Shopping with an Ostomy

When you find out you're going to be getting an ostomy your whole world changes.  Information is thrown at you at a lightning pace.  More information than most people want to hear is what comes at them all in a rush.  The life changing information and the education is simply a lot for the average person and in the end most of us all go to the same spot.  What on earth am I going to wear when this is all said and done.  Don't be ashamed or talk down on yourself for thinking this for a single moment.  You are human, and so am I and let's face it we all thought of this early on instead of the actual health issue that was happening.  It's a natural response and when it comes to shopping it is important to look good especially if you have a stoma!

So there are a few things to keep in mind for your ostomy care and one of the biggest things is to make sure you look and feel good.  Your psychological health is just as important as your physical health.  So yes, listen to your ostomy nurse and surgeon.  They will most likely give you incredible and very noteworthy information that you need to know to get through your day to day life. 

But also make sure you are paying attention to not change your life so that you look and feel like a medical case.  That is the last thing you want and I am pretty sure that some of us end up feeling that way.  The jokes about being half man half machine seem to start rolling in and that is all good and fun, but seriously make sure you are taking care of yourself. 

Looking great is just as big a deal in ostomy care as having the right seals and bags for your specific type of stoma.  So I suggest checking out lots of online tutorials about fashion. There are tons of them out there for people who have stomas and it is really important to find a few good ones that seem to fit your lifestyle.  Make sure you are getting the right active wear and gear for your lifestyle and that is fits the way you like to dress on a regular basis.  Some things will have to change a bit, but not everything and certianly not an entire style. Stay happy, feel, and look good!

First things to know with a Stoma

So it happened. You just got word from your doctor that you are going to get an ostomy.  Soon you will have a Stoma and you have no idea what this means.  For most people anger is the first response as they realize they are going to be the ones with a bag of their worst nightmares attached to them.  Sounds a bit extreme and in all honesty it is.  The first response is always the hardest and then grieving and a bit of despair finds its way in.  It may be in a minute, a week, or a few months later, but it is to be expected.  Once this is over they can learn and overcome the idea that they will have a stoma.  So lets go over some of the things that either the patient or new nurse can possibly use to get the best ostomy care possible.

Some people believe it's ok for the skin around your stoma to be a different color.  Or they think it is normal for is to be a bit sore or rash like.  This is totally not true, keeping the skin clean and clear of urine, stool, or pouching adhesive is not normal.  Keeping the area clean and the skin healthy is very important.  This is very doable as well.  The skin around the Stoma should be the exact color and healthy level as the rest of your abdomen. 

So start with a basic pouching system. There are lots of products and brand that will happily give you free samples.  But don’t rush into trying too many things or getting over complicated.  Take it easy and start small. You will be in touch with an ostomy care, wound, or care nurse and its important to follow the guidelines they give.  They will be a great base to learn from and to get any issues you may have or questions under control. When you get your first pouch. 

Follow the instructions of the manufacturer.  This is an area where they companies are truly there for you and work hard to make sure no issues occur.  If you do have leakage or skin troubles. Go to your health care provider or nurse right away.  They will be able to walk you through rather the product was defective or if it was user error.  Its user error a lot when you start and that is ok.  Listen, learn, and get better! It only gets better. Stay safe and follow your health care providers instructions.

Basketball with an Ostomy

This year has been very difficult for me.  Not because I have an ostomy but because basketball ended.  This is the first year, there was no NCAA tournament in my lifetime.  There is no NBA or WNBA.  I have no games to go to on the weekend and I have no games to watch on the television.  This is all due to COVID-19.  This pandemic swept across the world and our country decided to shutdown our economy and the joys of basketball with it.  There are no open gyms or even the chance of playing with people at parks.  Its been made illegal to even get 10 people together in many states.  All this brings me back to my memory of happy thoughts. 

So what was your first basketball game and did you have to learn to play with an ostomy.  I learned early that ostomy care is important and that wearing the proper clothing to cover and protect myself was important.  It was fairly easy with the correct pouches that had really good seals.  The last thing you want is a leak when you are on the basketball court and playing in front of hundreds of people

The first time I was able to play basketball I was a kid in an intramural league.  I learned to dribble and shoot and learn to hate my basketball coach early on.  No kidding I was 8 years only and still couldn't stand people telling me what to do.  What bothered me was not the instruction but the bad instruction.  My brothers and friends and I had been playing basketball since we could throw a ball.  So playing in front of people and learning improper techniques drove me crazy even at 8.  Intramurals is supposed to be fun, but I always played to win.  It wasn’t till years later I would have to learn to play and win with a bag.

So in high school I learned to take ostomy care seriously so I could play high school basketball.  It was a very important part of my life and I asked many doctors who had dealt with sports what to do.  I got good advice and was able to participate in high school sports just like a normal person. Honesty, if i needed to psych someone out on the court I always used my ostomy bag to my advantage.  It is amazing what you can do with just a few words.  So consult your healthcare provider about sports and stay safe.