This topic is about how to safely bathe and exercise when you have a colostomy, along with other daily living tips. Here are some practical pieces of advice and insights that might help:

- Showering & Bathing
- You can bathe or shower just like you did before surgery, but be gentle around the stoma.
- Keep your pouch on unless you're sure there will be no output.
- To keep a cloth-covered pouch dry, cover it with a plastic bag and tape it around the edges.
- If you like soaking in the tub, fill it only to the level of the wafer or limit your soak time to avoid shortening the wafer's wear time.
- After showering, dry off with a towel or use a hair dryer on a cool or warm setting to remove moisture, especially from the pouch backing and wafer edge.
- Changing your appliance in the shower can make adhesive removal easier and any leakage can be rinsed away.
- Shaving the skin around the stoma can help wafers stick better and last longer.

- Exercise & Physical Activity
- Start exercising gradually; your capabilities will change as you heal.
- A support belt can help reduce the risk of hernias; you might need to ask for one.
- Be cautious with high-impact activities or heavy lifting, as they can increase the risk of a parastomal hernia.
- Many people with ostomies successfully engage in activities like treadmill walking, swimming, water-skiing, volleyball, horseback riding, and more.
- Heat, sweat, rain, and hot baths can loosen adhesive, so be ready to change your system sooner or reinforce it with tape if needed.

- Diet & Hydration
- Everyone's tolerance is different; start with a low-residue diet after surgery and slowly reintroduce foods in small, well-chewed portions with plenty of fluids.
- Some common findings include avoiding popcorn, as it can cause issues, and substituting watercress for lettuce to reduce gas and add iron.
- Pasta can thicken output, while salads and vegetables can thin it.
- Sample menu ideas include salads with romaine lettuce, tomato, chicken, and cheese, or plant-based protein shakes with rice milk and fruit.
- Adjust fiber and fluid intake if your output becomes too firm or too loose.
- Irrigation can help prevent blockages for those with a colostomy.

- Travel Tips
- Eat lightly before flying to minimize the need to empty your pouch during the flight. Carry a doctor's note explaining your need to use the lavatory at any time.

- Stoma / Appliance Care
- Moldable wax rings can swell and eventually leak during activity; find what works best for you.
- Wafer adhesion may decrease after long hot baths or heavy sweating, so plan for earlier changes.

- Useful Links & Resources
- For more detailed discussions, you can visit:
- https://www.meetanostomate.org/discussion-forum/viewtopic.php?t=3410
- https://www.meetanostomate.org/discussion-forum/viewtopic.php?t=5118