So you just got an ostomy and are trying to come to terms with your new life? Don’t worry, I get it. Trying to adjust to this new addition to your everyday life can be scary and a slow process. The good news is that many people before you have undertaken this same journey, so there are a lot of resources on how you might adjust to your stoma. One of the biggest concerns people have is how to dress comfortably and fashionably with your ostomy bag. The thing is a little bulky and intrusive as it sits on the abdomen, so I totally get why it seems like things will never be able to go back to normal. However, I encourage you to see this part of your life as the new normal. Even look at your ostomy bag as part of your wardrobe from now on; is that a little extreme? No, I don’t mess around when it comes to ostomy bags, and I want you to know that you can still dress fashionably and comfortably with your stoma.
The first tip I have is to not freak out right after surgery; some people have a tendency to do some spring cleaning and get rid of all their clothes that they feel won’t fit or will leave the ostomy bag too noticeable or exposed. I did this myself after surgery as well. I was feeling anxious about what I would wear, and seeing all my old clothes not fitting correctly made me very upset to the point that I just wanted them out of the house. The thing is, though, is that you may very well fit into these clothes again. For a couple weeks after surgery, you’re going to be bloated and sore and your body will be ultra sensitive, so you’ll probably be living in sweatpants and hoodies for a hot second. That’s okay, and is actually encouraged. Just don’t feel like you have to get rid of your old clothes just yet, because there is a good chance that you’ll still be able to pull them off!
The next tip is to focus on the type of undergarments you are planning to wear with your ostomy bag. The underwear is important because it is the first line of defense in securing your ostomy bag to your body and smoothing out its shape, making it easier to wear tighter fitting clothes. For me, I wore a lot of tighter white undershirts that pressed the bag (not too forcefully) into my stomach and made it more form fitting. I highly suggest that you find underwear that works well for you. Make sure you are not wearing things that are too tight and therefore have negative impacts on your stoma, though! Once you have a solid layer of undergarments, it is much easier to layer clothing that is still stylish and form fitting.
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