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Ileostomy surgery due next year

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Posted 9/1/2013 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hello. I am new to this site having found it on Google. I'm a 36 year old male and have had UC for 16 years. I've managed it fairly well over that time but have had the inevitable time off work and the detrimental affect on my personal life to some degree. Following a nasty flare up and hospital admission a couple of months ago I've decided to elect for surgery and get a permanent stoma. I'm just sick and tired of the UC governing my life so much. Other than the normal worries of coping with the aftermath of the surgery and learning to manage the stoma I'm confident I'm making the right decision for me and my family (amazing wife and 2 beautiful daughters). One of my major concerns, and I feel quite foolish and selfish for thinking about it, is how physically active I can be with a stoma. I've done Judo since I was 10 years old and really enjoy it. I'm very average so it wouldn't be the end of the world if I had to quit for good. (The UC has led to many lengthy layoffs in any case). I know there are stoma guards etc out there but how practical are they really? I would really love to hear from people with stomas to find out what I can realistically do with one. Thanks in advance. Jon.
Posted 9/2/2013 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome, Jon! I've had a permanent ileostomy for 7 years and don't have any restrictions. I have so much more energy since I'm not sick anymore, so I work out at the gym, swim, and can lay on my stomach to do push ups, yoga, etc. I've never tried a stoma guard, but maybe someone here has used one and can give feedback on how well it works. This is a great forum for asking any questions you may have. I'm glad you found us!

Cecilia
Posted 9/2/2013 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Yup. Everyone is going to chime in here positively. As soon as you've recovered from surgery, you can do everything you were doing before and whatever else you think of doing. You no longer have to think about getting sick again, and you never will. Just that in itself is totally amazing.
Posted 9/2/2013 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going to come in with a slightly different perspective. I think the guards are good for impact type things but I don't know how they would do with the friction the occurs with judo - particularly when you are laying on someone or someone is laying on you. If you twist, etc will the friction cause the belt to slip sideways so that it's not on your stoma?

This seems to be the most durable ostomy armor out there... http://www.ostomyarmor.com/ They have lots of testimonials.

I think the best thing is to go back slowly (which you will have to do anyway!!) and see what happens.
Posted 9/3/2013 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
You have UC, I suggest forgetting the permanent stoma and going for a j-pouch where this will not be a worry.
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