My ostomy helped my mental health

I’ve(24f) always had poor mental health, still do. But getting an ostomy changed things for the better.

I have better physical health and more day-to-day predictability compared to my life before with perianal Crohn’s. So many elements of my life have improved. I can do more things more comfortably than before- swimming, kayaking, even sex stuff. The physical difference in my life has put me in a better mental place.

I also think that getting an ostomy has forced me to have more fulfilling base-level routine. The fulfillment of doing a bag change is also something I look forward to. I always feel so good and secretly proud after a bag change! It makes me feel like I’m taking care of myself in a big way. And I think this has encouraged me to incorporate more self-care into my daily routine.

My ostomy is also feels empowering in so many ways. I feel like an ostomy advocate- proud to have an ostomy, and to be a person who has dealt with so many health challenges. I also chose to get an ostomy after years of bad health.. This choice was for me. Even though others told me not to do it, I made a decision and went through with it. I think this has given me confidence in myself, my autonomy, and my decision-making. I feel in control of myself and my life.

I took a year-long break from university after I had ostomy surgery. In that time, I had a sort of epiphany and decided to put uni on pause to enroll in college! I just finished my second week and I’m thanking myself for the choice to put myself here. I needed something new, something more fulfilling (and also something that would take me into the job market faster; I’m doing a short HR program!). I’m making friends, getting to know my professors, joining clubs.. all things I never did in uni. I feel different, more self-assured. I’m older now too as a college freshman, which I know gives more perspective.

Everything feels more achievable now. I think getting an ostomy happened at a crucial time in my life where I needed to figure things out.. maybe I was on a precipice of figuring things out, and the change of lifestyle the ostomy brought was just what I needed.