"my real estate"

The first thing that comes to peoples minds when they see the words "real estate", is property, more then likely housing and land.  When I refer to my "real estate" I am too referring to property, but I am talking about the different spots of my belly and what each one houses.  Recently, it is getting quite crowded, and unfortunately I can't just put up a "for sale" sign


As most of you know, I am a very private person and most people don't know what my belly looks like.  I am not going to censor or leave out details, that may be seen as gross, this is what I live with everyday.  Again this is for awareness, so please do not be afraid to comment or ask questions.
At this point, I do not receive my nutrition or medications by mouth.  Because my stomach muscles do not contract, anything I take in by mouth comes back up or sits in the stomach.  Nothing that ends up in the stomach absorbs.


Starting in the center, right through my belly button I have a large scar.  I had a serious abdominal surgery in May, re routing my digestive track.  After the surgery, it was closed with 18 staples, and since May, it has gotten infected and has opened many times.  This has been a long healing incision, and currently there is still a small part that is open.


On the left side, I have a J-tube that is housed in a ostomy bag, and it runs through a stoma, that was created in my last surgery

•  J-tube<<<  is a tube that is surgically placed through the abdomen and it sits in the jejunum, which is the second part of the small intestine.  It is referred to as a feeding tube.  Most patients with a j-tube will receive feedings through it.  In my case, I have not been able to tolerate tube feeds, no matter what we have tried.  The primary use of my j-tube is to receive medications through it.
• stoma<<<  this is the nastiest part<<< connects a portion of the body cavity to the outside environment. In my case a small part of my intestine was removed and relocated to the surface. The intestine was then stretched and reconnected.  There are many kinds of stomas, what makes them different is what organ they are attached too.  The stoma is where the removal process takes place.  I did not lose complete function of any organ, so what comes out of my stoma is mostly bile. 
• ostomy bag<<<   a pouching system that sits on the skin held down by an adhesive.  The J-tube comes through the stoma and sits inside the bag.  So when medications are needed, the top of the bag opens and the medication goes right into the J-tube.

On the far right side I have a few scars from other abdominal surgeries, including previous J-tube/ g-tube placements, shunts and gall bladder removal.
Also on the right side I have a G-tube, which is very similar to a j-tube, however the g-tube is larger and sits in the stomach.  Some people get feedings through there g-tube however, my g-tube is only used to vent and alleviate nausea.  Most people don't even knows that I wear a bag on my right leg that the G-tube empty's too.
As much as I wish I could just put up a "for sale" sign, sometimes things just aren't that easy. It definitely took a lot of courage for me to just to type this, mainly because I spend a lot of time hiding it.  It takes a lot of adjustment, however for now this "real estate" is mine and not going anywhere in the near future.