Hi everyone,
Love the help I get here! Thanks to you, I can now irrigate, though I am not doing it every day... but I can when something is coming up that I want to be sure I have no output.
My question today is about Pilates. I don't mean just a Pilates class at your local gym. But rather going to a proper Pilates studio where they use the Reformer and Cadillac machines, and where the instructors are fully certified in the Pilates methods. Classes are pricey and often one-on-one, so you get individual attention. Does anyone here do this?
I have a large peristomal hernia. I am sick of being out of shape and not flexible like I used to be. Since 2008 and two year-long fights with colon cancer, surgeries, ileostomy, permanent colostomy, and untold doses of chemo, I mourn the loss of my health. I have checked with my doctor who says go ahead. I have also read in many places where it says exercising with a hernia will only make things worse.
Pilates uses isometric exercises and seems to me to be a reasoned approach to making changes carefully and slowly as your body can handle it. Anyway, I have signed up for a one-on-one evaluation with an instructor tomorrow who thinks she can help me.
Would appreciate any feedback from anyone doing this already!

This is a remarkable community of 40,831 members.
You will get real advice from fellow ostomates who truly understand you - things you won't find in the books.
And it's not all about ostomy - there is friendship and relationships too.
Privacy is very important - your profile is not visible to the outside world.
ConnMan
I began my Urostomy life February 27th, 2023...a month and a half ago. I stumbled upon this site from another on Youtube and website called VeganOstomy and between that site and this one, most of my fear and worry of not having any answers other than calling the Dr's office recording menu and hoping to hear back in the next day or two for an answer to leaks, skin irritations etc, or just feeling alone and the "no one understands" thoughts I had to look forward to in my mind were all put to rest by these two websites and the community here at MaO!! I have been here for a few weeks now, and the help and support offered by the members here is just amazing!! The information and support is absolutely priceless for anyone recently out of their surgery and have tons of questions or had it for years...sit down...have a good read and you will see for yourself!!
Read our 6 tips to prepare for childbirth with an ostomy.
Read our intimacy tips.