Being active with an ostomy

Life doesn’t end when you get an ostomy.  Those are the first words I remember when I was told this was going to happen.  Those words were never truer and I wanted to pass that along to everyone.  There are a lot of misconceptions about what happens when you have a stoma and many people have them and live a wonderful and absolutely normal life.  In most cases life doesn’t really change and the things that you do don’t really change. That is what you should know and be excited that you are alive and that life will go on pretty much the same as it did before.  Now that the serious stuff is out of the way let’s talk about being active with a stoma. I am not the most in shape person but I do love to be outdoors and play sports.

When I am being active outdoors there are some great gear items that help me be able to do this without having to think about my stoma.  I learned a lot of them by talking with the people at ostomy Supplies.  A great company if you didn’t know.  I called up ostomy Supplies after finding them on the internet and had some great conversations and learned a ton from them. I have found that the vast majority of companies in the ostomy care business are amazing and really good at helping people learn and giving great gear advice.

So for me I ended up loving bags that have belt loops and also elastic belts.  This helps me keep things tighter when I am being crazy.  I love to play basketball, go hiking on a weekly basis and lots of other outdoor activities with my family.  This helps me out when I know I am going to be super active. 

Now I didn’t start off after the ostomy by going 100% into being super active.  I started slow and worked my way up to grow my muscles back and be safe.  I have had many injuries and starting slow is always the best way to not injury yourself more. So this is one thing that I really suggest you doing too.  You are now more apt to having hernias and abdominal issues, so follow your healthcare providers advice and stay as safe as you can.  But also have fun, don’t limit your life because you have a stoma. Be safe, have fun, and get outside!

Bass Boats and Stomas

I really love fishing. I mean it is what I live for.  So the weather is changing and it is now time to pull out the bait caster and spinning reel and start rocking the water.  The joy that I find in being outdoors and connecting with nature is a wonderful thing.  There is a great benefit to staying healthy not only with your body but also your mind.  That is why I like to expand my experiences and just enjoy the health of both.  Now that I have had an ostomy and have to deal with a little more complications on the water, in all honesty not much has changed! Ha, got you, you thought I was going to say that it was all a hard impossible thing to fish with an ostomy but that is simply not true.  So I want to talk about fishing and enjoying life with an ostomy.

Now what makes fishing easy and nice is that I have great gear. Gear won’t make you a better fisher but it can make life easier especially when it comes to your stoma.  I find that ConvaTec Ostomy Supplies is a really good company for getting my gear.  They helped me learn new things and plan the things I would need for being on the water and possibly in the water.  These ostomy supplies has some great customer service, so if you have any questions on things give them a buzz and they will help you out.  

Being a human with a stoma has not really changed my fishing routine at all. Sometimes I like the fact that I don’t have to take a pause when the fishing is good for mother nature and it really is a benefit.  Bass fishing tournaments are also awesome because I can fish longer and harder because I have a stoma! So there really are some benefits to it.

Now to be safe I also like to keep everything waterproof and safe just in case fish, weather, or a boating accident ends up getting things wet.  So I like to carry a pelican case or a waterproof case and also line my things inside with a ziplock bag.  This is a double layer that also keeps me safe and anxiety free by not having to worry about my gear getting ruined by water. So stay safe, enjoy the outdoors, and get out fishing!

What is Colostomy Bag?

After a colostomy surgery, your stoma needs a cover to collect the stool, which is a colostomy bag. In this operation, your bowel needs healing and a part of the colon (infected or blocked section of the large intestine) has to remove. Thus, surgeons create a hole in the abdomen after the removal of the diseased part of the large intestine; hence, you need a container to collect the solid discharge. To receive feces from the opening in the abdomen or stoma, you attach a sack, called a colostomy bag.

A person needs colostomy surgery when there is an infection in the colon, disease in the colon, colon cancer, injury in the large intestine, inflammatory bowel disease, or blockage in the large intestine. There could be any reason for these diseases. Sometimes a minor road accident can cause injury in your colon. Thus, you need a temporary colostomy. However, in a few cases like colon cancer inflammatory bowel disease, you may need a permanent colostomy. In this operation, doctors remove the infected section of the large intestine; therefore, a patient cannot discharge feces through the anus. Thus, the surgeon creates a hole in the abdomen for the collection of solid waste, called a stoma. Then, you need a bag or pouch to collect the stool. Your all solid waste will go to the colostomy pouch and you need to empty and wash the appliance, once you feel bowel movement.

Many colostomy patients worry about daily activities, a sudden change in life, and emotional change. Well, for temporary colostomy patients, it is not a big deal. They know that this new alteration in their body is for a few months. They will be back on their natural track of pooping, once their disease is cured. However, permanent ostomates think differently. They feel their norma life is going to an end. Well, this is not true, you need counseling and emotional support. You can pursue your normal previous life freely, once your stoma is healed and adopt the changes.

Types of Colostomy Bags

Everyone’s body and the stoma is different. Therefore, there is no specific colostomy bag. There are different types you can pick up according to your stoma size, shape, and body requirements.

One-Piece Colostomy Bag

This is a colostomy bag system in which the bag and skin barrier have connected. You cannot separate both tools. When you need to change your colostomy pouching system, you have to remove the skin barrier and pouch. The size of this pouching system is amazing, it fits around your opening. Moreover, a few one-piece colostomy bags use flushable liners.

Two-Piece Colostomy Bag

The two-piece colostomy pouching system is the opposite of one-piece. In this system, you do not have to remove the skin barrier while changing the pouch. You have to attach the base-plate to your stoma and paste the bah on it. Another best part of this bag is that you can change your pouching system after three days. This is convenient for elderly patients and for the people who do not feel easy to change their bags.

Closed Colostomy Bags

Closed colostomy bags are best for the patients who discharge solid waste or patients of constipation. You can change these pouches twice a day. Moreover, if you use liners in this system, you can flush down the solid content in the flush.

Drainable Colostomy Bags

Many colostomy patients suffer from loose motion or diarrhea; therefore, drainable pouches are best for liquid stool. You can clear the content from the bag once you feel the bowel movement, or it gets 1/3 full.

Mini Colostomy Bags

When colostomy patients need to wear a bag for a short time; thus, you can use mini pouches. Do not use mini colostomy bags for a longer duration. After the one use discards mini bags.