Adrienne, you are in very good company here, because we were all nervous about having surgery and getting an ostomy. I had left-sided Crohn's that was mostly in the rectum, so I understand what you've been through. 
The good news is... surgery is a cure for UC and having an ostomy is so much easier and better than being sick. You will get your health and your life back. 
So what if we go poo differently than everyone else? After all you've been through, I can honestly tell you that you will not miss your diseased colon or rectum. You will also stop taking all of the meds, which is a blessing.
Right now as I sit here, I cannot feel the ostomy pouch or wafer against my stomach. It's very flat, so it does not show through your clothes either. I just empty it when I go pee, so it's no trouble at all, and I change it once a week.
Changing the wafer is as easy as peel and stick, so it's no big deal either. The pouches snap and lock onto the wafer and empty through the end with a velcro or clip closure. You do not have to remove the pouch or rinse it out each time you empty. You only remove it to throw it away.
When you meet with the stoma nurse, ask her for some samples for you to try on. A good tip is to shave the blonde hairs on your stomach before applying the wafer, so you don't pull them out one by one when you remove it. Also, ask her for some adhesive remover wipes to use when you remove the wafer. That way it will just slide right off without it pulling on your skin.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, and we'll do our best to help.
Take care,
Cecilia