Sit-ups and crunches can be uncomfortable with an ostomy bag, also called a stoma bag. They also put strain on your belly area that could raise your risk for a hernia. Try gentle alternative ab exercises like pelvic tilts or knee rolls instead.
It is generally not advisable to attempt sit ups or plank exercises. Lifting weights should not be attempted for 12 weeks and start on the lightest weight then slowly build up.
Strengthening the core of the body through exercise can lead to better posture and increased body awareness. Core exercises may also accelerate the healing process and help you reduce the risk of developing a hernia around the stoma, also known as a parastomal hernia.
It is important to start off slowly, try 30 minutes of walking a day and build from there. The Colostomy Association offers some good advice on being active with an ostomy. Pilates and Yoga are also good forms of exercise and they can help to build core strength (build up the abdominal muscles).
You can do press ups and pull ups. Nothing is really off the table. There may be some modifications and adaptations, but generally (once fit and strong enough) you can do anything you want.
Swimming. Swimming is a fantastic activity for people with a stoma as it promotes cardiovascular fitness and toning. It is natural to have concerns about swimming; some ostomates worry about their bag leaking or feel self conscious in pools or at the beach. However, the adhesive on stoma bags remains effective in water ...
Planking (or leg pull in prone) is possible when you have a stoma, BUT you do need good inner core control and shoulder strength before working up to it.
A person who has had an ileostomy and wants to lose weight could consider eating low fat products, such as low fat dairy and lean proteins, and steamed or boiled fruits and vegetables, which should be peeled and deseeded. With a doctor's approval, a person can also exercise after having an ileostomy.
Dieting with a stoma:
Eating less saturated fats, processed foods, red meat, sugary foods and increasing your fruit and vegetables is standard advice for all. The NHS website has some great weight loss resources and they are FREE! Make sure the foods you are eating are compatible with your stoma.
Once home, avoid strenuous activities that could place a strain on your abdomen, such as lifting heavy objects. Your stoma nurse will give you advice about how soon you can go back to normal activities. At first you will pass wind through your stoma and then, usually within 2 or 3 days, you poo through it.
Bending. It's near enough in possible to do gardening without having to bend down. This is fine, but you can bend down in a way that reduces the risk of injuring your stomach muscles and stoma area. For example, rather than bending over at your waist, try bending down slowly at your knees.
Exercising on an empty stomach relies on your body's energy stores. Your body may not be able to mobilize those stores fast enough, and you may be left exhausted. May hinder performance. Some research suggests that people who don't eat before they exercise don't perform as well as those who do.
It's a good idea to keep a night drainage bag in the car so you can empty your bag if you find yourself in a traffic jam. Seatbelts can press down on a stoma. Some people use a device that locks the seatbelt in a comfortable position but releases safely when necessary. And you can also buy seatbelt ostomy protectors.
Sleeping positions with a stoma
Laying on your stomach may increase the chance of leaks if the stoma becomes active and the bag begins to fill up. There's not really a way around this. Ostomates usually know when the stoma is generally going to be active if they eat and drink at the same times every day.
Many people who have a stoma find maintaining a healthy weight difficult. You may have a restrictive diet and find it challenging to add mass or you could be one of the many people who find it hard to get into exercise and would like to lose weight.
Well, elimination of waste is a major body function and your elimination of waste has changed; in fact you need to wear a prosthetic device (ostomy appliance) to manage this change. You have a record of an impairment of a major body function, therefore you are protected by the provisions of the ADA.
If your stoma has made it more difficult for you to get a balanced, healthy diet then that will obviously impact your weight in the long run. The diseases which lead to stoma formation may have limited what you could eat, so many find that after the surgery and recovery, they can eat everything again, and so they do!
Too much physical activity can increase the risk for hernias. Muscles around the stoma that support it are a bit weaker after surgery. Avoid lifting more than 8lbs., especially for the first six weeks after surgery. Ostomy support belts are highly recommended when lifting or using abdominal muscles.
The best position to sleep in when you have a stoma is on your back, or on your side.
What to wear? Tight clothing around your waistline and pouch area can cause pancaking as it may prevent output from sliding down into the pouch. Try sizing up for a looser fit or if you like wearing jeans give jeggings a go as these will have an elasticated waist band and leggings are looser and more comfortable.
If your job is particularly strenuous and involves a lot of heavy lifting, you may need to wear a support belt or girdle. Your stoma nurse can advise you about this. It's likely to take several months before you're ready to return to work. It depends on how well you recover and the type of work you do.
You can swim or be in the water while wearing your pouching system. Remember, your pouching system is water resistant and is designed not to leak with the proper seal. Water will not harm or enter your stoma. Check your pouch seal.