Ostomy
You can eat whatever you want if you have an ostomy
Have a favorite dish? If you've been given the OK from your doctor to resume your regular diet, eat what you like. If you have a colostomy or ileostomy, you'll find that various foods affect your digestive tract differently. Just as some foods gave you gas before your surgery, you'll likely experience gas with certain foods now that you have an ostomy. While you may choose to eat gas-causing foods sparingly or only at times when the gas won't make you self-conscious — such as when you're at home, rather than at work — it doesn't mean you shouldn't eat gas-causing foods. Certain foods are more likely to cause gas, diarrhea, constipation, incomplete digestion or urine odor. But which ones have these effects on you will depend on your own body. If you're unsure how foods will affect you, consider trying them at home, one at a time, before eating them with a group of friends. Understanding how each food affects your digestion means you'll spend less time worrying about the food's effects and more time having fun with your friends.
You can participate in sports if you have an ostomy
Unless your favorite hobby is a contact sport with lots of potential for injury, you'll be free to go back to the activities you enjoy after you heal from ostomy surgery. The only danger is injury to your stoma, which means rough sports may be out. But if you want to continue these pursuits, ask your doctor or ostomy nurse about special products you can use and precautions you can take to protect your stoma during these activities. Check with your doctor before you begin lifting weights after your surgery. Your doctor or an ostomy nurse might recommend a support device to support your abdomen. If you're nervous that running, swimming or other athletic activity will loosen your ostomy bag and cause a leak, use a special belt or binder to hold your ostomy bag in place. Check with your local medical supply store or look online for specialty products for active people with ostomies.
You can go back to work if you have an ostomy
You'll need time after your surgery to heal and recover, but you can eventually go back to work. You might choose to ease back into work or talk with your employer about a more limited schedule until you feel more confident with your ostomy. Tell your doctor if your line of work involves manual labor or lots of lifting. He or she may recommend ways to keep your stoma protected at work. Consider going back to work once you're feeling well. If you're nervous about caring for your ostomy at work, talk to your doctor or an ostomy nurse. Don't let your nerves get the best of you. Going back to work is a good way to transition back to a normal routine, and working again can make you feel good about yourself.
You can hide your ostomy
To you, the ostomy bag attached to you is painfully obvious. When you look in the mirror, you notice the bag under your clothes. You might think every gurgle and noise coming from your stoma is loud and heard by everyone in the room. Most people won't notice your ostomy unless you tell them about it. As you get used to your ostomy, you'll figure out tips and tricks to keep the bag hidden and the noises to a minimum. Here are some ideas to get you started: Empty your ostomy bag when it gets to be one-third full. That way it won't bulge under your clothes. Work with your ostomy nurse to find the ostomy pouching system that works best for you. If you're worried about the odor when emptying your ostomy bag, ask your ostomy nurse or visit your medical supply store for pouch deodorants or air sprays to minimize odor.
You can wear whatever you want if you have an ostomy
No clothing is off limits if you have an ostomy. However, your individual body contour and your stoma's location may make some clothes less comfortable. For instance, tight waistbands or belts might feel restrictive over your stoma. Be open to experimenting with different styles of clothes. But don't let your ostomy keep you from wearing tightfitting clothes or even your bathing suit. Look into ostomy swimsuits and trunks, which can be found through specialty retailers.
You can go wherever you want if you have an ostomy
It will take some pre-trip planning, but having an ostomy shouldn't prevent you from traveling. Bring extra ostomy supplies and pack them in both your carry-on and checked bags. Cut your ostomy bags ahead of time so that you won't need scissors. Consider carrying a statement from your doctor about your ostomy. This note might explain why you have an ostomy and ask airport security screeners to respect your privacy during searches. If you're traveling to a foreign country, the International Ostomy Association can help you translate important ostomy information into the language of the country you'll be visiting. This could be helpful in an emergency.
You can have sex and intimate relationships if you have an ostomy
You'll need time to recover after surgery. And depending on what type of ostomy surgery you had, you may experience some temporary sexual side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and vaginal dryness. But sexual intimacy can continue if you have an ostomy. If you feel less attractive with your ostomy, take your return to intimacy slowly. Maybe you aren't ready to have sex right away. Discuss this with your partner. Suggest starting with touching and kissing. Your partner can help make you feel more comfortable and reassure you that you are just as attractive with an ostomy.
Take steps before sex or intimacy to make you feel more confident. Empty and clean your ostomy pouch. Check the seal to make sure it's tight. Use an opaque pouch or try a pouch cover. Lingerie and cummerbunds made to conceal a pouch or hold it in place are available from specialty retailers. Ask your ostomy nurse about companies that sell these products.
Certain aspects of sex may change with an ostomy. You might find that some sexual positions put pressure on your ostomy and are uncomfortable. Experiment with new positions, such as lying on your side.
A woman who's had her colon and rectum removed may experience a different sensation during vaginal penetration. The lack of cushioning from the colon and rectum may cause discomfort. But intimacy can continue if you're willing to experiment to find other ways to make you feel comfortable during sex.
People with ostomies who don't have partners often worry about when to tell new boyfriends or girlfriends about their ostomies. That's up to you. Some people feel more comfortable getting it out in the open right away; others want to get to know and trust a potential partner first. Do what feels right for you. Know that rejection is possible, and give new partners time to consider what an ostomy means to your relationship. Answer questions openly and honestly.
Credit: National Institute of Health.