Teens with a stoma

Having a stoma should not stop you from doing all the things you love.

Food

If you have a stoma of the large bowel (colostomy), you should be able to eat the way you‘re used to. Remember to drink plenty of fluids. If you have a stoma of the small bowel (ileostomy), you have to be more careful in the beginning. It is important that you listen to your body and that you eat a balanced diet.

Clothes

Before surgery, you and your stoma care specialist will discuss the correct siting of the stoma. Therefore, it‘s important that you are wearing the clothes you would normally wear, or have them with you, so that your point of view on where to place the stoma is taken into account.

Self-Esteem

When you are a teenager, lots of things are happening with your body. Sometimes it changes so fast that it may be difficult to keep up with all of it. For a period of time, you are both an adult and a child, and it may be difficult to know who you really are. Having a stoma may be difficult for most people, no matter what age they are, but in your teenage years when you are trying to find your identity, it may be even more shocking to see yourself with a stoma.

Many people think that others are looking at them the same way that they may look at themselves. Most people are very critical about their appearance. They find it difficult to start an intimate relationship because they feel insecure about their partner‘s reaction to their stoma. Often it isn‘t like that at all, as it‘s the individual person that someone falls in love with and not the stoma. Many partners say that it‘s irrelevant and often they don‘t even think about the stoma at all. It‘s very important that you don‘t isolate yourself because you have a stoma.

Sex

Many people discover sex for the first time in their teenage years. While you might not be having sex, you may start to discover the more intimate parts of your body.

Here is some practical information that may be of help to you:

• Empty the stoma bag or replace it before you start being intimate.
• You can fold the pouch and fasten it with tape, or replace the pouch with a very small pouch (mini cap), wear a sexy belt around the stomach, or wrap the stoma bag in a patterned fabric pouch.
• Pressure will not damage the stoma.
• The pouch cannot burst or break.
• When you are sexually aroused, the bowels are relaxed. This means that, in general, no stools or sounds of flatulence will enter the stoma while you are having sex.

Socialising

Often, when a person gets a stoma, it really improves their quality of life, and they can generally do everything their friends do. Try not to think of your stoma as a problem, but as a solution.

In relation to your circle of friends, it‘s your decision, and yours only, who you want to tell about the stoma. Some prefer to talk openly about it with many others, some only tell one or two. The most important thing is that you do what you feel most comfortable with.

When you are a teenager, you will try many things out, and at some point most teenagers will drink alcohol. What you need to know, is that for most people the stools are looser when they drink alcohol, so it might be a good idea to put on a new stoma bag before you go out so that you don‘t risk the wafer coming loose because of loose stools.

School

Most people have a number of sick days when they have a stoma. Maybe there is a long spell of sickness before surgery, and afterwards there might be a period of time before you are well enough to go back to school again.

Sports

Right after surgery there will, of course, be a period when you will not have the strength to do much. Also, you can‘t start any kind of physical training until 6-8 weeks after surgery as your abdominal muscles need time to heal. However, you can discuss all this with your doctor.

Only contact sports such as boxing and karate impose limitations for you. You can use a 'stoma shield' which is a good way to protect the stoma.

Travelling

The only restrictions are those you make for yourself. Of course, there are a few practical details that are good to know before you travel:

• Always take an ample supply of stoma products, and always pack it in your hand luggage if you are travelling by plane.
• If it‘s very hot, you will need to replace the barrier more often.
• If you have an ileostomy, you need to be careful so that you don‘t get diarrhoea. Talk to your stoma care specialist about any necessary precautions that you may need to take.