Going on my first ostomy jog of the year

Being in a new situation is a difficult thing for me.  I am an introverted person and I really don’t like trying new things especially in front of new people.  When it comes to being outdoors and with a new ostomy set up I am really anxious about what could go wrong.  I am generally anxious all the time and adding the idea of having my bag start leaking all over and bringing that smell with me on a jog sounds like a terrible nightmare.  It was honestly my worst fear when I heard I would have an ostomy and be living with a stoma.  I was soon proven that my fears were unfounded, but it still took a long time for that to happen.

Jogging has been a part of my life since junior high.  I began jogging as a way to stay in shape and get into sports.  It has now been my go to exercise for decades and I wouldn’t give it up for anything. Having an ostomy worried me and I was afraid I would have to let my main way of exercising go.  But there are lots of ways to stay in shape and jogging is actually a normal activity for people with a stoma.  The most important thing is to take it slow and have the right gear. 

I was really worried about leaks and spills so I called up my favorite brand ostomy supplies to talk out what I would  need to get back into jogging again. They gave me the general talk to your healthcare provider speech and that is what I will do and then they gave me great advice on what to use and how to implement it. 

The best part of ostomy supplies was that they gave me samples to try before I went and bought a bunch of different things.  This allowed me to try these items out without a financial loss and I was able to take their advice and start really slow around my house.  And since I was so worried about looks, they suggested I get a nice reflective vest and belt and maybe try things out in the dark if I wanted to.  Or early morning. I really appreciated their caring about how I felt about my looks and worries..  It was that extra bit of caring that got me back on track.  Granted it was a slow going start, but I finally am back to exercising regularly and happily.

All about the pre-cut ostomy systems

Pre-cut systems are essentially poches that offer a cut out open near the base, which fits the stoma itself, and it’s ideal for those with the round stoma shape and come in different types. You’ve got the flat option that will help with stomas which protrude out.  Then, there is the convex one which is used for the smaller, flatter, or the inverted stomas that are out there.

You should understand that the flat pouching system will lie flat on the skin, and the convex version will curve a little bit outward against your skin.  The outward curve will then help with improving the emptying and reduce the leakage for smaller system.

So, what are the different types of convex systems? Well, you have the cut to fit ones, which are a system that lets you cut the opening to fit the stoma. This is good for those stomas which aren’t round or have a strange shape.

You also have the precut ones, which are ones that are good for stomas with no abnormalities. These are used with a system that has different openings, but they’re already cut, so you just put it on.  You have the convex insert, which is of course some rings that are used in the flange, or a flat system.

There are also barrier strips and rings, which are molded to different shapes and sizes. You also have a custom made one, which is made specifically for one type of system, and wont’ be used anywhere else.  You might need a faceplate too, which is a reusable product that has convexity built into it.  Finally, you have binders and belts, which are used for support.

These are used in many cases to help with leakage, which is what you want to go for with the precut convex ones, and usually, you want to make sure that they are secure with their seal, so you should definitely make sure that you get the right one that fits the stoma you have.

You will need to measure the stoma in order to be fitted with the proper type of measurement so that it fits the stoma. Those who have firm, flat abdomens might use the wither flexible or nonflexible systems, depending on what you need. In that case, you might need to get one with lateral creases or folds, which is where you add the flexible systems into this. if you have a flabby abdomen, a deep crease, a retracted stoma, a stoma that’s flush or concave to the abdomen, this is definitely something that can benefit from the stoma belt.  This kind of system will press into the skin around your stoma, which causes it to protrude, which will help tighten up the skin, and of course will prevent leaks around the stoma and into the opening of the peristomal skin.

Measuring this is important, since you want something that’s large enough to not only cover the skin, but also will fit the stoma so there isn’t trauma as well, since that is a common thing.

A big thing to understand is that after 8 weeks, usually it will shrink, so you’ll want to measure once a week, and as you gain or lose weight.

You should definitely measure the system and the opening of the flange, and you should have it ideally around 3-4 mm around the edge of this, in order to provide a snug fit for this.  anything the same size or smaller will cause trauma towards your stoma.

The convex flanges have a higher risk of injury if they’re of the exact size, so make sure you measure before you do anything else.

The correct Bag for an Ostomy

Getting involved in the world of having an ostomy is a learning curve.  It can be disheartening to hear horror stories and all the things that can go wrong.  Some people start by attempting to break the ice with a story that they will never forget and that brings terror to your mind and soul.  It is instead nicer to just get real good information that is useful and keeps the emotional trauma of the nightmare poop bag away.  I find that getting the correct gear for your ostomy and stoma is essential. I personally prefer to use Hollister Ostomy Supplies.  This is a company who knows their customer and provides products based on their needs.  They don’t try to simply profit off of people who have an Ostomy and Stoma.   One of my favorite parts of this company is the ability to get a sample product.  Like most Ostomy products they come in  bulk or quantity of 5 to 50.  The worst thing is buying a lot of a product and finding out it doesn't work with you or you like another one better.  Being able to test drive a product from Hollister Ostomy Supplies is simply amazing. 

For me trying their two piece mini ostomy pouch was a success.  I know right so exciting, a review on an ostomy bag. I get it, but it is a great product and I recommend it.  It has a lock and role micro seal feature that is really nice and the filter works great.  Yes, like the title it is a two piece system. It is indeed meant to be cleaned out at the bottom section.  The lock and role section at the bottom is easy to use. It simply makes sense and most importantly it works!  Nothing is worse than the fear of leaking and smelling when and where I really don’t want it to happen.

 So knowing that this pouch is secure is great.  The filter on the pouch also works very well.  I am not going to go and cause a seen and to me that is important.  The last thing I want is to have to worry about my ostomy getting in the way of my life.  It is not a big deal to fix issues and I always carry a spare amount of supplies but I don’t want to ever have to use them.  For new users that is a true terror and I want to reassure them that you are less likely to have an incident using this company.

Using the Correct Skin Barrier

When you are involved in the life some one in your life having a Ostomy or having one yourself having the knowledge to use the best products is a must.  I have found that when it comes to gear that Ostomy Supplies is a great company.  They allow you to try products for free to see if they are going to be the correct product for you.  That means the world to me.  The customer service involved is a must and being able to try without buying just rubs me the right way.  I am a big fan of companies that care about their customers.  So when it comes to the skin barrier, I find it to be very very important.  Having healthy skin is key and peristomal skin being damaged can be a nightmare.  You don’t want to have irritated skin, or a rash. Because this is an area that you will be dealing with every single day and want to make sure you are not in pain when dealing with it!

So one product from Hollister Ostomy Supplies I would suggest looking at and giving a try for free would be their skin barrier. The CeraPluss skin barrier is high end product with Remois Technology. It is a big deal because its made with ceramide. Ceramide is a natural part of human skin that helps prevent water loss.  It keeps the skin from being damaged or getting rashes and starting to break down.  This product is designed to adhere to skin and because it is made with some of the parts that are in natural skin its a great barrier to keep your peristomal skin healthy and safe.

The adhesive border really helps to adhere safely and it emotionally brings a peace of mind.  Knowing that you won't have any leakage from that area allows  just for a better day.  It is simply one less thing you have to worry about.  This causes a more relaxed life and it is crazy that it can all start from a small area. This item also comes with a floating range.  That allows for an easy bag lockup. Yet again it proves that extra peace of mind that comes with trust in a product.

This product comes in packs of 5, but you don’t have to invest all your money to start with and still have 4 left over if you don’t like it.  This company allows you to get free samples, which is yet again why I love them. So give it a try and see if this is the right product for you.