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This page deals with general health.
Your doctor has told you you need ostomy surgery, or maybe you've had an ostomy for a little while, and you've got questions! Who do you ask? Where do you turn? No problem, I've got ya covered! Speaking from my personal experience and several years of talking to kids, teens and older folks, I've got the scoop on how to deal with just about any situation.
My name is Courtney Francoeur, I'm 20 years old and in my second year as a psychology major at the University of Western Ontario in London. On March 3, 1999, at the age of 15, I had to have a subtotal colectomy with a temporary ileostomy because of Ulcerative Colitis. My journey continues in May of 2004 when I'll have my ileostomy reversed into a J-pouch. Through experience, a positive attitude and appreciation for life, through trial and error, and by talking to other people, I learned how to cope and succeed with my ostomy, and I'd like to pass along some of my advice.
How to Reach Me
If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me either by email at
or by posting a note to me in the discussion forum. If you post your note in the discussion forum, people all over the world will also get the chance to benefit from your question. But if you don't feel comfortable posting it to the public, just email me personally. I check my email and the discussion board almost daily, so you'll get a quick response. Can't wait to chat. Best wishes and remember ... never keep your poop to yourself! 
Hi! My name is Nicole Dodds. I'm 12 years old and in Grade 7. On June 26, 2003, at the age of 11, I had to have an ileostomy because of Crohn's Disease and Ulcera- tive Colitis. If you like, you can learn more about me and my journey by reading my personal story, which can be found in the Young Ostomates section of this site.
Through personal experience and the support of my family, I learned how to cope and succeed with my ostomy, and I'd like to pass along some of my advice. On April 24, 2004, I became a certified visitor in LDOA's Patient Visiting Program, and I look forward to helping kids who are new or about-to-be ostomates adjust to this new stage in life.
• FAQ added February 10, 2004
• FAQ updated April 24, 2004
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How do I know when my colon is inflamed or if I'm having a "flare-up"? |
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Courtney • If your colon becomes inflamed or you have a "flare-up", you'll experience all the same symptoms that you had before the operation. Some common symptoms are: weight loss, blood in your poop, cramps and fatigue. If you feel that any symptoms are returning, go see your gastroenter- ologist. Please!
Nicole • You would know because you would feel pain in your abdomen, maybe your lower back, you would feel nauseous, and after you eat you would feel sick. Always talk to your doctor about any "old" or new symptoms you are experiencing.    |
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Can I die from Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis? |
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Courtney • Depends on the circumstances but yes. If your intestine perforated and you didn't have surgery, then you may die. Not many people die of Crohn’s / colitis unless they are severely ill or do not seek proper treatment. As with any surgery, there is always the risk of complications and death, but this is a very, very rare occurrence. |
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What kind of surgery is involved? |
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Courtney • You should talk about this with your doctor because there are a variety of surgery options available. |
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Will the surgery be painful? |
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Courtney • Any type of surgery is painful, but the hospital is prepared for this and will give you medication to help you deal with your pain. Usually they use morphine or, in some instances, demerol. The incision is down the middle of your abdomen, so it takes a while to be able to use your stomach muscles again. But you will be prepared with physio- therapy and whatever else is needed to get you back on your feet as soon as possible.
Nicole • With just about any kind of surgery, there's bound to be some pain but, honestly, I’ve experienced much worse. I only needed painkillers for 3 days after surgery and maybe an occasional painkiller after that, but otherwise, I didn’t need them at all. Yes, you will feel some pain, but it won’t hurt forever. |
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What is the average hospital stay after the surgery? |
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Courtney • The hospital stay can average anywhere between 1 - 2 weeks, depending on your situation and rate of recovery. |
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Will my life be shortened by the ostomy procedure? |
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Nicole • No, your life will not be shortened, but with every type of surgery there is an element of risk involved, even as little as 1%. |
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Can I ever rip or pull off my stoma? |
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Courtney • Well, you could hurt your stoma and make it bleed easily but as for actually ripping it off, I don't believe so. You do need to be more protective of your abdomen because, if you are hit where your ostomy is, it will knock the wind out of you very easily. Stomas contain a lot of blood vessels and can bleed easily if you touch them. You have to be very careful that nothing pokes your ostomy.
Nicole • You can't rip or pull your stoma off because it is stitched to your skin in a way that makes it permanent (unless you get a reversal). |
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Should I get a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace? |
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Courtney • I would highly recommend getting one. They're handy if you're ever in an accident and all of your medical and ostomy conditions can easily be assessed by the bracelet or necklace. Paramedics and emergency room staff immediately look for a Medic Alert ID. If you're not a jewelry-type person or don't like the "look" of the Medic Alert IDs, then at the very least, carry something (a homemade card or a piece of paper clearly marked "in the event of an emergency") in your wallet or purse outlining your medical and ostomy details and keep it next to your Health Card. Besides looking for a Medic Alert ID, medical staff will look in your wallet or purse to find out who you are, and the hospital will surely go looking for your Health Card! Medic Alert IDs are recognized throughout the world. This means if you are travelling, medical people have access to your medical info no matter where you are in the world. It used to be that you could buy Medic Alert IDs at just about any drug store, but now genuine Medic Alert IDs can only be purchased from the Medic Alert web site, by telephone or by fax. You can also get application forms from doctors’ offices, clinics, pharmacies and hospitals. By law, jewelry stores and other retail stores are not allowed to reproduce the Medic Alert logo, the member ID, or the 24-hour emergency hotline number. Medical IDs purchased in a store are not linked to the health care professionals who can access your medical information in the event of an emergency, so beware of imitations! Provided with each Medic Alert bracelet or necklace is a Medic Alert membership card which lists additional medical info, medications, and the names and telephone numbers of your doctors and family contacts. What's cool about the Medic Alert IDs is that, once you become a member by buying one, you can log on to their web site and update your medical information on your own. That's pretty nifty and this way, your records are always up-to-date without having to mail something or contact someone by phone.   Medic Alert IDs comes in all kinds of bracelet and pendant-type styles and they even make cool ones that look like sports bands! Here are some photos of the copper one, and a couple of the band types. Looks not too bad! You can get them in:
For more information about Medic Alert in the United States and worldwide, go to this web site: http://www.medicalert.org/ |
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