Often times ostomy is looked at in a bad light, and anyone with it will have a bad life, or that person is disabled. However, that is not the case. An ostomy can be a life-saving procedure for people, and it can happen to anyone. There are many myths surrounding ostomy. In this article, we are going to look at a few myths that come to mind. Before that, I want you to understand that having an ostomy is not a bad thing, and anyone with one is the same as everyone else. Yes, there are some things they can not do, but that is very limited.
The first myth we are going to talk about is that some people think getting an ostomy is a death sentence. That could not be farther from the truth. An ostomy can be a life-saving procedure in some cases. People who get an ostomy are in dire need of it because all other treatments they have tried did not help or work. This is because there is an issue with their intestines or colon. The problem can be anything from some kind of disease they were born with or developed to traumatic damage to the colon or intestines. Many people who get an ostomy often say it has given them their life back.
Another myth that surrounds ostomy is that only cancer patients get them. This is not always the case speaking from first hand. Not every cancer patient needs an ostomy, and not just cancer patients have the need for an ostomy. My uncle passed from colon cancer recently, and he did not have to get an ostomy procedure. Patients who suffer from diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis may develop the need for an ostomy procedure so they can have proper bowel movements. Other people who may need this procedure are people born with some kind of defect that will prevent them from having adequate bowel movements. Also, traumatic damage to the intestines and colon may need this.
The final myth we are going to talk about is that people think that getting an ostomy is permanent. This is also not always the case. An ostomy procedure can be temporary. There are some times that the procedure will be permanent, but that is up to the doctor. Most of the time, they like to keep it temporary if able. If it is a permanent one, it is called an end ostomy. Most of the time, when an ostomy procedure takes place, it is so the affected organs can have some time to heal from infections, diseases, damage, and other reasons like this. Once time has passed and the doctor believes the organs have fully recovered, the procedure can be reverted back to normal.
There are many other myths surrounding ostomy procedures, and we may discuss those later. It is essential to know that people with ostomy procedures are just like you and me; there is nothing wrong with them. I understand that most of the time the need for an ostomy is not the person’s choice, but when they get it, in the end, they can live a better life, and what is wrong with that? I believe that people need to shift their view of ostomy patients and not look at them in a bad light anymore.
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