As this month marks 5 years since I got my stoma, I thought I would talk about where I am now, 5 years on; what I have learnt and how I feel now compared to the beginning of my journey.
5 years seems so long when I write it down but in a way it doesn’t feel like 5 years either. In some ways it’s so raw and in others, it feel like where has the time gone? It’s been a whirlwind of emotions if I’m honest. I’ve had my highest highs and lowest lows over the past 5 years. I’ve had mental and physical struggles and unless you have been there, I don’t think you would understand. But on the other hand, I’ve done things that have made me so proud and would never have done or got the chance to do if if didn’t go through this journey.
I’ve said this so many times before but when I woke up with my stoma, I never thought I would be in the place I am now and have done the things I have done. I really found it tough at the beginning and honestly didn’t think I would be able to live a normal happy life but here I am now, 5 years later, telling you that’s exactly what I am doing!
Some people take to stoma life straight away, others take a bit more time and others just don’t ever take to it at all and that’s just a personal journey for each individual. There’s no right or wrong – you don’t have to love your stoma or your life with a stoma, you just have to do you and hopefully you will be come content with life even though it may not be how you imagined.
Taking things slowly and a day at a time is so important. Finding contentment and not acceptance was the biggest thing for me and once I realised this, things just seemed to change in my head for the better.
So I guess 5 years on I’ve changed a lot because of my stoma as I don’t think I would be the person i am today if I didn’t go through what I went through in the past 5 years. I see things differently now; I realise things aren’t always as they seem and there is a grey area. I am more confident now than I was before my stoma as I’ve learnt that how we see things on social media etc. isn’t always real or how it should be. It’s important to show that this is our real and a lot of other people’s real and not something we should be ashamed of.
So all in all, 5 years on stoma life is still teaching me valuable lessons, helping me interact, inspire and help others through their journeys using my own journey and experience to do so. And, in return, I have gained contentment in life for the first time ever which to me, is invaluable. ❤️
