Colostomy: Living an Active Life

You may have been told you need a colostomy or you may have recently been given one. Once you heal from surgery, you can still live an active life. In fact, if you had a chronic disease such as Crohn’s disease, your quality of life may be better now than before surgery. In most cases, it is your choice how much having a colostomy limits your life.

Work

You can return to work as soon as your surgeon says it is OK. Keep in mind that having a colostomy is not a handicap. People with colostomies do all kinds of work. This includes jobs that are outdoors and physical, as well as jobs that require a lot of standing or sitting. In fact, some athletes and movie stars have colostomies.

• If your work involves heavy labor, such as lifting or digging, talk with your healthcare provider. You may need to wear a special support to prevent a hernia. A hernia is a weakness or defect in the wall of the belly that allows the contents of the belly to push outward.

• If you move a lot in your work, you may want to wear an ostomy belt over the pouch to hold it in place.

Activity

You can most likely get back to your normal routine soon after surgery. This includes doing the sports and hobbies you may love, such as playing golf, doing aerobics, skiing, dancing, or taking walks. Being active is a good way to relieve stress and stay healthy. It can help you feel better about yourself, too. Until you have your strength back, ease back into being active. If you do a contact sport, such as football or karate, or lift weights, you may need to wear a special support or cover to protect your stoma. Talk to your wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurse. A WOC nurse is specially trained to care for ostomy patients. You'll need to limit your activity for 6 weeks after surgery to prevent a hernia from forming and remain mindful of breathing during exertion. 

Bathing and swimming

Water will not hurt your stoma. You can take showers and baths, with or without the pouch. You can also go swimming. Pouches do not show under most swimwear. Some tips:

• Women often prefer to wear one-piece swimsuits with patterns or skirts.

• Men often prefer boxer-type trunks.

• If you would like, commercial swim ostomy wraps are available for purchase.

Clothing

Today’s pouches lie flat against the body. That means they do not show, even under tight clothing. You can wear knits, belts, stretch pants—anything you like. Women can wear pantyhose, tights, and panty girdles. Just make sure that belts and waistbands do not rub against your stoma.

Travel 

With a colostomy, you can most likely still travel where you would like, but you will need to take all your supplies with you.

• If you fly, pack your supplies in your carry-on luggage.

• If you drive, do not put supplies in the trunk or glove compartment. They can get hot and melt.

• Fasten your seatbelt above or below your stoma to avoid rubbing.

• In other countries, watch what you eat and drink. Avoid ice, tap water, and unpeeled fruits and vegetables. Drink only bottled water or boil tap water and let it cool. These dietary changes may affect how your bowel functions. 

Resources

United Ostomy Associations of America: http://www.ostomy.org/Home.html

Ostomy Travel Tips: http://www.ostomy.org/Ostomy_Travel_Tips.html