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I, Angelo dos Santos, am 47 years old and had to undergo surgery to create a urostomy in my 20s due to the treatment of the second cancer I had. The surgery was an emergency because I was undergoing radiotherapy and started having difficulty urinating. The first ostomy surgery I had was done to place a colostomy in February 1997. That was reversed in November 2005. The second surgery to place the urostomy was in September 1999, which I still have to this day.
How did you feel before having ostomy surgery?
I had no idea about how the surgery would be. I had very little information before my surgery.
How do you feel now after ostomy surgery?
I felt confused, not knowing how to care for my stoma. Since there was no internet at that time, I had no way of accessing information about products and how to take care of my stoma. The stoma bothered me a lot at the start, made me sad, and took away my desire to leave the house.
Tell us about your hobbies. Any new ones since surgery?
After the surgery, over time, I learned how to take care of my stoma. Two years later, I had the courage to leave the house and go back to school, and I completed my degree in Geography. A few years later, I took up rowing. For four years, it was my favorite sport and hobby. After rowing, I started hiking and climbing mountains. I have climbed the third highest mountain in Brazil and completed other trails up to 40 km (25 miles).
What do you know now that you wish you knew before having surgery?
Now I know I can do anything I want, and that my stoma doesn't prevent me from doing anything or achieving my life goals.
What are your favorite ostomy products from Convatec?
I really like the Moldable Technology and Esenta products.
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