More tales in the ongoing saga of living with a bag:

coloCan
coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I get very protective of my stoma area when out doors, near other people. I try to avoid crowds and if anyone is on my left, where bag lies, I usually place a hand over stoma area to protect it and to push away,if need be, anyone getting too close.One of my neighbors has a son who is mildly autistic, Max. We get along great. The other day, he was in a touchy sort of mood. He knows I'd been sick and usually asks how I feel (he even commented once that I looked "better".)Anyway, on this particular day ,we were coming into lobby and Max was there with his mother. He immediately ran over and threw his arms around me; one of his little hands clutched my bag!!!
I froze, had no idea what he might do next but he just hugged me, didn't realize what he had in his hand and then ran to his mother. til then,no one has touched my stoma area or bag but me,girlfriend and medical people. I am so glad he didn't pull the bag off.

Additionally,I was always good with animals but it seems now with bag, I'm even more appealing to dogs.I wonder if aroma has anything to do with this but dogs seem to really love me now....Both our dog (Doberman, Rambo) and cat (Cat) died before getting to know me like this. Would have been interesting to see their reaction.

Those of you with pets, did they act differently once you came home with a bag?
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Comments

  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    ostomy undergarments
    Ostomy underwear is the way to go they keep everything safe and out of the way.

    try ostomysecrets.com

    Winnie
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Steve
    I am so glad this story had a happy ending - I wasn't sure what max would do + where this story would go! He sounds like a loving soul.
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member

    ostomy undergarments
    Ostomy underwear is the way to go they keep everything safe and out of the way.

    try ostomysecrets.com

    Winnie

    That is a good site Winnie
    That is a good site Winnie. If mine was forever I would get one. The thing scary old woman made worked great for me last night. It let the bag fill with no problem and gave me the confidence to sleep. It is nice to wake without crap all over you.

    Re the dog: Our maltese (mini dog) is still learning that the bag is a big NO! She is overly interested in it. For her it is a new chew toy.

    Kerry
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    Kerry S said:

    That is a good site Winnie
    That is a good site Winnie. If mine was forever I would get one. The thing scary old woman made worked great for me last night. It let the bag fill with no problem and gave me the confidence to sleep. It is nice to wake without crap all over you.

    Re the dog: Our maltese (mini dog) is still learning that the bag is a big NO! She is overly interested in it. For her it is a new chew toy.

    Kerry

    Yeah, real chewy at times!!!!!!
    Can't wait to sink her teeth into that I bet and I'm sure you'll know when she does too......steve
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    I remember one thing when I
    I remember one thing when I went to my youngest son preschool to pick him up. All the little kids where playing outside in the playground when about that time he spotted me and yelled "daddy" while holding his arms up running towards me across the playground. Thinking that he was going to jump into my arms and give me a big hug I held my arms open for him. You know. "like one of them father and son moments you remember for ever" All the little kids where watching.. That's when he stops and lifts my shirt up and yells "LOOK AT MY DADDYS POOP BAG" Everything happened so fast I didn't have time to react!! Before I knew what was going on I had like 10 little kids around me looking at my poop bag.

    Life is funny sometimes
    Brooks
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member

    I remember one thing when I
    I remember one thing when I went to my youngest son preschool to pick him up. All the little kids where playing outside in the playground when about that time he spotted me and yelled "daddy" while holding his arms up running towards me across the playground. Thinking that he was going to jump into my arms and give me a big hug I held my arms open for him. You know. "like one of them father and son moments you remember for ever" All the little kids where watching.. That's when he stops and lifts my shirt up and yells "LOOK AT MY DADDYS POOP BAG" Everything happened so fast I didn't have time to react!! Before I knew what was going on I had like 10 little kids around me looking at my poop bag.

    Life is funny sometimes
    Brooks

    Now that's funny, Brooks!
    That is a good one Brooks. Kids a re so innocent + have such a beautiful, natural curiousity.
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Kerry S said:

    That is a good site Winnie
    That is a good site Winnie. If mine was forever I would get one. The thing scary old woman made worked great for me last night. It let the bag fill with no problem and gave me the confidence to sleep. It is nice to wake without crap all over you.

    Re the dog: Our maltese (mini dog) is still learning that the bag is a big NO! She is overly interested in it. For her it is a new chew toy.

    Kerry

    Kerry
    I think your wife needs to be re-named to "Talented Woman".
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    Hey Steve - I'm also pretty
    Hey Steve - I'm also pretty wary of crowds and nervous when people other than family get too close. I'm getting ready to coach my 4 year old's soccer team and I'm worried about flying hands. Never had a kid grab my bag. That would freak me out. I'm more worried about the bag leaking during soccer than I am about the kids hands.

    My dogs are usually interested in my bag. They get real sniffy sometimes.

    Brooks - That's the funniest poop bag story I've ever heard. I read it to Kim and we just howled!!!

    Roger
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member

    I remember one thing when I
    I remember one thing when I went to my youngest son preschool to pick him up. All the little kids where playing outside in the playground when about that time he spotted me and yelled "daddy" while holding his arms up running towards me across the playground. Thinking that he was going to jump into my arms and give me a big hug I held my arms open for him. You know. "like one of them father and son moments you remember for ever" All the little kids where watching.. That's when he stops and lifts my shirt up and yells "LOOK AT MY DADDYS POOP BAG" Everything happened so fast I didn't have time to react!! Before I knew what was going on I had like 10 little kids around me looking at my poop bag.

    Life is funny sometimes
    Brooks

    That is just neat
    Made me smile big time.

    Love it!!!
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    Crow71 said:

    Hey Steve - I'm also pretty
    Hey Steve - I'm also pretty wary of crowds and nervous when people other than family get too close. I'm getting ready to coach my 4 year old's soccer team and I'm worried about flying hands. Never had a kid grab my bag. That would freak me out. I'm more worried about the bag leaking during soccer than I am about the kids hands.

    My dogs are usually interested in my bag. They get real sniffy sometimes.

    Brooks - That's the funniest poop bag story I've ever heard. I read it to Kim and we just howled!!!

    Roger

    Brooks: That's one way of letting the bag out of the bag
    Anne:I'm just glad Max didn't rip the bag off and ask "What's this?" As far as I know, no one where I live knows what I've been thru and I'd like to keep it that way. Maybe thats a consequence of my youth growing up in a city housing project, where you learnt early how to defend yourself and not show your vulnerabilities.

    Roger, I'd be wary of errant soccer balls flying your way more than the kids themselves. Lately I've gotten into sitting on a bench under a tree in the playground three blocks from me (if no one's smoking nearby )and I always avoid going near basketball area or where there's too much activity, if possible. Never was like this before but then again, never lived like this before neither......
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    Here's another one
    This is a copy of one I posted way back when...

    I just though you guys who have a Iliostomy or Colostomy might get a laugh out of this. If I don’t laugh I’d cry. Well it all started last night around 7:30pm when my wife’s mother (Mom) made a plate full of fresh Asparagus. Now I don’t know about you, fresh steamed Asparagus is as close to heaven a guy can get and they looked so good!! Now I KNOW that it can cause some gas problems and at some point after eating my 8th or 9th one OKAY MORE LIKE 11 or 12th a little light in my head should have came on and said. “DUDE, YOU HAVE A ILIOSTOMY BAG… WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?” But no.. It didn’t come on until 4 hours later when I was sleeping in my nice warm bed with a iliostomy bag now blown up to twice the size of a Disney Land balloon and leaking!!! Well being the kind person I am and trying very hard not to wake my wife up. I yell OMG TAMMY (That’s my wife). I never seen two people move so fast out of a dead sleep before in my life and remember one of then has a half on half off iliostomy bag twice the size of a Disney Land balloon dangling from his stomach . I only hope that we can move that fast during a fire. It truly had to be a sight to be seen!!! LOL. I jump into the shower and slowly begin peeling off the bag while firmly holding onto the shower handle so I don’t go flying around the room under the air pressure. After 30mins we get everything changed. The bag, the Bed, Pillows, Blankets. You have know idea how air pressure can make “well you know” fly but I would bet if would be about the same as it hitting a fan!!!. The rest of the night went okay. I was just up most the night burping my bag every 3 minutes.

    Life is funny sometimes
    Brooks
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member

    Here's another one
    This is a copy of one I posted way back when...

    I just though you guys who have a Iliostomy or Colostomy might get a laugh out of this. If I don’t laugh I’d cry. Well it all started last night around 7:30pm when my wife’s mother (Mom) made a plate full of fresh Asparagus. Now I don’t know about you, fresh steamed Asparagus is as close to heaven a guy can get and they looked so good!! Now I KNOW that it can cause some gas problems and at some point after eating my 8th or 9th one OKAY MORE LIKE 11 or 12th a little light in my head should have came on and said. “DUDE, YOU HAVE A ILIOSTOMY BAG… WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?” But no.. It didn’t come on until 4 hours later when I was sleeping in my nice warm bed with a iliostomy bag now blown up to twice the size of a Disney Land balloon and leaking!!! Well being the kind person I am and trying very hard not to wake my wife up. I yell OMG TAMMY (That’s my wife). I never seen two people move so fast out of a dead sleep before in my life and remember one of then has a half on half off iliostomy bag twice the size of a Disney Land balloon dangling from his stomach . I only hope that we can move that fast during a fire. It truly had to be a sight to be seen!!! LOL. I jump into the shower and slowly begin peeling off the bag while firmly holding onto the shower handle so I don’t go flying around the room under the air pressure. After 30mins we get everything changed. The bag, the Bed, Pillows, Blankets. You have know idea how air pressure can make “well you know” fly but I would bet if would be about the same as it hitting a fan!!!. The rest of the night went okay. I was just up most the night burping my bag every 3 minutes.

    Life is funny sometimes
    Brooks

    asparagus
    Brooks,
    I just had a check up from the home care nurse today. She said” the one big thing to stay away from is asparagus”. Don’t even smell it or look at it.

    Now here is poor old me looking up to you “bag pros” for guidance and you go and blow your **** up with asparagus. Damn!! Kind of just hurts the old confidence level.

    I never thought I would see the day that I did not want to fart.

    Kerry
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    Kerry S said:

    asparagus
    Brooks,
    I just had a check up from the home care nurse today. She said” the one big thing to stay away from is asparagus”. Don’t even smell it or look at it.

    Now here is poor old me looking up to you “bag pros” for guidance and you go and blow your **** up with asparagus. Damn!! Kind of just hurts the old confidence level.

    I never thought I would see the day that I did not want to fart.

    Kerry

    asparagus & misc.
    Y'all might not know it but you really just made a crummy day so much brighter for me..I am LMAO!

    Do tell...asparagus sharts, a cat named 'cat', dogs that sniff your bags, and never thinking you'd see the day that you did not want to fart.

    This was GOOD medicine for me today. Thank you:)

    -Pat
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    Jaylo969 said:

    asparagus & misc.
    Y'all might not know it but you really just made a crummy day so much brighter for me..I am LMAO!

    Do tell...asparagus sharts, a cat named 'cat', dogs that sniff your bags, and never thinking you'd see the day that you did not want to fart.

    This was GOOD medicine for me today. Thank you:)

    -Pat

    Here's a funny story about my cat Cat:
    Took her to vet when she was around twelve or so (she died a little over 13 from kidney failure)and as vet was examining her he asked how old she was. I guessed around twelve as girlfriend had given her to me after finding her on street. Then I said, "Why don't you look in her mouth, maybe you can tell her age by her teeth." Vet started laughing and replied: "She only has one tooth!"

    Most mornings Cat woke me by biting me on the nose; never bothered looking into her mouth as I "knew" she had teeth;never knew she'd lost them all but one over the years.

    Had to "put her to sleep" two days before my Dx came; I think she knew what was coming.....steve
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Kerry S said:

    asparagus
    Brooks,
    I just had a check up from the home care nurse today. She said” the one big thing to stay away from is asparagus”. Don’t even smell it or look at it.

    Now here is poor old me looking up to you “bag pros” for guidance and you go and blow your **** up with asparagus. Damn!! Kind of just hurts the old confidence level.

    I never thought I would see the day that I did not want to fart.

    Kerry

    What a hoot!
    Good gracious! Brooks and Kerry, you have me rolling on the floor. Way too funny!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    Has anybody tried lighting the gas in the bag
    Hey,
    Has anybody tried lighting the gas in the bag??? That should be a real hoot to see if it explodes.

    Kerry
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    coloCan said:

    Here's a funny story about my cat Cat:
    Took her to vet when she was around twelve or so (she died a little over 13 from kidney failure)and as vet was examining her he asked how old she was. I guessed around twelve as girlfriend had given her to me after finding her on street. Then I said, "Why don't you look in her mouth, maybe you can tell her age by her teeth." Vet started laughing and replied: "She only has one tooth!"

    Most mornings Cat woke me by biting me on the nose; never bothered looking into her mouth as I "knew" she had teeth;never knew she'd lost them all but one over the years.

    Had to "put her to sleep" two days before my Dx came; I think she knew what was coming.....steve

    Mine is 17 yrs
    Steve...my oldest cat ( Rocky ) is 17 yrs old and the 2 teeth he has left are rotten. He has the worse breath I have ever smelled! He has congestive heart disease but still living a nice life...eating and sleeping.I dread the day when the vet tells me he is suffering and I have to make a decision.

    -Pat
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    Kerry S said:

    Has anybody tried lighting the gas in the bag
    Hey,
    Has anybody tried lighting the gas in the bag??? That should be a real hoot to see if it explodes.

    Kerry

    Don't you dare!
    Kerry, do not, I repeat DO NOT try that. Kerry, don't you dare light that thing up!

    -Pat
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    Kerry S said:

    Has anybody tried lighting the gas in the bag
    Hey,
    Has anybody tried lighting the gas in the bag??? That should be a real hoot to see if it explodes.

    Kerry

    Let us know
    What County you end up landing in. LOL

    Brooks
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    Kerry S said:

    Has anybody tried lighting the gas in the bag
    Hey,
    Has anybody tried lighting the gas in the bag??? That should be a real hoot to see if it explodes.

    Kerry

    take it on tv
    That sounds like a segment for Mythbusters...lol.

    Who knows you and your bag might get on tv!

    Marie who loves kitties