Navigating Christmas parties with a stoma | by Kevin
The festive season brings lots of social events from office parties to family gatherings, and early on in my journey these became my worst nightmare and would fill me with stress and anxiety. But I, alongside many other ostomates, learn to build confidence and enjoy this time of year. What has been key is the planning and preparation before the event.
Preparation is key when attending any event with a stoma and not just at Christmas. Knowing where the toilets are, carrying extra supplies and thinking about the outfit in advance can make all the difference. I always make sure that I have an extra supply of bags, wipes and even clothing if there was an accident.
One thing I must do is always read the menu. I’m sure it’s not just me but knowing what I’m going to be eating also takes that weight off my mind of the question of am I going to enjoy it or is this going to start my stoma output being more frequent? This is all down to planning. We all, or most of us, overindulge at Christmas but this can also bring unpredictability. I’ve found that eating little and often also helps and that’s certainly the same with drinking whether that be a Christmas tipple or fizzy drinks etc., it’s always best to have little and often instead of drinking like the bar has just rang the bell for last orders.
A huge go to for me, and I never leave home without them, is the Imodium melts. Taking a capsule normally goes in and comes out just as fast so this medication melts in the mouth and is absorbed quicker into the system to slow down the output over time. I have learned how many I can take over the course of the evening or before I go and this allows me to eat and drink without the worry of having a full bag after a short period of time.
One of the biggest things I struggled to get over at the start of my journey was social anxiety about my stoma. I remind myself that friends and family are supportive and I focus on enjoying the moment rather than worrying about what people see or may think. Wearing clothes that make you feel confident and even wearing a supportive belt can help you feel more comfortable and allow you to enjoy your event.
Sometimes though despite all the planning, accidents or emergencies happen. What I have learned to do is keep calm and have a discreet way to manage a sudden need which makes it feel far less stressful.
Christmas parties, festive gatherings with family or any event can be enjoyable with a stoma. With a bit of planning, careful food choices and strategies to boost confidence you can focus on the fun of the season rather than worrying about your stoma. The key piece of information to take away is that preparation is key and once you have found what works best for you, there will be no stopping you from making memories with family and friends this Christmas.
-
-
-
-
-
-
