An ostomy alters the way your feces or urine leave your body. It involves surgical construction of an opening in the abdominal region. This opening is called a stoma. And to manage your ostomy, you may have to carry an ostomy bag the entire time. This situation begs the question if you can return to your normal life with an ostomy. Can you go outside for a walk? Can you ride your bike like before ostomy surgery? Can your return to having a normal diet? Well, let’s find out. Ostomy diet considerations Except for some specific circumstances, you should be able to have a normal diet, which may also include what you like to eat. But remember, the intake of foods that have been producing gas before ostomy surgery will still produce gas. And since your ostomy tends to behave differently as compared to your normal excretory pathway, you might feel more discomfort with the gas production. Similarly, you do not want to have problems such as constipation, diarrhea, odor, and incomplete digestion while you have an ostomy to manage. These problems can be uncomfortable as well as embarrassing. Physical activity and ostomy You can engage in any type of sport activity of your liking, unless you are fond of contact sports. The problem with contact sports is the heightened risk of injury, which can be specifically harmful for a stoma. Apart from that, you can resume intense physical training after talking with your physician. However, you need to be wary about the possibility of abdominal muscles interfering with your stoma. It is necessary to ask your doctor for the guidance about the level of workout intensity that you need to maintain. To avoid complications, your doctor may advise you to avoid lifting weight. That restriction is going to remain in effect until your stoma and abdominal muscles heal properly. Going to work with an ostomy Going to work is not as intense activity as engaging in sports. Therefore, your doctor is not going to ask you to avoid going to work unless you are too much mentally upset. Furthermore, your stoma is going to be more prone to injury if your work involves a lot of lifting and physical exertion. If you feel nervous about your condition and possibility of it affecting your work, you can talk to your employer. And regarding how to not let your ostomy become an obstruction in your professional routine, you can ask your doctor or ostomy care nurse. Hiding an ostomy
You can hide your ostomy from other people if you want. However, managing your ostomy flawlessly is the key to success. For this purpose, you are going to have to note patterns of your bowel movement that prompts you to get up and have a pouch discharge or change. If you are planning on interacting with people in your social circle, make sure that your ostomy doesn’t make you to rush to the bathroom during a conversation. Remember, your ostomy might become a permanent feature of you. But it is not going to make you anticipate a difficult life. All you need to do is to make sure that you are good at managing your stoma. And for that purpose, you will need to remain in contact with your doctor and ostomy care nurse.
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