Background: Surgeries history stretches far back in time. Stoma operations started being successfully in the 19th century. In the 1950s, a standard treatment for stoma operations was developed which still is being used today. The reason for getting a stoma may be due to various things such as illness or trauma. Getting a stoma can lead to a changed body perception and can affect the individual's experience of health and suffering. It´s up to the nurse to be able to approach these patients and their experiences in the best professional way.

Aim: The aim of the study was to describe patients experiences of living with a stoma.

Method: This study has been conducted as a qualitative litterature review. An analysis of eleven qualitative articles was carried out.

Results: Three themes explaining the patient's experience of living with a stoma where identified as: the patient's path to acceptance, the patient's obstacles to the way of acceptance and the continued life with a stoma. Eight sub-themes: teaching and information, social support, an inner process, complications and leakage, uncertainty and concern, changed body perception, daily constraints, adaptation to a new life situation, where discovered.

Conclusion: The experience of living with a stoma varies from person to person. There are factors that can affect the patient's life with a stoma. There are both positive and negative experiences that create an overall picture.