Living with a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy
Learning to adjust to your life with an ostomy may seem overwhelming, at first. Yet with time and practice you will find that you are able to do almost everything you did before your ostomy. In fact, you may discover there are few changes and limitations on your activities.
Eating & dining
Once your doctor gives the okay after ostomy surgery, you should be able to enjoy all of your favorite foods. Your doctor may recommend introducing foods back into your diet gradually, instead of all at once. By trying foods one at a time you can figure out how your body reacts to them. There may be certain foods that cause excess gas that you want to avoid, while there may be other foods that you find help aid digestion.
Activities & exercise
Once you’ve healed after surgery, you can go back to your regular activities. The biggest concern with an ostomy is making sure that your pouch stays in position and doesn’t leak. You may consider ostomy accessories designed to keep your pouch in place while exercising, like an ostomy belt or even a small, one-piece pouch instead of a two-piece system.
Talking about your ostomy
Deciding who to talk to about your ostomy and how much you want to say involves careful consideration. Practicing what you’re going to say beforehand can help. You may also want to come up with a quick reply for when people ask why you’ve been gone. You can decide what and how much you wish to say about your ostomy. Practicing this answer with a close friend or family member can make answering more comfortable and easier for you.