After ostomy surgery

Becoming comfortable with your ostomy takes time. You may have many questions and concerns as you adjust to this “new normal” in the way your body looks and functions.

In hospital, your Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy, Continence (NSWOC)/WOC nurse is there to help you. After you get home you or your family will still have questions about adapting to life with an ostomy. We are here to help.

You are not alone

Almost 100,000 people in Canada have an ostomy. An acquaintance, someone at work or even a neighbour may have an ostomy and you would never know unless they told you. People do not talk about their bowels or bladder, but we do! We are here to help and make your transition to living well with an ostomy easy.

See our Living with an Ostomy section for more information about living a full life with an ostomy. Know that your ostomy should never hold you back. You are welcome to make an appointment to see a NSWOC at any time, whether you have just returned home from hospital or had your stoma for several decades.