Evening all, I'm from upstate New York and winter is coming!! Just got an ostomy bag a week ago and was wondering if anyone has hiked in cold weather with their bag. I mean cold, like 30 degrees below zero! Worried it may freeze?
Ice
Oct 24, 2022 11:34 pm
Smilealot
Oct 25, 2022 12:19 am
Nope, it has never frozen, even though I was so cold and could hardly set up camp.
Ice
Oct 25, 2022 12:42 am
Awesome! Sounds like you went for multiple days, but I would only be out for 7-9 hours for a day trip.
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Posted by: Primeboy
Hi Mike and all. I am not sure how panoramic my perspective really is as my peripheral vision shrinks with each passing year. I can tell you that when I came to this website six years ago I was truly ;impressed by the positive attitudes of so many members, especially the younger folks who refused to let their ostomies define who they were or what they would become. I also came to appreciate that having an ostomy is not the same thing as having a disease. Pardon ;my pun now, but ostomies and cancer don't belong in the same bag. One is a solution, the other is a problem. Celebrating National Ostomy Day ;is also well outside my comfort zone. That's like celebrating National Wheel Chair Day. Come on!
I think there is a ;need for improved ;public awareness of ostomies, but I am not sure how that's best done. There ;remains ;some social stigma attached to our situation, and it's acutely felt among our young. We need to get out of the dark ages on this issue, but not by going 'in your face' to everyone else. I think Bill and NDY are 'spot-on' when it comes to telegraphing the right message to friends and family. People will know how to react when they ;see ;how we accept the cards we were dealt. I also appreciate the contribution some people here are making to this effort through their publications.
On a personal note, my son has been suffering from ulcerative colitis for years just like I did. I am very concerned because people with UC are at a higher risk for colon cancer. Years ago my GI told me to get annual colonoscopies to be on the safe side. I am glad I did because he eventually found pre-cancerous cells which led to several surgeries and my becoming an ostomate. Since then I have always ;conveyed a positive attitude to ;my son about wearing a bag because it has kept me alive to enjoy many more years with my loved ones. I think he got the message. We both go to the same gastroenterologist in NYC and get scoped on the same day. Father and Son moments!
Someone once wrote that our children are the letters we write to the future.
PB
Bees
Oct 25, 2022 12:53 am
An ostomy bag shouldn't freeze as it's held close to the body. If it does freeze, you've got bigger problems.
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Bees
Oct 25, 2022 2:18 am
To prevent other body parts from freezing, take a partner. I'll let you figure it out.
AlexT
Oct 25, 2022 5:21 am
Bag won't freeze. I was out duck hunting last winter with wind hills well below zero. The only issue I had was my chest waders froze so I couldn't lower them to empty my bag. Glad nobody was around to watch my dumbass fight that. ???????????
ron in mich
Oct 25, 2022 1:25 pm
Hi all, here in N. Mich., we get a lot of snow, so out come the snowshoes, and when you're walking with them on, you get quite sweaty, so there's no chance of the bag freezing up.
Ice
Oct 25, 2022 2:52 pm
Thanks, you are correct. I snowshoe also and it uses a-lot of energy. I've stripped down to a t-shirt because I was sweating so much even though the temps were well below freezing.
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rusty1058
Nov 18, 2022 8:05 am
I would ask the same about getting in a hot tub , does the adhesive melt ???
xnine
Nov 18, 2022 11:23 am
No, lots of people on here do it. If it is tight on land it will be tight in the hot tub. Just follow the rules.
cartercharlotte983
Jan 29, 2023 11:57 pm
Hello, my name is Charlotte, and I have an ostomy bag, and that's a lot of stuff to get used to, but I thank God that I'm still alive. I just can't focus my little head around what happened to me. I'm only 55, but I thank God that I'm still living, and I enjoy reading some of your comments. I also just joined on here, but I just don't have the money to pay to become a member, so even though I'm not a member, I'm here, and I would like to talk to someone. If you're out there, talk to me. Love everyone, even though I don't know you, but I still love you.
cartercharlotte983
Jan 29, 2023 11:58 pm
Does anybody know a good soap or body wash to use? I'm about tired of Dial soap. Is there a body wash I can use? Can somebody let me know something? Thank you.