Description:
<p class="a"><strong>Objective:</strong> Original article, based on field research that sought to describe the challenges that persons face when adapting to a permanent colostomy. Design: Data were collected through a semi-structuralized interview and analyzed using the technique of Content Analysis proposed by Bardin. Subjects and Setting: five participants in the Ostomy Program of the City Health Department of Capão do Leão, Brasil.</p> <p class="a"><strong>Methods:</strong> Qualitative descriptive study, conducted from July to September of 2005, in the city of Capão do Leão, State of Rio Grande does Sul/Brazil.</p> <p class="a"><strong>Results:</strong> The categorization of the data led to identification of three thematic units. The first we described as “Experiencing the consequences of illness as a disorder”. The second was “Restoring a sense of order to life”, and the third was “Living with the new condition”. Reflections illuminated by the complex thought were pointed out as possibilities of a care for the human being, capable of making choices and of actively participating of its process of health and illness.</p> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> We concluded that a having permanent ostomy was difficult for the subjects and restoring the sense of an orderly life was complex.<p><strong><br /></strong></p>