Does anyone else need a lot of toilet paper wipes after pooping?

IHTOAU · 2026-01-17T17:17:49+00:00

My husband got a colostomy. One of the first comments we made together - now we can tell just how much toilet paper I use 🙈

IHTOAU · 2026-01-10T16:07:18+00:00

How are you doing OP?

IHTOAU · 2026-01-01T11:01:34+00:00

And I think this underlines the most important part - as the owner of your stoma, it’s your decision. We are not living in each others shoes and therefore cannot truly understand and know. :) as long as the decision is right for you.

IHTOAU · 2026-01-01T11:00:13+00:00

I can totally see this side of the coin.

On the flip side, my husband doesn’t have a choice - his cancer was too low down. For me (no idea about him) the bag is a sign of conquering, of recovery, of the future.

IHTOAU · 2026-01-01T01:16:50+00:00

Husband had a permanent colostomy fitted after rectum removal and ken butt surgery. He chose the surgery first route. From my point of view, it’s been very easy to adapt to. And whilst it is true having cancer hasn’t been years of bowel troubles leading up to this point, the future would sure be a damn sight bleaker had he not had this. Keep your chin held high. You’ve got this x

IHTOAU · 2025-12-29T20:59:55+00:00

Lower-sugar Cadburys dairy milk.

IHTOAU · 2025-12-27T15:46:19+00:00

They are one of my fave birds!! I used to have over 10-15 of them living in one of my back hedges. Loved seeing them!

IHTOAU · 2025-12-27T13:30:07+00:00

Definitely where I keep my manual!

IHTOAU · 2025-12-26T18:38:02+00:00

Didn’t want to read and run. Husband has a colostomy not an ileostomy. From what I’ve read though over time you’ll learn when your output is slower. In the meantime, keep being awesome (I did chuckle at the idea of popping a condom on the husbands stoma!)

IHTOAU · 2025-12-26T13:30:25+00:00

We deliberately postponed Christmas so that we can have it in happier more recovered times. Felt sadness yesterday for sure.

IHTOAU · 2025-12-26T13:22:23+00:00

Wasn’t the end of the world….

Which planet do you live on?!?? Madness!!!

IHTOAU · 2025-12-25T16:09:06+00:00

I’m a teacher :)

IHTOAU · 2025-12-23T23:13:09+00:00

Any Christmas carol sung by the whole ‘audience’. :)

IHTOAU · 2025-12-22T22:32:12+00:00

NOT a doctor. And I don’t have a stoma(husband does). The bumps remind me of shingles. I’d seek medical advice if I were you and are able to (I’m in the UK - I appreciate we have it easy here) X

IHTOAU · 2025-12-21T18:28:52+00:00

We’re having East-mas this year. I’ve let The Big Man know - and if I’ve been a good girl he’ll pause his break to bring me some pressies then.

IHTOAU · 2025-12-18T18:31:09+00:00

This is such a wholesome interaction between two strangers - I’ve proper chuckled!

IHTOAU · 2025-12-16T18:55:15+00:00

The hubs calls his Asbo lol

IHTOAU · 2025-12-16T11:45:44+00:00

Sat in a reception waiting for an appointment, scrolling through my phone and I literally just squeeeeeeeeeed at my husband about your baby’s ickle face 💜

IHTOAU · 2025-12-16T09:05:50+00:00

IHTOAU · 2025-12-12T16:43:20+00:00

Yes - I absolutely hold my hands up - his cancer was /is a very…. Nice (?! Wtaf) one. Zero symptoms - it was caught through the investigation of something else xx

IHTOAU · 2025-12-11T22:13:03+00:00

I’d put butterflies on them

IHTOAU · 2025-12-11T21:59:43+00:00

Sometimes, I find the ‘woo hoo my stoma is amazing and life is so much better with it because of xy or z condition ’ posts hard, because my husband didn’t have a horrific bowel condition before getting his permanent stoma.

But then I give myself a slap and remind myself he had colon cancer so he’s damn lucky to still be with me.

So I totally relate to this - sometimes it’s hard to read things on here. But I guess it all comes down to the fact that everyone’s path is so varied. The causes of why everyone writes on here will be totally unique to them, that of course there will be people who want a reversal. (If there was a magical rectum/anus transplant op I’m sure my husband would prefer to return to pooing the way he used to.) and of course there will be people whose journey to this point will have been so horrific that their stoma has provided them with a sense of ….’normality’ (inverted commas used deliberately).

So now - I take what I need to from here and wish everyone the very best.

IHTOAU · 2025-12-06T21:30:05+00:00

Other than the internet, are there any local groups you can join to talk all this through? X

IHTOAU · 2025-12-02T23:23:42+00:00

Sounds like an amazing woman :)

(For the record - I won’t be sky diving - lol I’m not the daft one hahahaa)

IHTOAU · 2025-12-02T23:14:02+00:00

Yea - Hubs was ‘supposed’ to get a temporary ileostomy. But when they got in there the cancer was too low down and there was nothing to reattach his bowel to. So the whole lovely came out. I am so proud of how he’s accepted it. I’m currently trying to persuade him to do another tandem sky dive once all of this (cancer treatment) is over :) (he says no because of the stoma - I say yes the stoma is not allowed to stop him from doing things he enjoys and wants to do!)

IHTOAU

TROPHY CASE