New Year With An Ostomy

New Year With An Ostomy

Every January I start the year with good intentions and with it some resolutions. Now that’s not to say I set them strictly with time limits, but more of a set of goals to aim for and if I don’t get there that’s ok. No pressure needed, just hope and positivity for the year ahead.

With this comes the following resolutions:

Travel

This year I want to get out and see more, experience more and spend less time on screens. Working with Pelican I have had the opportunity to visit places I wouldn’t have gone before and that has certainly made me want to continue doing so. Living in Wales and being a Mum it doesn’t make room for this much, but this year I intend to change that! There will always be a reason not to do something or things that make new experiences harder where chronic illness is concerned. I intend to do my research and help to widen my boys horizons to see more.

Connect with more ostomates 

Meeting fellow ostomates in 2022 after myself and friend Ru set up ‘The Gut Squad’ where we invited others with stomas, pre surgery people, parents/carers and those alike. We had a fantastic turn out and will be planning another for the year ahead. It was such a thrill to meet like minded people who have walked a similar path. It was a great opportunity to exchange the good, bad and ugly of ostomy life, and share products that we found useful helping those that had some difficulties.

Widen my choice of exercising 

Following ostomy surgery guidance is given by the NHS to rest and recover for approximately 6 weeks and start with walking short distances and build up slowly. When your medical team says it is ok to do so, you can venture into the world of running, exercise classes and strength and weight training. The speed at which you do so will depend on your previous experience of exercise and how evasive your surgery was. For me, the talk of hernias scared me. I had seen photos and done a dreaded google search and the sight of it and thought of going through my day to day life made me so anxious that I wouldn’t even try strength or weight training in fear. When I started connecting with other ostomates who were educated in the matter and knew what they were doing, I bit the bullet and explored these once feared areas. I went from my standard go to of running to joining a local council gym and started using weights. The mix of styles have really boosted my experience and made me feel stronger and more positive about what my body is capable of. I have to ensure I remember how to hold myself and use support wear. This isn’t standard but many ostomates do.

Try new ostomy products 

If your ostomy applicant is not 100% working for you it can be quite daunting as you start to research alternative options. You may have friends who are ostomates who all use different versions of barrier films for example. For me it is the Refresh spray, the 3 in 1 product that acts as a barrier film, adhesive remover and a fresh linen scent. You may have received samples from several different companies and not know which to use first. It is important to make sure you consult your stoma nurse after surgery when changing products in case they know of a reason why it may not be suitable and as a result may make the situation worse. New products need sufficient time to be trialled. I take photos and document good or bad changes so I can see the progression to make an educated decision whether to continue with its use or not.

Be involved with the research and development of new products 

Being involved in the Insights Community with Pelican and Respond has opened the door to some incredible experiences for me in the last few years. From answering a few multiple choice questions by typing in your email address with the potential to being invited to focus groups, you can really make a difference and be part of research and development stages. This will directly improve the lives of your fellow ostomates. Knowledge is power, and having a stoma gives you the power to help and share your own experience to help others. It is a few clicks away and could make all the difference. It is also incredibly fulfilling!

I hope your January has started positively, and if it hasn’t, hold in there. With a whole new year ahead of us it can feel very daunting and a lot of pressure to put on ourselves. Rather than looking at your end goals, look at the next step and take it. You’ll get there by hook or by crook!

Until next time, Rach @gutsy.mum x