Couple of questions about illostomy

 Well I've got two questions.

I had my surgery for the illostomy in July and it's not reversable due to colon cancer.

My Doctor cleared me to start working out again and since I started I've been getting pain along the lower half of my scar from the surgery. I think it's just from working out and using the muscles again but just wonder if anyone has had the same thing happen.

Doctor checked and couldn't find anything wrong and gave me the advice to stop working out but I need to get back in shape again. Working out is good for my body and mind so won't give it up.

Second thing is about what you can eat. They told me not to eat raw veggies or any kind of nut because it could cause a blockage.

But I can't see not eating salads or raw veggies the rest of the time so once again if anyone has some advice on that I'd greatly appriecate it. I've read all the stuff they give you on what to eat and what not but it's very vague.

Thanks to all that reply

Cornhusker

Sue,

Thank you for the advice. I do the walking but have been a weight lifter all my life and that's the part I don't want to give up. I'm trying to take it slow and see if I work thru it and with time the pain will go away.

I'll take the advice on the food and remember that I'm part of the hundred times chew club now and that you must drink plenty of water with it.

Once again thank you very much

Kurt

CornHusker: keep in mind that every muscle in your lower abdomen was probably cut if you have a long incision. That's going to take some time to heal - possibly a year to heal fully. Take it sssslllloowww - getting back in shape is great but you don't want to end up having more surgery because of over doing it! Good luck.

I asked about the food at the dr the other day, and he said, no popcorn or nuts. And that it would be best not to eat a whole head of cabbage at one time, but that veggies are fine in moderation! Which sounds great to me, since because of UC I haven't had any veggies (excpet while pregnant) in almost 8 years.

hey cornhusker!! i had my surgery this past newyears eve. when i started working out again around mid feb i felt that funny feeling under my scars and around my stoma. for the first couple weeks i did all my exercises every other day with no weights, or a max of 5lbs dumbells in each hand. then at the beginning of march i started pushing myself. i'm up to 75lbs on the benchpress and can do 20 male-style pushups. that's a 100% gain in less then a month on the benchpress, and at the beginning of the month i was having trouble doing more then one female-style pushup.

i think the key is just to start slow, get those muscles used to moving again, then start adding weight. i'm trying to avoid using my lower abs directly yet, although i've just started doing some small situps, maybe up to 20* with 20lbs. i'm not about to attempt any situps on my incline bench though. and i've just started doing some deadlifts, i'm up to 60lbs, that's a 100% gain after a week.

and as was mentioned you can exercise your abs indirectly too. some things to do:

-shoulder shrug, but lean forward 30*
-standing bent over flys. if you want more stress on the abs, just lean forward more
-bent over flattener. more stress, lean forward
-flys, the more reps you do, the more you'll feel it in the abs
-bent over row
-deadlift, more weight/reps for more stress
-bridge with dumbell, more weight or reps for more stress

if your butt is healed up enough you could do some squat variations too, i just listed the above off 'cause i think those are the most beneficial. pretty much anything exercises your abs tho...heck, everytime you walk through a doorway suck in your gut, that'll help too! once you get strong enough you'll be able to do some pushups, reverse leg lifts, situps etc.

anyway hope this helps a bit

--matt

hi there and just like to say its still early day s so working out could very well give you a surgical hernia if you do stomach exercise , hope by now its' all settleed for you and would love to see an update
hugs
chip girl