My nurse put me in an ostomy belt and I find it very uncomfortable... What are the reasons for a belt... Any advice would be appreciated.
Sunshinealot
Mar 28, 2023 4:18 pm
AlexT
Mar 28, 2023 4:27 pm
To direct more pressure onto the sticky part of your bag so it seals/holds better. Could also be for support to prevent a hernia depending on what type of belt it is.
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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
CrappyColon
Mar 28, 2023 5:10 pm
Is it one that matches your pouch system? Any chance they put it on too tight? My ostomy nurse told me to wear it for 1 hr after I put it on to help get the sticky part to stick better/stay in place. For daily wear and depending on what I was wearing, I preferred using an ostomy wrap the nurse showed me on Amazon (I can find the link for it if you want) or if it wasn't hot out, someone suggested to me a maternity wrap (size down) from Target that is only around $15.
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HenryM
Mar 28, 2023 6:09 pm
I have complete confidence in my Hollister appliance and did away with wearing a belt years ago. I do wear a wide support belt when I exercise, but that's it.
xnine
Mar 29, 2023 6:47 pm
I use Hollister products, and the belt is just decoration. Mostly, it gives a false sense of security. It would be helpful only with a very full bag. This rarely happens anymore.
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