So far, and as far as I know, not a lot of people noticed my ostomy and asked about it. I’d say that a lot of people I see on a daily basis don’t see it, and some don’t know about it at all.

You inevitably have to get used to your new silhouette, and you need to adjust and tweak some things, and this is especially true for clothes. Before looking for clothing suited for my ostomy, I wanted to be comfortable with my ostomy system. An ET nurse helped me choose the pouch that was right for me. All the concerns I had about comfort and security were taken care of quickly. I didn’t have to worry about leaks anymore. It’s important to have an ostomy device that’s right for your body so you can feel comfortable every day.

After that, I focused on finding comfortable underwear. I had to try out things to figure out which underwear to wear with which clothes. That’s how I figured out what I like. I found panties, boxer shorts and waist bandeau that were the right fit for me. When I found them, I stocked up on them.

The last step for me was to change the way I dress. It was the most difficult thing for me to do. I had to get rid of the clothes I couldn’t wear, and it was hard to say goodbye to some of them. I used to wear low-rise jeans and fitted T-shirts. I had to get used to the fact that I’d wear different clothes now, but in the end, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I had to get out of my comfort zone and try new things, but I got used to wearing shirts a flared cut. Instead of wearing jeans, I wear stretch denim pants. I started enjoying wearing dressed, skirts, and leggings more. Getting dressed in the morning isn’t very difficult for me, especially now that I know what I can and can’t wear. To get here, I tried a lot of things and got rid of the fear that someone would notice my ostomy.

Current fashion makes it easy to buy new clothes because it’s accessible and features a wide variety of clothes. Don’t be scared to try new things. Also, the underwear on ANA gives you more options and they are feminine, comfortable and specially suited for your ostomy. They have something for everyone!

When will we get swimsuits suited for us? 

Anick

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