In the early days of having my stoma I thought my social life would be non-existent. However, I was so wrong. Now that I have my stoma I have a busier social life than ever before.

On the day

On the day of a social event I’ll apply a fresh bag that morning. I’ll be skeptical of what I eat and drink. I’ll make sure to avoid fizzy drinks, spicy foods or anything in particular that may cause my stoma bag to balloon.

Dressing with a stoma

I thought I’d have to avoid certain materials when dressing with a stoma, but I actually find a stoma bag is very discrete and barely noticeable through most outfits. Although, there are different accessories that you can wear, such as stoma tops, a belt, and stoma underwear.

Being prepared

When preparing for a day or night out I always pack my handbag in advance and this gives me the confidence I need ahead of my social outing. I make sure to carry my ‘can’t wait’ card, radar key and extra stoma supplies in case of an emergency,

I also have a REFRESH 3-in-1 spray from Respond in all my handbags! It smells so fresh and it’s my go to product.

Social events are something I now enjoy more than ever before! In the past I would have spent a large amount of time in the bathroom battling my colitis symptoms, the longer I spent in the bathroom the more I stressed myself and made things worse. There were many dinners, outings and parties I missed due to spending the majority of the time on the toilet. Now I ensure I have a fresh bag applied and extra supplies ahead of my outing and I’m good to go.

Since getting my stoma bag, my social life has has been thriving and I couldn’t be happier!

Ayesha
@ayeshaduffy