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Posted 4/29/2011 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
I am hoping to head to the pool next week for the first time since ileostomy surgery in November. Yahoo! I am so excited. I even bought a new tankini swimsuit last night that will work with my pouch and ordered a swim wrap from Ostomy Secrets to go with it.

I have a few questions:

1. Though I have switched to a two-piece ostomy pouch system for the last few weeks, I have yet to swap out pouches on it. Do you just take the old one off and snap a new one on? Does it get messy and do you have to wipe off the inner ring first? I would like to put on a smaller closed-end pouch while I swim. Afterwards, when you take the closed-end pouch off, do you put the old drainable pouch back on, or do you put a new drainable on and toss the old one? Seems like if you went swimming a lot during the week, that would eat through your drainable pouch supply pretty quickly. If you do save the old drainable to put back on, where do you store it in the meantime since it would be kinda poopy. Sorry about the strange questions... just trying to visualize how folks do the pouch swapping.

2. Can you stay in the pool a while, or will that make the wafer more likely to fall off ? Will it affect the adhesive and allow less days between changes (I usually change my wafer every 3-4 days anyway)? What about the hot tub since the water is warm... does that act on the adhesive any differently?

3. Any other tips?

Thanks!
Posted 4/29/2011 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
1. don't mess with changing the pouch around, it is a pain and makes a horrible mess and there is no need at all. if you put on a closed end one and you need to empty you will have to take the whole thing off, and if you use a smaller one then you will have to empty more often. i just wear my regular bag, tucked up under like always and the little skirt on the bathing suit hides it perfectly. i do safety pin the top and the bottom of the suit together, on the opposite side of the bag, lol. but ive always done that, keeps it from riding up

2. you can stay in as long as you want, i stayed in 6 hours once, and spend 2 or 3 hours in the hottub lots of times, get sure seals!!! those keep the wafer from getting wet! if you don't have those it will probably shorten your wear time, but your bag shouldnt just fall off! my thought with the hot tub is that since i use the hair dryer to make it stick better the hottub probably works the same. if you dont have a sure seal on, its very very important that you get the wafer all the way dry, so youdon't get the itchies!

3. tips? take some immodium before hand, will keep you from having to empty as much, also use the gel tabs, they will thicken the output and it makes it easier to handle. other than that, have fun!!! hit the water slides (yes thats ok) the diving board, the hot tub, lay out in the sun, and have a few drinks! :D
Posted 4/29/2011 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
I put a clean pouch on after swimming and also clean the inner ring with some tissue then snap the clean pouch on. I also use some hydracolloid strips from salts as an extra precaution to keep the base plate firmly on. If you do swim a lot you will go through a few pouches but its well worth it. I loved being able to do those things through the summer. It was wonderful being able to go into the surf as well without the worry of my pouch coming off. Enjoy!!
Doreen
Posted 4/29/2011 12:25 PM (GMT 0)
I never change pouches for swimming/hot tub, seems like too much hassle and no need but then again I wear a bikini top and surf shorts.

I have spent all day at water parks and been in and out of the water without a problem including the water slides. I normally change the bag and wafer if I have been in water all day when I get home or back to hotel room if on holiday. If it is only a few hours then don't bother.

Immodium is good idea to slow output down, less time emptying means more time on the slides :)
Posted 4/29/2011 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
I have tried taking Imodium and it stops my output for 20 minutes at the most. Not sure what I am doing wrong. I take it on an empty stomach, but maybe I just need to take more. I have only tried one tablet.

Stripey- when you wear your board shorts and bikini, does the top of your pouch stick out of the top of the shorts? That used to be my preferred swimming combo, but when I tried my old board shorts on, my pouch definitely stuck out above the waistband. My new tankini covers that part up now, but I think I am going to miss wearing a bikini top:(

Thanks for the tips everyone!
Posted 4/29/2011 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
I did the change the pouch thing early on...but it's a hassle and there really isn't a technical reason too, just a personal one, so try the switching and if you don't like it, don't switch!

I also say SURE SEALS...they are amazing:):) go to www.alpglobal.com if you haven't requested samples yet!
Posted 4/29/2011 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
My tankini bottom does hide my bag but not my scar and I'm too fat for a bikini anyway so I don't wear a bikini top
Posted 4/29/2011 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Blueheron, I suppose it depends on how high up your stoma is. Mine is about 3 inches below my belly button so even if the very top of bag sticks out I just fold that bit under the top of the shorts. Oh and I wear bikini bottoms underneath the shorts so I have something to tuck the end of the bag into so it isn't hanging down.

Also the immodium, it never used to work for me but then read a study that recommended taking it 30 mins before eating and that seems to work much better and I always take 2 tablets at a time as 1 doesn't seem to do anything.

My scar does come above my shorts but my surgeon very kindly angled it to the right just above the belly button as I had a dolphn tattoo done over my belly button after first surgery. Even though the scar has been used 3 times now it has paled right away and so cannot really see it unless you are a coupke of metres away so I don't worry about it.
Posted 4/30/2011 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
I never change out the bag before/after I go swimming, and I've had no major problems. I find the single-use bags to be bothersome and not worth it. I do put waterproof tape around the edge of the wafer to help it stay on. I've been snorkeling, surfing and swimming for extended periods of time and have loved every minute of it! I used to wear a one-piece bathing suit because there was NO way that I was ever going to be able to wear a bikini again... but then I bought a tankini and wear my ostomy secrets wrap and it works GREAT! so much more comfortable than a one piece.
The one time I went surfing, by the end of it my wafer was a little bit loose. But I suspect that's because I had been wearing it a few days already, and I got really tossed around.
Waiting a couple of hours to swim after eating is probably a good idea (though I never seem to time it right, and its okay)
I wear the convatec convex durhesive wafer with an Eakin Seal. So far, that has worked the best for me, but I'm still experimenting. I am determined to find the best, high-performance wafer so that I can be really active and not have to worry about it.
Good luck, and let us know what works best for you - any additional tips are always helpful!!
Posted 4/30/2011 8:59 PM (GMT 0)

summerstorm:

 

How do those sureseals work and where can I get some samples?

 

I use presently, a Hollister wafer with a tape border.....I've asked for similar ones without the tape border.....how do the sureseals go on the wafer? 

 

Thanks,

enigma

summerstorm said...
1. don't mess with changing the pouch around, it is a pain and makes a horrible mess and there is no need at all. if you put on a closed end one and you need to empty you will have to take the whole thing off, and if you use a smaller one then you will have to empty more often. i just wear my regular bag, tucked up under like always and the little skirt on the bathing suit hides it perfectly. i do safety pin the top and the bottom of the suit together, on the opposite side of the bag, lol. but ive always done that, keeps it from riding up

2. you can stay in as long as you want, i stayed in 6 hours once, and spend 2 or 3 hours in the hottub lots of times, get sure seals!!! those keep the wafer from getting wet! if you don't have those it will probably shorten your wear time, but your bag shouldnt just fall off! my thought with the hot tub is that since i use the hair dryer to make it stick better the hottub probably works the same. if you dont have a sure seal on, its very very important that you get the wafer all the way dry, so youdon't get the itchies!

3. tips? take some immodium before hand, will keep you from having to empty as much, also use the gel tabs, they will thicken the output and it makes it easier to handle. other than that, have fun!!! hit the water slides (yes thats ok) the diving board, the hot tub, lay out in the sun, and have a few drinks! :D

Posted 5/1/2011 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Stripey- my stoma is 2.5 inches below my belly button, so the top of the wafer does stick up a bit above my shorts. I think the Ostomy Secrets Swim Wrap will cover this area nicely. My scar stops just above my belly button and is fairly wide and red due to having to heal my incision open, but I really don't care if anyone sees it. I honestly really don't care if my pouch showed a tiny bit either... I just worry about people being judgemental and thinking I shouldn't be in the pool with an ostomy because it might leak all over, which we all know is a ridiculous falsehood.

JHCH3- I have tried the Convatec Natura Durahesive wafers and Invisiclose pouches a few times over the past month... also with an Eakin Ring. I am thinking this may be my system. The wafer is so comfortable. Gone are the little red pimple things I always get around the outer edge of my Coloplast wafers (maybe because they are made of plastic and don't bend with my body as well???). The tape on the Convatec is so soft and form-fitting and moves with my body during active pursuits. It seems like it would take a lot to get them to peel off. In fact, I actually had to use some adhesive remover for the first time to remove them. Glad to hear you are having luck with them. I may just try waterproof tape next week around the wafer next week too, as I don't have any Sure Seals.
Posted 5/1/2011 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Enigma I'm not good at explaining them but its kind of like sticky saran wrap. You know those clear things they sometimes put over an iv to keep it down? Looks like a big clear bandaid! Its kind of like that. I don't know where you could get samples at I just ordered some and they are great!
Posted 5/1/2011 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
I swim 3-4 times a week and I can usually get away with 2 swim days before wafer is wasted. It seems to depend how much I sweat,as to when the wafer is used up.

I find if I am in hot tub too long things have gotten very soft and could slide or have real problems.

I keep everything the same in water as out. I could not afford to change everything all the time.

Eakins seals are great unless the water gets under and can't dry well. Have fun!!!! Yeah for "kinda normal" life!
Posted 5/1/2011 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Blueheron, try the convatec mouldable wafers, they are so comfy as you don't cut them to fit the have a collar that fits snugly around the stoma and moves with the body so no digging in. Also you don't need to use paste, seals or anything else with it. Ask convatec for some samples, they sent me out 5 of them and after the first one was so converted change my prescription order to them.
Posted 5/2/2011 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
I got some samples of the Convatec moldables, but they won't fit my stoma right. My stoma is a 1.5 x 1 inch oval, so the moldable fits from left to right on my stoma, but leaves an 1/8 inch of exposed skin on the top and bottom. The next size down is then too small. The Convatec rep confirmed that the moldables won't work for folks with this dimension of stoma. Too bad, as they look great.
Posted 5/2/2011 11:59 AM (GMT 0)
That's a shame. Luckily my stoma is near enough and perfect circle so they fit brilliantly. Wonder if they'll make an oval one at some point for stomas like yours, you could email them and suggest it, you never know it may prompt them to think about it.
Posted 5/2/2011 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I went for my swim this morning. It was amazing and everything held up perfectly. I swam for about an hour and then spent 20 minutes in the hot tub. I hadn't received my Ostomy Secrets swim wrap in the mail yet, so I just wore my Comfizz briefs under my swimsuit bottoms and they covered up the portion of my pouch that sticks above the waistband very well too.

When I got home after swimming, it was my usual time to change my pouch. The tape was still firmly attached to my belly all the way around, even with no Sure Seal. I think the warmth of the hot tub had made my wafer fuse to my skin even more. I had to really work to peel the non-tape, inner part of the Convatec Durahesive wafer off. Guess that answers my question about hot tubs being okay!

The water slide part of the pool wasn't open so early in the morning, so I am going to go again on Thursday afternoon when it is. I think I am going to turn into a fish this summer once it is warm enough for the outdoor pool to open.
Posted 5/2/2011 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats blueheron! I can't wait to go swimming myself, it's my favorite kind of exercise. I see my surgeon on Fri, and I'm hoping so much that she'll say I can let the butt wound close and start swimming and bathing soon. Not counting on it, but a girl can dream.
Posted 5/3/2011 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
I posted the website for Sure Seals higher up in this thread...www.alpglobal.com

you can request samples. They will send 2 with instructions. There is a learning curve but don't get discouraged they ARE worth it!

Glad the swim went well Blueheron!
Posted 5/4/2011 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
I noticed everyone is mentioning the pool and hot tubs, but does anyone here have any experience with going to the beach? I am going in for my first surgery on May 25th and I hope I'll eventually be able to go to the beach this summer. I was wondering if there would be some sort of issues with the salt water and waves.
Posted 5/5/2011 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
me me!!! :D
i went to the beach the year i got mine, i got it in april, went in july, i was so happy to finally get to see my son on the beach!
i was worried about the waves too, but i jumped them and had no problem, the only thing was that you know how the water is all sticky in the ocean? i hadn't found sure seals yet and my wafer felt sticky and i felt like i had sand in the fabric of my bag, which wasn't really a big deal, i just dealt and then changed on our last day. wen went another time too, and i didn't have any trouble that time either.
you won't be able to go for probably 4-6 weeks until your incision heals, depending on how it does.
Posted 5/5/2011 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
When I go to the beach after I've finished I make sure that I shower off in clean water and it gets rid of the sticky feeling and the sand out of the bag fabric. If no shower available then I have a large bottle of clean water and rinse my hair (or that ends of sticky and out of control) and pour some down my surf shorts just to rinse around the bag and have proper shower when I get back to hotel/room.
Posted 5/5/2011 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
Haha, I am not going to want to wait 4-6 weeks. But I will obviously do that anyways, don't want to mess with the healing. It's good to hear that going to the beach isn't a big deal, though. I was worried about rough waves.

Thank you, summerstorm and stripey :]
Posted 5/6/2011 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
there is a guy who is a pro surfer who has either an ostomy.
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