Adapting to Life After an Ostomy - By: Stuart Barron

ostomy bags are medical prosthetics which collects the waste which are diverted from ohter biological systems such as the urinary, colon and ileum. They need to be replaced everyday so as to prevent the contamination of the skin. People who are required to wear have usually undergone colostomies, ileostomies and urostomies.

If you are one of those people who had an ostomy, then you're probably wondering whether you can go back to work after the procedure. Can you ride a bike or do sports? Can you keep it a secret? Thanks to the advancement of technology, the answer to these questions is a resounding yes. You can do many of the activities you used to do after you have recovered from the operation.

You can eat whatever you want
As soon as your doctor gives you the go signal, you can resume your regular diet. Keep in mind, however, that your stomach might react to different kinds of food differently after an ostomy. There are some kinds of food which can cause gas, diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion. Here's a list of food and the intestinal reactions they cause:

Gas can be caused by beer and carbonated beverages, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, onions
Indigestion can be due to cabbage, lettuce, raw vegetables, pineapple, popcorn, mushrooms
Thickened stool is caused by bananas, cheese, seeds, peas and nuts
Thinned stool can be due to sugary foods, several types of juices and spicy foods
Increased odor can be caused by eggs, fish, garlic, onions and alcohol
Reduced odor is caused by buttermilk and yougurt

If you don't know how your body will react to these foods, consider eating them at home first. This way, you don't have to worry about its effects and focus on having fun when you are with your friends.

You can participate in sports if you wish

The only danger you have to worry is injury to the opening where the waste or urine leaves your body, which means rough sports (contact sports such as football and soccer) are out. You can still go biking, swimming or jogging when you are fully healed. Also, you can ask your doctor or nurse about special products you can use and the necessary precautions you have to when you plan to undertake sports. You can also lift weights but get the go signal from your doctor first to ensure that the surgical incisions are healed to avoid complications.

You can go back to work

Once you are feeling well, your doctor can issue a return to work order ensuring that it is safe for you to go back to work. However, you might want to ask your employer for a limited time schedule until you are confident about your ostomy. If you are nervous about caring for your ostomy bags while at work, you can always seek the advice of a medical professional. For more information visit to our site at https://www.edgepark.com

About the Author

We are a family owned company in business since 1928. Edgepark home medical supplies offers Medicare and HMO billing plus over 1,000 private plans.

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