Talk to me about stoma's (specifically Childrens )

[princesssugarless]

My teen son had an accident 2 weekends ago and has ended up with a temporary colostomy. We are still very new to the whole thing and luckily he is on half term but he is struggling to manage the bag.

I suppose I am just asking for hints and tips, what works best, what doesn't if anyone has any insight.
He is terrified of friends finding out, of the bag making noises, smelling, exploding etc. we are trying to just work through his issues with h as they arise but it's quite a bit adjustment for him .

Any lovely people with advice?

Get the local stoma nurse to come and see him. There are so many shapes and size of bag, plus additional products that help with adhesion etc

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/941900/health_needs_guidance_accessible.pdf may help

I work in a school and the student I work with has a stoma bag, is a teenager and is the most sporty teenager I know! He gets right in there with every football event! It doesn't hold him back at all. Ensure he has a change of clothes with him at school- just in case- leaks very rarely happen, the hot weather of the summer coming up could cause the bag to be less sticky to the skin but he will be able to feel that. They are very durable.

DH has a colostomy- burst bowel due to diverticulitis. took us both by surprise as it happened during covid and over the new year.

i found colostomy uk on Facebook and they were helpful- they might help you as a mum, there are quite a few mums of ostomates on there.

Best of luck with it. I'm not in the UK so am no help with the school side. But I seem to remember some good school guidance about IBD which covers stomas and medicine and what schools aee obliged to do here https://www.cicra.org/how-we-can-help/schools-and-colleges/resources-for-schools/

@princesssugarless how is your son now?