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Life with an ostomy doesn't stop after surgery. In many ways, that's when the real learning begins.
Once during each of the last three months, I've gone to my doctor's office to receive a vitamin B12 shot.
When my blood work first revealed that I was deficient in B12, I asked my doctor why. The answer surprised me. After having my colon removed, my digestive system no longer functions the way it once did. The loss of the colon changes how the body handles fluids, electrolytes, and beneficial gut bacteria, and nutritional deficiencies can become more common.
I realized I had spent years adapting to the obvious parts of living with an ostomy while overlooking the invisible ones.
Like many ostomates, I learned how to empty my pouch, prevent leaks, travel with supplies, and navigate the emotional challenges of surgery. Those skills helped me regain confidence and independence.
But I had never stopped to ask what now feels like the most important question:
What nutritional changes do I need to make to support life without a colon?
Surviving Surgery Was Just the Beginning
For a long time, I believed recovery ended once my surgical wounds healed. If I could work, exercise, travel, and live independently again, I assumed I had figured it out.
Looking back, I realize surviving surgery wasn't the finish line. It was the beginning of learning how to care for an entirely different body.
That body has different needs.
It needs more attention to hydration, greater awareness of electrolytes, and more intentional nutrition. It asks me to pay attention to things I never considered before surgery.
That realization was humbling.
I like to think of myself as proactive about my health, yet years after surgery I was still discovering important gaps in my understanding. Eventually, I stopped seeing that as failure and started seeing it as part of adapting.
Small Habits That Have Made a Difference
Today, my daily routine looks very different.
I take a vitamin B12 supplement every day and follow my doctor's recommendations. I regularly eat nutritional yeast, take a quality probiotic and fish oil several times each week, and intentionally include salmon in my meals.
Every week, I prepare a large batch of vegetable stew that's nutrient-dense and easy to reheat. Most mornings, I blend a smoothie to add more fruits, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. Because hydration is so important with an ileostomy, I also use electrolyte packets to help replace what my body loses.
None of these habits are especially exciting.
But consistency is more valuable than excitement.
Nutrition Is Different for Everyone
One lesson I've learned is that there isn't one perfect diet for every person living with an ostomy.
Some people tolerate foods that others cannot. Certain foods that work well for someone with a colostomy may create challenges for someone with an ileostomy. That's why it's important to work with your physician or a registered dietitian when making significant nutritional changes.
Pay attention to your own body's feedback. Experiment carefully, keep notes if needed, and adjust as you learn what works for you.
Living with an ostomy isn't about finding perfection.
It's about finding what helps your body perform at its best.
Progress, Not Perfection
Sometimes I wish someone had explained after surgery that my body would have different nutritional needs. That conversation might have helped me ask better questions sooner.
But life happens today.
I can't change what I didn't know then. What I can do is continue learning.
I'm learning to pay closer attention to what my body is telling me. I'm learning to be curious instead of frustrated. Most importantly, I'm learning that adapting isn't a single decision—it's something I continue choosing every day.
If you're living with an ostomy, give yourself permission to keep learning too.
You don't have to know everything immediately.
As the old saying reminds us, progress—not perfection—is what matters.
And thankfully, progress is enough.
