Hello everyone
I had an emergency op on 13th April and have a stoma - something I am learning about, and am so grateful as it saved my life, and also, as I have discovered, there are so many incredibly helpful osto'mates' out there!
I have quite a few questions, which I will post over time . . . but one in particular is about the best position to be in when attaching the pouch? What I mean is - do you sit down or stand up or breathe in or breathe out or does it not seem to matter after a while?
What I am finding is that when I attach when sitting, which is in some way easier, it then feels as though the adhesive is stopping me from properly straightening up (at first, because of the surgical wound, soreness etc., I was not standing straight anyway, a little hunched over). When I stretch my body as much as I can, to attach, when I then sit down, it feels a wee bit uncomfortable. I don't know if I am making too much of this, as it is really early days, but I did wonder what other people do to get the best and most comfortable attachment? (I also appreciate that as it is so new, I am very conscious of everything little thing).
I also find it difficult to be absolutely sure about placement of the pouch, the covered pouches are not easy to see through, and even with a hand mirror I find it difficult to see what is going on. Do people position at the bottom or the top of the stoma first?
Basically - any tips or tricks to share?
The stoma is looking good, and shrinking (I measure daily) . . . everything is healing well, and I feel lucky that there is so much support to help me adjust to life with a stoma. Thank you.
Hello winkers60 and
Thank you so much for the helpful replies. I do like the idea of starting sitting and then standing up. I had not thought of warming the pouch first.
I do like to prepare everything beforehand, and make sure that everything is in order and to hand before I even start to take of the current pouch. (I'm the same if I'm baking a cake, or potting up courgettes 
).
With the pouches there is an 'observation window' so to speak, but I am finding it awkward to get a clear enough view with those, and I think it is partly my newness to the whole process, and partly that I like to get things absolutely right. But as you say, this is trial and error and finding the right approach that works for me. Hearing from others with more experience is enormously helpful to me.
I'd be interested to know what protective film barrier people use to care for their skin. I am presuming this is to wipe around the skin around the stoma and the area which sits under the pouch itself, to keep the skin healthy and to prevent soreness?
Many thanks for your help and thoughts and suggestions.
