My stoma has changed my life so much. It’s changed the relationship I have with my body and the way it looks. It’s changed my daily routine and my sleeping pattern. It’s changed my overall health. But most of all, it’s changed my perspective on life.
Lying in that hospital bed, weak and helpless, I was truly at rock bottom. I couldn’t see how anything could get better, let alone ever be the same again. Genuinely, I didn’t think I would ever survive.
You always hear people say ‘life is too short’. My stoma taught me just how true this is.
Ever since having my stoma, I realised how quickly health and life can be taken from you. I’ve realised that life truly is too short, far too short, to be spending it unhappy. I sat back and looked at my life – was I unhappy? The current role I was in at work was no longer making me happy. Before my surgery, I know that I would have been too afraid to leave the ‘comfortable’ position I was in. But my stoma taught me to change anything that was making you unhappy. So I decided to change my role. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I can’t believe the change in my overall wellbeing and happiness. Thank you to my stoma, for teaching me how important it is to put myself first.
I’ve always been told I’m sensitive and worry too much – part of the reason I believe I developed ulcerative colitis in the first place (but that’s another story). I worry about really silly things and how I will overcome them. Unfortunately, tasks that most people find really simple, I find really overwhelming – my brain is overthinking constantly. However, since having my stoma, I continue to remind myself of what I have previously overcome. Things that I never thought I would recover from, or accept, have become something I’m proud of and use as my strength. Truly, I don’t think there is anything I won’t be able to overcome. I’m stronger that I give myself credit for and I often forget this. My stoma is a constant reminder of my past strength and how I will be able to overcome anything in the future.
I thought my stoma would ruin my life. Don’t get me wrong, at first, I truly felt like it did. It ruined my self-confidence, my plans, my everything! But only for a short while. I have worked so hard to love myself again and not allow my stoma to control my life. Along the way I’ve realised that my stoma and past experiences are something that I can learn from. They’ve taught me key life lessons. Life is far too short to be unhappy.
Don’t forget how strong you are. Look at what you have overcome – there is nothing that can stop you! As life continues, I hope my stoma continues to help me overcome hurdles and teach me life lessons.
Here’s to you Bruce: my goodness, you are a pain in the butt (pun intended), but I am very grateful for you!
