Going Back to Your Job: Practical Strategies

Going back to work after my ostomy surgery was scary. The first few weeks were rough, not gonna lie. Here's what helped me get through that time.

Bathroom Strategy

My first couple of days back at work, I was already quite nervous about the whole thing. When I found out the private bathrooms were in use, I had to use the public accessible bathroom where guests would go. I was so self-conscious about the smell. I'd finish up, and someone would walk in right after me, and I just felt embarrassed.

I was lucky that I never actually had to change my bag at work, and I didn't have any leaks in the office. But there were all these worries running through my mind: Is my bag going to leak? Did the food I had today settle okay? Is my stool watery? Sometimes I would go to the bathroom to check for a leak or anything, because I was a little scared.

After a few weeks, I figured out which bathroom was the most private in the building and started keeping supplies at my desk just in case. I also got to know my body's patterns better so I could time my bathroom breaks. And honestly, after a while, I realized nobody was tracking my bathroom visits or thinking about me as much as I thought they were.

Managing Your Energy

Those first few weeks, I was so tired. Way more than I thought I'd be. I'd get to 2 pm and crash. I ate lunch, but I kept snacks or tea at my desk to keep me going between meals. The water thing was annoying too because I needed to drink enough, but then I'd be in the bathroom constantly.

It took a few weeks to figure out my energy patterns, but once I did, I could plan my day around them. Hard thinking in the morning when I'm actually sharp, lighter stuff in the afternoon. That rhythm made a huge difference. My body adjusted more than I expected.

Clothing Considerations

I needed to feel comfortable in my clothes, and I didn't want anyone to see my bag. High-waisted pants worked well because they didn't press on my stoma. I layered with cardigans and sweaters. Patterns were better than solid colours because you couldn't see the bag outline as much. Once I figured out what actually worked for my body, getting dressed wasn't stressful anymore.

Emergency Planning

I didn't always keep backup supplies with me, but I wish I had. Keep supplies at your locker or desk, save your ostomy nurse's number in your favourites, and have a spare outfit at work. On my first day back, I looked up the closest pharmacy on Google Maps just in case.

Building Confidence

The more I did everything, the easier it got. But one thing that took me forever to get used to was the stoma sounds.

At home with my family, we'd actually laugh about it. My stoma makes this gurgling sound, different from a fart, and we'd all just crack up when it happened during dinner. It was funny and normal at home.

But at work? That was a different story. Meetings were the worst, especially small ones with just a few people in a room. I remember one meeting with some really influential people, and my stoma started making noise. I just grabbed my bag very tightly and pushed against my stoma so it wouldn't happen again. I was so self-conscious.

The same thing happened at my friend's place for dinner. There were only four of us, and it was very quiet. Even though they thought it was funny, I felt embarrassed and did the same thing, pressing against my stoma to make it stop.

Will my stoma make noises in meetings? Will people see my bag if it balloons from gas-producing foods? These questions were constantly running through my mind.

But honestly? Either nobody noticed, or nobody cared. I built it up way bigger in my head than it actually was. People at work definitely cared about me and my health, but mainly, everyone was focused on their own deadlines and meetings. Over time, it got easier, but it was still hard to handle, especially in public.

When the Office Becomes Too Much

After a while, I realized the office was exhausting: the bathroom anxiety, the energy drain, worrying about noises in meetings. I requested an accommodation to work from home. It felt scary to ask, as if I was admitting I couldn't handle it. But working from home made such a difference. I had my own bathroom, I could manage my energy better, and my anxiety decreased.

Your Ostomy Doesn't Define Your Career

When I was in the hospital the night before my surgery, one of the gastroenterologists came to see me. I was still trying to wrap my head around getting an ostomy the next day. Then he did something that changed everything: he showed me that he too had an ostomy bag.

I got emotional. Here was this excellent doctor, helping other people while managing his own ostomy. He had power, happiness, and health. He was successful in the medical profession, of all places, and still lived a fulfilling life with his ostomy.

That moment changed everything for me. If he could be a doctor helping patients while managing his ostomy, I could do whatever I wanted. Your ostomy doesn't define your career. You can still go for promotions, take on big projects, and do all the work stuff you want to do. It's just about finding what works for your body.

If you're job hunting rather than returning to an existing job, the following article covers interviews and whether to disclose your ostomy.