I had no idea they'd performed an illiostomy. Did not find out until I was moved out of ER after 3 weeks. Then an RN showed me an oval-shaped red thingy just under my right boob (great placement, doc). She put on a bag, but forgot to roll up the end. Very messy.

The Stoma itself has a main opening (the exit) but it's very tiny - like a thick toothpick hole. Around it, there's normal skin. You just have to watch for rashes, cracks, red-bloody skin irritation, etc. Those are all caused by ill-fitting bags.

My large intestines (colon) are gone along with my gall bladder. The Stoma is the exit for body waste. So, I have to put on a bag with proper adhesive and extenders, and empty it about 5 times a day.

Step one: Lay out all my tools on a small bedside table.

Remove the old bag and carefully wash off any soiling or remnant adhesive.

2. Cut the back of the new bag to the right size. Check the size before removing the paper and revealing the sticky surface

3. Make sure your skin is clean and DRY.

4. If need be, apply stoma powder at the outer edge of the stoma to protect touchy skin. All excess powder has to be brushed off

5. Spray on skin barrier until the powder is wholly saturated

6. Wait for that to dry, then apply the bag per the manufacturer's guidelines (you would not believe how many different bags are out there).Apply pressure

7. Add extenders

A well-fitted bag lasts me about 4 days.

Sometimes the adhesive doesn't work, or sometimes the choice of bag is not right, and everything leaks out one side, the other, or really any side, sometimes all at once. Yucky doesn't cover it.

I have a "go" bag for myself consisting of 3 bags, body wipes, skin protection, adhesive remover, stoma powder, extenders for the edges of the bag, deodorizer, scissors, disposable bags, a chuck for a working surface, a cut out for marking the bag to the size/shape of my stoma, and hand sanitizer.

I have all of these things in a grocery bag next to my bed so they're close at hand.

It's tricky to situate my bra, underwear, or slacks so they don't press too much on the bag. This will cause it to back up and eventually rupture.

I am finally on the hunt for a better-fitting ostomy bag. Should have thought of it months ago but I just went with what the hospital started me on.

You can feel when the stoma is working. It's hard to explain the sensation. When the bag is full, you empty it into the toilet (or I also have a container so I can sit down and have better control). At this juncture, if things are kinda sticky, I have a water bottle handy to do a quick rinse. Then it's wipe everything down, bundle back up, and get on with things.

Socialization is awkward because I am always worried that my bag shows or worse it blows. I have to work on my hangups in this.

There's probably something I've missed. Feel free to ask question.