Overcoming Post-Ostomy Surgery Anxiety

Shake Off Post-Ostomy Surgery Anxiety

One of the biggest worries for people who have recently had ostomy surgery is what other people will think.

“Can they smell anything from my pouch?”

“Do they notice my pouch?”

“Who should I tell about my ostomy surgery?”

Most people’s reactions will reflect your own attitude. If you are straightforward and confident about your situation, people will respect that and respond positively.

Time to Face Your Fears

You will become more comfortable with your ostomy pouch over time, and will gain confidence in its ability to retain odors.

Here are a few tips to help reduce gas and odor, and lead to increased confidence:

Make sure your pouch is secure.

Odor can occur when there’s a loss of seal at the stoma site or if the tail closure is not clean.

ESENTA Sting Free Skin Barrier Wipes* create a breathable barrier that protects the skin from damage caused by adhesives. This can help secure the barrier around your stoma.

Avoid foods that can cause excessive odor such as:

Asparagus
Baked beans
Broccoli
Eggs
Fish

Some food and drinks can help reduce odor, including:

Cranberry juice
Orange juice
Parsley
Peaches
Melons

Use odor-control sachets
If you have an ileostomy with liquid output, this product will solidify liquid contents and reduce or eliminate excess gas, which may also lead to a flatter, more discreet pouch.

Consider talking with someone.
You might consider a friend or relative, but perhaps you are considering talking with a licensed therapy professional. Talking through your feelings may help to reduce anxiety.

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Meet Stephanie Crane

Stephanie Crane couldn’t imagine life without dance. But when Crohns Disease threatened her life, she feared the worst.

Stephanie remembers growing up in Minnesota with mixed emotions—dancing competitively more than 20 hours a week and going to the bathroom more than 20 times a day. Her stomach aches progressed to IBD, then to Ulcerative Colitis, then to Crohns Disease. Despite the pain, she graduated college and began planning her life, refusing to allow her health to sideline her from pursuing her dreams.

Read Stephanie's Story

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