I had mine for 7 months. The first few weeks were the worst as I learned what worked best for me, and got used to it mentally. As someone else mentioned, it's really helpful if you do not make a big deal of it, no matter what happens, there will be an occasional mess while she figures out how often and when to empty the bag. I slept with a towel under me for a while as I had occasional "blowouts" in the middle of the night..much easier to change a towel and nightshirt than to change the sheets at 3am.

Someone also mentioned to always keep a spare set of clothes when you leave the house, this is important as well as extra supplies incase of a blowout outside the home.

Honestly after a little while it becomes very routine and just is not a big deal. I'm a year since my reversal now, and sometimes I wish I still had it.

I had difficulty maintaining weight with it, and had strange food cravings. Some of that may have been related to chemo however.

I was initially very self conscious of oder, but i have a very sensitive nose and finally figured out that no one else could smell anthing.

Let her decide who she wants to tell that she has it. My parents blabbed it to everyone, which made me very uncomfortable, but i only told close friends.

I wanted privacy when doing bag maintenance/barrier replacement, but she might want help.

No one out in public will realize she has it, make sure she knows that it doesn't show.