If you have a stoma bag are you able to work?

[dogsandbudgey]

My friend from childhood has Crohn’s disease and needs to get a stoma bag. She doesn’t have a career as such but enjoys her job and the friendships she has there but is worried she will not be able to manage her new way of life once she has her surgery

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I don’t have one myself but my dad does. It hasn’t changed the way he lives day to day. He is retired but he does all the things he was doing before his surgery. Walking holidays, swimming, bowls, whole days out. I can’t see why it should stop your friend doing whatever she wants once she is recovered and comfortable dealing with her stoma.

I had a stoma for nearly 2 years (emergency surgery for bowel cancer, and during Covid so stoma reversal was delayed). I had to shield for 9 months when having chemo, but went back to work after that (I’m a GP) and managed fine. I adapted to it far sooner than I would have ever imagined, and apart from some occasional wierd noises and one big leak (in a meeting, still makes me cringe) it behaved.

One of my colleagues has a stoma and he manages ok. It is a desk job though.

I used to work with a senior nurse who had a stoma. She kept stoma supplies and spare uniform in a couple of strategic locations at work and colleagues were aware of where they were in case she needed to change urgently, but other than that, it didn't cause her huge issues. She did find having access to a disabled loo with a shelf for her stoma equipment (for when she was changing/emptying her bag) and a mirror very helpful. She said she'd really focussed on learning how to manage the stoma whilst she was off recovering from the surgery.

My aunt has one and continued working after her op.

She was ready to go back to work with a month of her op, but it was delayed as her place of work didn’t have disabled toilet facilities and were keen to ensure they had things in place. She continued working for a decade.

Doesn’t seem to impact her now day to day either.

I’ve seen this guy on Facebook numerous times and his posts are always very informative. https://www.facebook.com/share/1RxQR3TbPY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A family member has a stoma bag, type 1 diabetes, 5 horses and is a surgeon. They have been determined not to let anything stand in their way despite complex health problems and I’m extremely proud of them. It did take them a period of adjustment as you’d expect but they live a very full life.

A relative has a colostomy which they struggled with, until the consultant suggested daily irrigation. This flushes everything out once a day and then they can wear a patch over the stoma until the next morning. They are much happier now.

Yes, I have 2 stomas and am back at work in a fairly physical job. My surgery was fairly major and I had a few months off and went back on a phased return.

My colleague has one and she manages.

A family member found it easier working after surgery than it was before the surgery, due to the unpredictable nature of his Crohn's symptoms.

He did ask his workplace to install a hook on the wall of the disabled toilet though, so he has a place to hang his bag of supplies - they did this with no issue.

DH had one for a year and he carried on working.

If ulcerative colitis and steroids hadn't absolutely ruined my husband then I dare say yes he would be able to work, he would bloody love to. Although typically he lies down to change his bag as it's easier for him, he would only usually change his bag if he was bathing or it wasn't sticking. He mostly has a routine for changing his bag to lessen the upset to others with the smell (it's potent).

But 5 years of 40mg pred and the widespread inflammation means he's riddled with arthritis, spondylitis, and adrenal insufficiency.

To add, my dds pe teacher has a stoma due to an accident.

My brother has a stoma bag, he's a partner in a law firm.

I'd tell your friedn to check out Hannah Witton on Youtube, particulalry if she's young. Hannah had a stoma in 2017-ish, and is now makes content on Youtube, and is a mum.

My friend has one and she works full time. Why would it stop you?
We manage periods well enough.
Its just another thing to learn a routine for.

My friend has a stoma bag and is a fully active occupational therapist.

I’ve had mine a decade and it’s much easier to work with it than it was going to the toilet 70 times a day with very little notice

My dsd’s dp has one, he has a career, including travel, site visits etc. he has a radar key and hr allow him his own room when typically they share up to whatever grade

My friends Dad worked full-time from 16 to 65 and managed to father 3 kids.

(He had a stoma from his teenage years so maybe easier if its been there most of your life).

Believe it or not, my friend had three bags and continued working for a period as head of faculty at a university until sadly her illness progressed.

Yes - I work in an administrative job and the stoma's not a problem. It's different for everyone though but there's a lot of help and advice available, particularly from stoma nurses at the hospital.

Gosh your poor husband. 40mgs of prednisone a day for five years is intense… I’ve only ever had short stints on it during Crohn’s flare ups and I hate taking it. I can’t imagine what it would be like to take it for that long.

Totally depends. A friend who was a lorry driver found it impossible in practice. Another who was a teacher also struggled. If you have the kind of job where you are physically solely responsible for anything and can't take time away from post it's hard, I think. Also some workplaces even though they could accommodate, won't. It happens.

I can easily understand your friend being apprehensive as it's a big change and it can feel overwhelming. If she enjoys her job it's worth her putting together a plan or talking to occupational health. But, everyone copes with things differently.

I had one for 7 months a few yrs back. I worked as a Teaching Assistant at the time. I managed fine, travelled abroad 6 weeks post stoma. Remembering spare clothes,wipes,gel,bags etc when going out.