Staying Fit with a Stoma

There is so much trouble and problems with the world that it is mind-boggling.  I am also shocked at how the world has changed in 2021.  Going to the gym a year ago was a normal thing, but now especially if you have a medical condition it is supposed to be tabo.  A few years ago I was having a conversation with a friend who was set to get ostomy surgery.  He was scared, just like we all are when we find out that surgery is on the horizon. I didn't blame him at all and thought it funny that his first thought was that he would never find a gym to work out in with an ostomy.  His first thoughts were that he would be too embarrassed to work out in front of people or that they would not let him work out. I totally get it.  I actually laughed at him and with him and said that if that is really your only problem then life is pretty good.  He is a huge fitness enthusiast and eventually started to laugh as he grasped the reality of the situation that life was still good.  Indeed, I was able to let him know that working out was not going to be a problem just because he had an ostomy.  Now in today's age, he would be a bit more scared because of the ability to get COVID-19 in the gym.

But it is ok to hit the gym and to work out even with a stoma.  There are a few things to know and one is that if you have a stoma now that you are more prone to getting a hernia.  Common knowledge I know, but it is good to get it out in the open just in case.  It also means that for most people their life pretty much stays the same.  I was able to let him know that just a few years ago a person who had an ostomy ended up doing an iron man competition.  If an individual can actually train that hard and be able to accomplish such a task then, he was going to be able to find a gym. The biggest fear was rather normal.  He was afraid that having a bag with his waste attached to him would get in the way and would end up causing an accident.  His greatest fear was being that guy who drops the weights, but not just that but dropping the worst-case scenario possible on the weight lifting floor. 

Gear is the key to it all.  The technological boom did not pass the ostomy gear selection in 2021.  Instead, there are amazing companies that are thriving and getting lots of innovation in the stoma world.  Now you can enjoy a beach trip and do the hard lawn work without having to worry about the gear failing.  Now each person has a different body and something works better for others. So finding the right products for you is a journey.  Listen to your ostomy nurse and surgeon.  Then go and call up the big online manufactures and let them know what you do on a daily and ask what has worked well for others who do the same.  Then go ask your local pharmacist.  These people buy products that work for their customers and have heard lots of feedback over the years.  Just go looking and you will find what you need.

Get online. I try to find people who live lifestyles like mine or that I aspire to live and see how they deal with situations.  I have learned many little tips and tricks and habits from watching others live and fail.  Learn from others and thrive.