Athletes w/ Perm. Ileo!

Hi JM,
When I had my surgery I was a dancer at Disney World for my full time job. I was able to go back to work just 5 weeks after the surgery, and could have gone back sooner if I wasn't so busy putting muscle back on because I had been so sick. I am able to do everything I could do before the surgery. The only thing I am weary of because of hernias are situps and heavy costumes that sit right at the stoma site (I had two costumes for the light parade that were huge 40 pound skirts with lights and batteries in them), so I stay away from those. Prior to returning to work, I started with bike riding (once my butt wound healed from having my rectum removed!) and walking or doing an elliptical. I lifted weights for my arms and did some leg weights as well. Swimming was also a good way to get my strength back.

I use Hollister...I don't think there is one that's necessarily better than the others; it depends on your body and stuff. The only thing I'd say is to get an extended wear one becuase that'll help if you get sweaty or go swimming or something.

I don't have any websites really except this one! :) Glad you're on the road to recovery!!

Stephanie

I use convatec natura bags and the flexible flanges with mouldable collar. The only exercises I avoid are contact sports, so had to give up water polo which I did miss as was in ladies county team (UK) and exercises that strain the stomach muscles like sit ups. Everything else was fine. After my second surgery I went skiing 4 weeks later, probably not best idea as was completely knackered but gave me something to aim for, surgeon wasn't best pleased as hadn't been back for my post op check up before I went. Oops.

Not sure what sports you like to do, but I am sure they will be possible with an ileostomy. I love doing many athletic pursuits including rock climbing, trail running, biking, backpacking, skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering. My surgeon assured me I would be able to do all these things with an ileostomy.

I can't speak from the perspective of having an ileostomy for a long time, as I just got mine in November. I am just now starting to get back into my sports again, as I had several abdominal incision complications. Just when I would feel good enough to perhaps start hiking again, boom, another incision complication would pop up. However, after 4 months, I was finally fully healed and my surgeon gave me the go ahead to do all the athletic things I love (except rock climbing... he told me to ease into that one but I will definitely be able to do it at some point). He just said to listen to my body, but not to be too fearful either. I asked him at my final appointment in mid-march if I could get a ski pass for next year's season. He laughed and said, why not try to finish up this season? I was shocked as I never in my wildest imagination thought I would be boarding this spring. To get stronger, I started off slowly, hiking short distances etc., but honestly, my body started to feel so good and healthy that it was hard to hold myself back. I got exponentially stronger everyday it seemed. I went snowboarding at around 5 months (and just got back from a second snowboarding trip today). I also did an overnight backpacking trip at 5 months and 8 days:). I just tried to not overdue it with these activities at first. For instance, I chose easier terrain to board in... or when I backpacked, I kept my load lighter and my hubby helped lift my pack onto my back. Eventually, I will be able to do these things at full strength, but for now, I am just taking it a little easier. My surgeon also said to ease into the ab workout sort of stuff, so I haven't been doing much of that yet. I am going to start hiking some harder peaks in the upcoming weeks, and am going on a three day backpacking trip in early summer and a longer one in the fall. Also, I have had no issues with appliances leaking or falling off during any of my activities so far. One does have to empty, but it isn't a huge deal. For instance, snowboarding today, I emptied once before I left home at 6:30 a.m., once mid-morning when we took a short break at the lodge, once after lunch and then once when I got home at 5 p.m. Very easy to manage! On my backpack trip I did have to get up to empty in the middle of the night which was a bit of a pain, but oh well. At least I was able to do what I loved again, strong and healthy. For whatever sport you do, you will be able to adjust.

I do worry about hernias, but try not to let that anxiety stop me. My surgeon told me that since I had some incision complications (mine totally opened up through the muscle layer two weeks after my initial surgery, and I had to go back into surgery to get closed up again), I may have a slightly higher risk of getting an incisional hernia. However, after he saw how well things eventually healed up, he thought maybe it wouldn't be an issue. Still, I have been wearing a hernia support belt when going snowboarding and backpacking etc., just as a preventative. My belt is made by a company called NuHope (the flat panel nu-support model) and works wonderfully. The bad thing is that it is custom-designed to match the specific pouch you wear. I still don't know exactly what pouches I like. Per my nurse's recommendation, I was using the Coloplast one-pieces that I was sent home from the hospital with for four months when my incision was healing. So, I just ordered up the hernia belt to match those. Even though I am experimenting with other brands, I make sure to put on one of the one-piece Coloplast hospital pouches when I am planning to do something on the weekend where I might want to wear my hernia support belt. Once I know what appliance I like, I plan on ordering another belt to match that. They are pricey... around $100, but my insurance covered 80%. I also bought something called a "Sport Gard" from C&M Ostomy Supply which is a hard plastic dome on a belt that you place over the stoma to protect it. I haven't used it yet, but plan to when I start rock climbing again in the fall. There is also a product called "Ostomy Armor" that looks interesting, though I haven't bought one yet.

As I mentioned, still experimenting with brands, so I am not sure which ones I will like when I am doing more athletic things. I really do love the Coloplast pouches, but sometimes the wafers peel up a bit and they also irritate my skin around the outside edge occasionally. I recently tried a Convatec Sur-fit Natura Durahesive wafer and it stayed on amazingly well and when I took it off my skin looked perfect. I may end up staying with these as the wafers don't seem to peel up at all and look like they would fare well under my backpack belt and climbing harness. I am not a huge fan of the Convatec pouch as it seems to hang down so far compared to the Coloplast, but I could get used to it if I had to.

I wish there were more websites about doing sports with an ostomy. I haven't found much yet. There is a good site called "IDEAS- Intestinal Disease and Education Society" that features some stories about athletes, especially in the realm of the outdoors.
http://www.weneedideas.com

There is also a website called "Great Comebacks" which features some profiles of folks that do sports and some videos too.
http://www.greatcomebacks.com/Home.aspx

I have really enjoyed subscribing to the Phoenix Magazine put out by the UOAA. It features some wonderful articles about folks with ostomies doing all sorts of amazing things.
http://www.phoenixuoaa.org/

Wishing you the best with your surgery!

Aloha Blueheron,
Thanks for the post, I have no problems with skin, my wife found some device that eliminates hair so that was really helpful, I still use a razor just in case. my real problem is making them last, for Hawaii it seems to correspond to the humidity levels, but still work outs are a problem.

Upper body is no difficulty, I'll put a rolled piece of paper towels under the bag, this absorbs the moisture, baby powder works just messy, smells pretty girly.

Aloha JMCH3, well first off great attitude on going in. As for all my surgeries, start with lots of deep breathing, then exercise just beyond the discomfort level and back off, it's a matter of consistency and diet. Power your proteins first thing in the AM, big breakfasts. Stay away from too much meat, or cheese and dairy as this will lower PH< the higher your PH the fast your will heal.
When I had my surgery in 77 they didn't do internal, but honestly it seemed like a real hassle to me, they did have Electric lights for the surgery though:)
I got into Karate (Kenpo) soon after my surgery, the confidence factor alone is worth all the effort, highly recommended. I was somewhat of an anomaly back in 77 as not a lot of these surgeries being done, one of the many blessings I received (they were all blessings) was being able to eat ANYTHING, especially very spicy food:) In short, do everything except perhaps model bikini briefs for GQ.

Now, if you ever do get a blockage, like after eating 2 bowls of Shredded Wheat after a night of beers. drink a big ol gulp of olive oil and..................wait. Peanut butter also works but not too fast, don't panic, just don't do it again:) I learned my lesson with that particular cereal. Bless the Lord I had a very practical mom, very bright woman or I'd have been screwed.
You'll do great, work out as much as possible eat very healthy, the one nice thing about an ostomy, about 5-10 min after you eat something good for you, you feel it. Most don't so cannot really connect to, or distinguish as readily, healthy vs unhealthy foods.
Maybe the above makes sense perhaps not, hopefully so.

Blessings from Lahaina,
James