‘Having a stoma is not a death sentence’ – tips on how about living with a stoma
Review spoke to Tawanda Kanyungwe, a local stomal therapist, about tips on how to live with a stoma.
POLOKWANE – WebMD describes a stoma as an opening in your belly’s wall that a surgeon makes in order for waste to leave your body if you can’t have a bowel movement through your rectum.
Review spoke to Tawanda Kanyungwe, a local stomal therapist, about tips on how to live with a stoma.
Read more: Stoma: Nie die einde van die wereld nie
“Having a stoma is not a death sentence, there are ways to cope and live a normal life. You can swim, exercise and participate in sport. It is not a disability,” he says.
He shares the following tips:
Food:
• You should eat a balanced diet
• Eat slowly and chew your food well.
• Ad foods to your diet gradually to see how those foods agree with your system.
• Everything in moderation is a good rule to follow.
Diarrhoea:
• If you get diarrhoea, increase the amount of fluids you drink.
• If you irrigate your colostomy, stop irrigating until the diarrhoea stops. After the diarrhoea stops, you can resume your normal schedule of irrigrations.
• If the diarrhoea continues, call your stomatherapist or doctor; diarrhoea that lasts too long can cause dehydration.
Swimming:
• Choose a patterned swimsuit, instead of one with a solid colour.
• Men can wear athletic supporters.
• Woman can wear pantyhose or girdles.
• Before swimming, it is a good idea to empty your pouch.
• You may add tape to the edges of your skin barrier before swimming.
• You may need to change the pouch more often if you wear it in a jacuzzi or sauna.
Flying and traveling:
• When flying, keep your ostomy products with you in your carry-on bag, not in your checked luggage.
• Air pressure in the aircraft will not affect our pouch.
• Do not leave the ostomy products in the hot car.
• When you are away from home for extended periods of time, know where to contact the local nurse or doctor.
Being intimate whit a partner:
• Empty the pouch before having sexual relations
• Sexual activity will not hurt you or your stoma.
• During sex you may prefer to wear a small pouch or stoma cap
• A beige pouch or pouch cover can help to cover the pouch contents.
• Intimate apparel can hide the pouch and keep it close to your body.
Tawanda does home visits, and is involved with a support group where people living with stomas can share their experiences. Read his full story in this week’s Polokwane Review.
