Today was a good day - continuing to figure out how to live life with Oscar (my ostomy). Went in the ocean for the first time. Swam with my dog and so forth - maybe 30 mins total. Bag had been on for six days and changed it when I got back. Everything looked good, stoma happy, adhesive holding, etc. Wore a makeshift wrap and a running singlet in the water to hold everything together.
Curious what others do in the water to manage their bags, etc.
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Hi gang,
I was thinking what a great resource this site has been for me since I found it. It would have been really helpful, but maybe a bit scary, to have found it before my ostomy, but that's water under the bridge. But I got thinking about it, and now I'm questioning why doctors and hospitals don't provide this site's contact info to any patient even considering an ostomy today. And how can we change that so potential ostomates can learn about the road ahead for them by getting on here and asking questions before the docs go chop-chop. How exactly do you get all hospitals to provide their patients specific information, like this website?
I just happened to find this site something like 4 years after my ostomy when I Googled "ostomy forum" or something like that. But I never found it during previous searches.....so I found this site pretty much by pure luck. We need to find a way to make this site available to new or soon-to-be ostomates......as that's when we really need to commiserate with fellow ostomates. Anybody have any thoughts on how we do this?
Thanks,
Bob
Not really any swimming water where I live that isn't chlorinated and packed with kids. :-)
The chlorinated water won't be a problem, Daniel. I swim regularly at a chlorinated pool, and it doesn't affect the adhesion of my appliance. The kids I can't help you with!
Terry