When your child needs an ostomy, questions and concerns are bound to arise. You probably wonder if it is the only option and if your little one will really have to wear a colostomy bag. In this article we will give you some tips so that you can give the best support to your ostomized child.
Mental health
When your child has recovered from surgery there are numerous ways you can be supportive and be a source of strength to your child. Encourage your little one to talk about his feelings, always listen to him and allow him to talk naturally about his colostomy and the use of his colostomy bag. This will make it more natural for him and ease the fear of being rejected by friends or family.
When your child is very young, he or she will probably get used to his or her situation before you do. On the contrary, if your child has already started to face adolescence and puberty, this stage becomes even more difficult. Changes in their body image can be a source of stress, in addition to making them feel unattractive, rejected or different.
Whatever the case may be, it is likely that your first instinct is to overprotect your child. Remember that as long as they follow the instructions given by the doctor, your child can lead a life without major limitations. Your child should feel that you understand what is happening to them as a colostomy bag user, so be tactful but help them regain their independence and always listen to them.
If you begin to notice that the changes in your child's behavior are not letting up, his grades are dropping, he is irritable, or he begins to lose interest in things he used to enjoy, it is important to see a mental health specialist.
Physical health and the colostomy bag
At first, it will be necessary for you to take care of your child's surgery. Little by little, he will learn how to take care of his stoma and the correct use of the colostomy bag on his own. A young child is perfectly capable of learning to take care of himself by assisting in different parts of the process.
You can start by asking him to help you gather the material to change his colostomy bag, then help you change it until he is able to change and clean himself. Of course, it is important that you are present at all times in case he needs help.
Maintaining a sense of humor and a positive attitude will be very important to make the process more bearable. As long as you are aware that there will be mistakes and changes as your child grows, you will see them diminish over time. There may be dietary adjustments, skin problems or problems with the colostomy bag, but little by little you will find it easier to cope with these changes.
Back to school
The first step is to inform the school of your child's situation. They should be prepared to respond to any problems that arise during school hours. In addition, they will know what care should be taken in the activities so that your child does not feel left out.
We recommend that you provide the school with a kit with all the necessary material. This kit should include everything you use with your child at home: extra colostomy bags, a change of clothes, skin barriers, etc. The goal is for your child to have what he needs in case he has a leak. As long as he and the school know what to do, the presence of the kit will be the final key to a smooth, worry-free day.
Your little one will probably want to share with his friends what happened to him. It is normal for people to be curious. It often happens that as soon as the story about the surgery is over, the topic is taken for granted and your child will be reintegrated into his or her circle as if nothing had happened. Since your child will probably repeat what you tell him about his ostomy, it is important that you talk naturally about his situation so that he does too.
You and your child are facing a new situation in life. If you approach it with a sense of humor, determination and sincerity, you will find that wearing a colostomy bag is no impediment to your little one's ability to participate in life's daily activities.
