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Hobby options with an ostomy

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Posted 6/18/2013 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
I've had my ostomy for 12 years (as of Monday - happy anniversery to me!). To date, my life has consisted of running my son around to his various sports activities.  It has finally occurred to me that I should have some hobbies of my own. 

In my hay day, I was quite the athelete - 3 sport letterman in HS., got Basketball and Softball scholarships for college - then.... Crohn's happened.  Anyway, I'm trying to figure out things that I can do as a hobby.  I enjoy running, but don't know that I can get into the 1/2 marathon or the like... with the bag, I have to time my excercising to coincide with at least 24 hours post change. 

Does anyone have any hints how to avoid the loosening of the tape with sweat? 

Does anyone have any hints to deal with the sweat and the bag... or any cool/cheap ideas for a hobby that I could start???

Bridge

Posted 6/18/2013 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Have you experienced that running when a wafer is less than 24 hours old affects the seal? I try not to shower or exercise for 2-3 hours post-change, but after that it's all fair game... Anyway, if you change twice a week and really need to not exercise for 24 hours after each change, that's two rest days per week which is a typical schedule for all but really hardcore athletes.

I wrote a little bit about dealing with sweat on my blog the other day, but basically I use a little powder under the wafer, change slightly more frequently (every three days instead of twice a week), and I make sure to strip out of my sweaty clothes and take a quick shower as soon as I'm done so the sweat isn't trapped against my skin for longer than necessary. I didn't take those precautions when I started running with my ostomy and ended up with a tiny fungal infection, but it went away completely with a few applications of anti-fungal powder under my wafer.

As far as dressing, I either wear a tight spandex top or high rise pants to keep the bag pressed up against my body/not bouncing, or I wear a maternity belly band around the bag under my workout clothes for the same purpose. Of course I avoid eating before my workout and empty the bag completely before I go out... it usually stays pretty empty. I think someone here posted once that she found that during intense exercise her output stopped, then "caught up" when she stopped.

Hope this helps!
Posted 6/18/2013 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
Pluot -

My experience has been at least 24 hours post change to shower or excercise... what supplies do you use?> I have the sure seal over the regular appliance and any amount of moisture prior to 24 hours post change has a pretty big impact on the adhesion.
Look forward to hearing what your process is and what you use....

Bridge
Posted 6/18/2013 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
I don't see any reason to wait 24 hours. I usually change late at night so I'm not exercising right away anyway, but its not usually 24 hours before I shower or exercise.
I'm not a runner, pred wrecked my knees. So I do insanity, tap out, combat and insane asylum. I just switch up to what I feel like. I just wear my regular workout clothes. I empty before I start that's usually good. The only time I might empty during is in two of the tapes where its the superman pose for about 5 minutes!
The sweat doesn't seem to affect it, but I live where it is humid and hot the majority of the time. So I'm used to it.
I don't use any powders or anything either.
Posted 6/18/2013 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bridgie, I wear a Hollister two-piece click. I use powder if necessary, no-sting prep wipe, Hollister adapt barrier ring applied directly to the skin, then wafer and pouch. No Sure Seal, and lately I've been wearing a belt due to a freak blowout caused by a blockage but got along fine without it in the past also. I hold my hand over the seal for a few minutes while I clean everything up to warm the adhesive and improve the seal, and I avoid twisting or bending for maybe half an hour, but other than that I'm good to go.

I think the most important thing is to find the brand of adhesive that really bonds like crazy with your skin. For me Hollister is bomb proof. I don't have to do anything special like using a blow dryer or applying crazy amounts of pressure. It's pretty much stick and go. I can shower or go for a run a few hours later with no apparent reduction in wear time.

I also tend to change my wafers way sooner than necessary. I've gone as long as five days in the past with my setup and didn't see significant breakdown on the ring, but I'm protective of my skin and prefer to change more frequently and worry less.

I feel a bit silly showing you my routine when you've had an ostomy literally 25 times as long as I have but here's a little video I recorded that shows my full routine: www.youtube.com/watch?v=26rpN2ECnQE. That was with my end ileostomy but with the loop it's pretty much the same (just a lot faster).

I also LOVE riding my bike for exercise -- might be a little easier on the seal as there's less bouncing up and down. I don't do anything special when I ride my bike in terms of keeping the pouch in place, just my normal clothes do the job fine.
Posted 6/18/2013 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't had my ileostomy for very long, just over 3 months, but I have had no problems with exercising/sweating so far. I use a few different systems, and haven't found the need to wait to shower or exercise after changing the wafer. I do usually change late at night, but am always active the next morning and showering before heading off to work. All I use under my wafer is a little paste. Once or twice I've noticed that if I've really been sweating excessively I might need to change a day early, but nothing I've done seems to have a huge or immediate impact on the adhesion of my wafer. I do use wafers that do NOT have tape edges, but don't think that would make any difference. What brand of wafers/pouches are you currently using?
Posted 6/18/2013 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
The 3M Medipore flesh colored 1" tape is very skin friendly and adheres very well and is very gentle to remove. My husband is allergic to the outer adhesives. We live in Florida and he changes on Wed and Sundays (could go the week easily but prefers 2x a week as his skin likes this set up) and he uses that tape on the top area and inside area of the wafer. He does this as those are the 2 areas that showed any kind of lifting in the past but it really isn't an issue but he does it more for peace of mind.

I am guessing if you use this tape and picture frame around the wafer's outer edge that will help give you extra security.
Posted 6/20/2013 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Back to Hobbies.....

I treated my self to a really nice camera after surgery, and used it for an excuse to get back in shape. hike and bike and take pictures. Now I found I love it so much I am learning my second career!

http://paulbatchelderphotography.com/

Posted 6/20/2013 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm, I'm trying to think of how my ostomy has affected my hobby choices. I'll still go white water kayaking. I will still do taekwondo, although since my ostomy is temporary I'm taking a break on sparring. If it was permanent, I would look into guards and talk with my doc.

I still life weights, I'm starting to run. There are three things that I would like to do that I don't. 1) I would like to try crossfit, but I don't want a hernia. 2) certain abdominal exercises like crunches 3) getting in a pool/jacuzzi

The pool jacuzzi thing is not because of the ostomy itself, but rather the fact that I generally have broken skin and I'm on Humira.
Posted 6/20/2013 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
I've had my ostomy for 24+ years and never have had a problem with the tape loosening.  I do use a skin prep by Smith and Nephew and make sure my skin is completely dry before putting on the wafer. 

 

I also will wear a spandex control garment.  It's made by Vassarette and it's called Undershapers.  I get mine at Walmart.  It doesn't block the stoma from producing the output but keeps the appliance secure.  I also have a parastomal hernia and this helps support that, too.

 

I have a pool and swim all of the time, been snorkling, etc. and have never had a problem so this might help with the running issue too.  I do wear an Undershaper under my bathing suit.

 

Hobbies, I love gardening and do a lot of that and I also do genealogy.  That is extremely facinating for me.

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/22/2013 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
I am pretty active...run, kayak, ride horses.

I swear by Sure Seals. I change about every 6 days and only use Friars Balsam (compound of benzoine tincture) under my wafer --thanks PolishDan!!--

Have you tried other appliances? I've tried them all and found Coloplast Sensura EW with a Sure Seal really holds up to my activity level. If you don't need convexity Cymed might work!

Have you checked out your local rec department? You might find a few different activities to 'to try before you buy' :-)
Posted 6/23/2013 7:49 AM (GMT 0)
I'm doing a lot of aerobic classes and circuits. With the increased sweating wear time is reduced to 3 days, I noticed. But never had a leak though, with me the barrier ring seem to disintegrate faster. I started with salts slim seals, then tried Eakins which were disintegrating faster, I'm now using hollister a adapt, which give the longest weartime. With the sweating I tend to use a soap or mild shower gel ( Nivea sensitive) to wash my skin under the barrier. This freshens it up and reduces itching. Also my stoma nurse suggested using a mild perspirant, non- alcoholic deodorant roll-on, leaving it to dry before you add the pouch. Havent't tried this yet, but was wondering if anyone has tried this on the forum.
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