Swimming with an Ostomy: Bag recommendations and gym cover suggestions?

Shelly, I am in the same situation as you are about showering and would appreciate others' advice.

Funny, though, I just got back from Florida and I was able to swim with my usual bag and a smaller mini-bag from Hollister. I just changed the bag more frequently after it got wet and made sure I emptied it in advance. I also was close to my condo rental and had a coverup handy, just in case of an "incident" (didn't have any). I wouldn't and I don't want to be doing that in my usual routine as too many changes cause havoc to the skin surrounding the stoma.

Hi Shelly, I don't know why you are not willing to allow stool to fall in the shower, so I'm going to assume you find it too gross. However, feelings can easily change when the thought process that leads to those feelings changes.

Here are a few things to think about that may change the feelings you have concerning stool falling in the shower:

1) What's the difference between stool falling on the water on the porcelain of a toilet before it enters the sewage pipes, and stool falling on the water on the porcelain of a shower before it enters the sewage pipes?

2) You've been carrying this stool around inside you where it's touching many of the molecules of your body, so why does it matter if it touches the molecules of your shower?

3) By showering with an appliance on, you force some of the stool to stay in contact with your stoma and any exposed skin around the stoma instead of letting it be washed away and down the drain.

4) Giving the skin around the stoma a chance to be washed and exposed to air reduces the risk of having problems with that skin.

This photo illustrates how easily a misperception can lead to an unnecessarily unpleasant feeling:

For swimming, they have made some very good ostomy belts out of neoprene. These belts look ultra modern and they come custom made to fit you. They also have one for exercise. I can't remember the name of the site, but if you do a Google search of ostomy belts, it is one of the first sites to come up.

This is actually for Shelly, since there seems to be enough swimming answers and I would end up sounding like a broken record haha.

Shelly,

For showering, I end up doing that every other day at times to keep the appliance longer. It works out well and what my surgeon and ostomy nurse told me over a decade ago was to use my blow dryer to help the drying process and will also re-adhere the appliance to your skin after you towel dry. The only time I've had issues after the shower is right about the time it would need to be changed anyway. I'm sorry you're having to deal with the issues, but hopefully these answers will help.

What type of paste do you use? Or do you use any at all? That would be something else to think about. I've learned that the paste I use also matters it seems when showering and moving around a lot, etc... Something to think about.

Hope this helps! Good luck gals!

I tend to do what you do when it comes to showering. In regards to the paste, I've only used paste after surgeries when I needed to fill in uneven skin and I hated it. The ostomy nurse used it under my wafer once after my first surgery and I hated it more. I found it really painful to come off.

How does it affect showering?

I go to the gym 4 or 5 times a week. If you were active and fit before your operation, then it's not hard to get back into it at all. I have had 4 total surgeries, and after each successive one, I was able to resume my workout routine sooner. Mostly because, first of all, I wasn't sick and anemic like I was before my first surgery. Then, second, each follow-up surgery, I knew it was going to happen well in advance, so it allowed me to prepare for it both mentally and physically, cutting my stay in the hospital down from a week or so to just 2 or 3 days max.

As for swimming, I don't swim as much as I'd like to, mainly because the only pool I have access to is the one at my parents' retirement park - not exactly the coolest place to hang out LOL (they have an awesome spa, so I won't hesitate to hang with the old folk there) - and even though I live 20 minutes from the beach, I've never been an ocean/beach person.

The most common fear and problem people have with swimming is obviously keeping your appliance on secure. The first few years after my surgery, getting my appliance tape wet in the shower or pool pretty much ended any long-term wear time. But the quality of the tape on barriers has greatly improved over the past 12 to 15 years, and now I get a consistent 7 days' wear time - with showers or swimming not affecting the wear time at all - unless :p I'm somewhere where it's excessively humid and my pores sweat, then that cuts the time down several days.

Hello! Try using Ostomysecrets Classic Wrap for exercise. This has great support and has inside pockets where you can insert the bag. It really helps, even for daily wear. I've been using this for 1 year and it has boosted my self-esteem greatly. For swimming, I use Ostomysecrets Swim Wrap. It's also great. Just log in to their website. Take care!

I have to agree about the OstomySecrets swim wrap. I use it all summer long and love it with my tankini.

Hollister has products that are more durable for swimming as opposed to everyday wear.

Have not had a problem with leaks etc.

Wishing you the best.