Jane received compensation from Coloplast to provide this information. Each person’s situation is unique so your experience may not be the same.
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Becoming The Colostomy Queen was definitely not part of my original plan.
Everything Changed
If you had told me ten years ago that I would one day be known as The Colostomy Queen, I probably would have laughed and asked what on earth you were talking about.
Like most people, I had plans for my life. Becoming an ostomy advocate was not one of them. I was busy building my career as a nutritionist, writing a book, helping others improve their health, supporting clients through challenges, and enjoying life with family and friends.
Then came a diagnosis that changed everything. In 2023, I was told I had colorectal cancer.
Suddenly, my attention shifted from helping other people manage their health to facing my own health crisis. There were appointments, decisions, questions, and more uncertainty than I had ever experienced before.
I was also coming to terms with the fact that I would be living with an ostomy for the rest of my life. To be blunt, all of it scared me. A lot.
Life Returns
Like many people, I had assumptions about what life with an ostomy would mean. I worried about what I would look like, what I would be able to do, and whether I would still be able to travel, socialize, exercise, and continue enjoying everything I worked so hard to build.
Following my life-saving surgery, there was a learning curve, frustrating days, and moments when I questioned whether I would ever feel completely comfortable again.
But little by little, life started returning.
I found routines that worked for me and began focusing less on my ostomy and more on the things that mattered most. Having products I could trust played an important role in that process. The more comfortable I became in my daily routine, the more freedom I felt to focus on living my life rather than managing my condition.
One of the clearest signs that life was starting to feel normal again came when I returned to hot yoga.
Before my diagnosis, I attended classes five or six times a week. One of my biggest fears was whether I would ever be able to go back. How could I bend, twist, stretch, sweat, and move confidently with a bag attached to my body?
After my proctectomy - what some people jokingly call a "Barbie butt" procedure, where the rectum and anus are removed and sewn closed - I couldn't sit comfortably for nearly two months, let alone think about going back to yoga. But eventually, I decided to give it another try.
To my surprise, I could do all of it.
The bag stayed secure through the heat and humidity. Nobody stared. Nobody cared.
What surprised me most was that my ostomy did not make my world smaller. In many ways, it made my world bigger and gave me a deeper appreciation for resilience, gratitude, and helping others.
Helping Others
People began reaching out with questions. Some were preparing for surgery, while others had recently undergone surgery and felt overwhelmed. Many simply wanted reassurance that life could still be good after an ostomy.
One day, a friend called me in a panic. Her boss had undergone emergency surgery after her colon ruptured and had woken up with an ostomy. She was frightened, overwhelmed, and desperate for guidance.
I spent the next hour walking her through everything I wished someone had explained to me: what to eat, where to get supplies, how to manage daily life, and most importantly, how to believe things would get better.
When I hung up the phone, I had a realization. A little voice inside me said, "This is what you're meant to do now." In that moment, I realized I could use my experience to help others.
Not long after that, The Colostomy Queen was born, a place where people can find support, encouragement, and community.
One of my biggest goals is to normalize conversations about ostomies.
Life may look different, but it can still be rich, fulfilling, and full of possibility.
The Hope
Today, I continue to work as a nutritionist, educator, advocate, and supporter of the ostomy community. I also serve as a counsellor and spokesperson with Colorectal Cancer Canada, helping individuals and families navigate colorectal cancer and recovery.
When someone reaches out feeling frightened about what lies ahead, I can tell them that I understand. I remember those feelings and those fears because I lived them. I also know what is possible on the other side.
If there is one message I hope people take away from my story, it is this:
Life with an ostomy is still life. It may not be the life you originally pictured, but it can still be full of travel, laughter, friendships, purpose, adventure, connection, and joy.
Jane Durst-Pulkys is a Toronto-based nutritionist, ostomy advocate, and founder of The Colostomy Queen, a community dedicated to helping individuals navigate life with an ostomy through education, support, and encouragement. She also serves as a counsellor and spokesperson with Colorectal Cancer Canada, helping individuals and families navigate colorectal cancer, recovery, and life with an ostomy. Through her work, Jane helps others approach their ostomy journey with greater confidence, practical knowledge, and hope.
