Congrats! I remember taking the pain medication regularly bc it hurt! So take it easy and don’t be afraid to do that. Take it easy on the food too- keep it simple and plain at first. Will you be able to get an ostomy nurse to come and visit you after you’re discharged? That was helpful in terms of changing my bag and getting confident to do it myself, while the nurse was there as back up.
I used to eat a few large marshmallow to stop the output about 15 min before I changed my bag. That helped a lot so I wasn’t having output while I was trying to change the bag.
i ordered some of those blanket pad things - the ones they put under you if you’re in the hospital, or that you’d put under someone so if their incontinent it’s easier to clean up. I put that under me while I slept (actually I think that was after my takedown, come to think of it). When I had my bag, i mostly slept on my bag, but I put a towel under my beg between the bag and my body, so if it did leak, and it did, it would catch it.
You may also want to ask for paste strip- I used Coloplast paste - that’s this playable paste (almost like putty) that I was able to use as a barrier or a dam-like so it made a good deal. My stoma was kinda close to my belly button, and the curve made it hard to seal. The paste helped a lot.
Cant remember much else in terms of advice. Other than it’s okay to be sad and mourn your loss (of your colon). It’s def not an easy surgery and you’ll have good and bad days. It’s okay to be like- this sucks! But it will get better!! You’ve got this! 🙌🏽