Getting outside is a wonderful way to get away from the world. For me I love to exercise and do lots of jogging in the woods. I guess they call it trail running, but its more just enjoying the views and doing a little jogging at the same time. Having a stoma does make it a little more complicated, but I find that it simply doesn't get in the way that much at all. I hear that some people refuse to do anything because they have had an ostomy surgery and they simply give up on the idea of being social or active outside. This is all rather silly, because I am an introvert and still loving being outside and with people with my stoma. It all goes to show that if you like to hike in the woods, or go jogging that you can truly do it with your ostomy bag in tow. So if you are gearing up for a woods walk, a day hike or a backpacking excursion I want to encourage you to do it. First of all there should be no excuses for not doing something because you have a stoma unless your doctor has strictly told you it's a bad idea. Obviously medical advice comes first and if you are simply unable then you shouldn't. But the majority of people I know with stomas are rather active. They enjoy hiking, swimming, and motorcycling and don't let their stoma slow them down at all. I truly appreciate this and it also encourages me to keep putting in the time and effort to doing more crazy things outside as well. Now that you have the motivation, make sure you have good and proper ostomy gear for the excursion. Many people don't change up a thing, but I like to stream line things up a bit and go for a smaller bag, which is belted to me with elastic. I talked with multiple online companies and they gave me good advice and samples of items to try for being more active. This was a jumpstart to my outdoor lifestyle that I needed and I suggest being a little phone social and calling up some of the major ones as well. Or go to your local pharmacy and talk to your pharmacist. These Doctors specialize and getting gear that people actually buy and have talked with so many people that they normally have great advice. Now go out and do some testing. Try your gear slowly and preferably around your home just incase something doesn't work. Go for a hike around your neighborhood. Put on a backpack that fits around your waste and stoma well and see what works. People are always more impressed then weirded out. They generally get really excited when you tell them you are preparing for a hike or a backpacking trip. It is also a great way to meet new people in the neighborhood. Now that you have tested out the right ostomy gear and also hiking gear, go out and give it a try at a small local park. Sometimes the clothing you wear turns out to be an issue or the shoes you have on are too hard or not hard enough and cause more bounce on your body than you want. If you clothing is not moister wicking you may want to change out some of those to work better for you ostomy bag, and backpack! But go out, give it a try and have fun!
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It is truly a laugh when I hear people mock other ostomy friends thinking that they cannot do things as well as non ostomy living people. Yes, this is extremely rare, but when I am playing basketball and anyone wants to throw shade at me for having a stoma I find it to be a wonderful challenge and start taking bets. What I am really getting at is that most people with a stoma can have a crazy active life and will most likely be able to do anything they were able to do before they had a stoma. It really is fun to let people know how active you are able to be with a stoma and I love letting new ostomy surgery recoverees know that their life is going to be just fine. It is the first thing that people think of when they find out they are going to get an ostomy. It is that they will never be dashing, look good, or be able to be active again. All of these things are false and simply just your imagination running wild. The moment you find out that you are going to have a stoma is super scary. It really is, one its surgery and most of the time it's because you are having major medical issues. But once that is over and you get back to a semblance of normal life, the fun begins. Being active is not for everyone, and many people I know are simply lazy. That is completely fine, but many people who overcome their ailments and are left with a stoma simply have to live. I like to think that they should get back to the lifestyle they used to live or aspire to live. So the first thing is to find that hobby that you love. For some it is backpacking/hiking and for me this is a staple in my life. I truly love getting out into the forest and I find that being prepared with the right ostomy gear is important. Find the right size bag that works with your favorite backpack. I say it this way because most backpacks are designed alike and I love to be able to put more weight on my hips and most of the time its the ostomy gear that is the issue and not the bag. But it is possible you need to find specialized hip belts that work well with your body. But remember your body is different than anyone else's so find something that works well for you. I do find that following people on Youtube is a great way to get ideas on gear and items to use. There are so many great backpacking channels or hiking channels that can really help. I really like the ones that are focused on long term exercise because they usually choose gear that works the best. It is also cool to follow actual Youtube channels that have an ostomy and also like to do the kinds of activities you do or are interested in doing. They can have some amazing tips of the trade and also give really good sanitary and gear tips. Even if your body gets gross your stoma should stay clean and healthy. It really is important and should be a top priority. So stay safe and have fun being active! Let's all be real the idea of never going to a beach and being comfortable again was something that we all thought of right before or after we went into our ostomy surgery. I know on my end that I was completely worried that my social life was going to disappear. I think that in the end, the vast majorities of my worries were greatly unfounded, but it is still a small fear that comes into our heads before we go out to the beach. But with a resounding yes, it is almost always safe to be on the beach with your stoma. Now I will say that if you have been told by your healthcare professional otherwise then follow your healthcare providers' information. One thing to know is that we are all different and that makes us unique. But for the most part, it is just fine to have a stoma and enjoy a nice beach vacation. For me I like to make sure I am nice and safe at the beach. That means just mentally in my mind that I have backups for all the items I am going to need. It could mean having an extra ostomy bag and seal ready to go. It may mean having a stoma cap so I can look my best on the beach. These are all preferences that each of us has and the more we know our body the better we can be, feel, and look at the beach. Now for my extra gear, I like to make sure it is all safe and secure. This can come in a variety of ways, but when I am on the beach I know water and sand can get into everything and most likely will. So I take lots of sanitary cleaning supplies or just some extra wet wipes for my hands. Then I like to make sure all my extra ostomy gear is packed away in a good backpack. If it is waterproof that is even better. But you can totally water proof your gear by getting some zip lock bags and double bagging them. Then I like to go and put that in like a water proof otterbox. Or soething that has a nice rubber seal. To me that is a small bit of extra work that can make sure my gear is safe if I need it. That is really all the extra planning of things that I take besides the normal sunscrean. Don't burn your stoma. So keep everything nice and protected and if you must wear a shirt to make double sure. Just look into the fact that it needs to be UV protected to actually work. Lots of companies many 50 SPF UV gear in cool shirts and shorts to protect against the rays of the sun. Other than that I suggest you go out and have fun. There are lots of different styles of ostomy bags and caps that can help you with your look. There is also nothing wrong with enjoying the beach in a long sleeve shirt and jeans with tennis shoes. Yes, I know a guy who used to do this and it made us all laugh. But that was how he enjoyed himself and I say to each their own. Have fun and be safe. |
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