You have survived the very difficult dog days of your recovery – Way to go! I still remember vividly, both the physical and emotional challenges during those days, and that there were times I did not feel like I would ever make it through. Your two toughest weeks are behind you. By now, your pain should have decreased significantly, and hopefully, you are starting to understand how to manage the mechanics of your pouch. The good habits you have been practicing, like taking care of your peristomal skin and staying hydrated, will continue to be important as you recover. Stay vigilant!
You are likely at a point where you are beginning to face reality and wondering what the rest of your life will be like. If you are like me, you might even be crossing off some of the activities you used to enjoy the most — thinking you will never ever be able to do them again.
Battling your fears is tough! Based on my experience and my conversations with thousands of ostomates, there are two things that can be of great help to you moving forward:
1. Your mindset is EVERYTHING! You need to make a conscious decision to choose “better” and not “bitter” every single day. We all have days where we get lured back to bitter. Don’t beat yourself up when that happens. Remember, you are allowed to VISIT the “poor me” house – you just aren’t allowed to move in!
2. Read and listen to the stories of those who have gone before you. Learn what their fears were and how they overcame them. I’m looking forward to sharing more real, authentic stories of people JUST LIKE YOU — people who have gone through ostomy surgery, who you can trust to share the truth, who will inspire and encourage you that there IS a great life ahead of you.
Former NFL Kicker
Former NFL Kicker, Walter Payton Man of the Year, Grateful Ostomy Patient
Biggest Fears
You can only get your life back when you face your fears.
Jonathan shares that you are only limited by what is in your mind.
Ostomates share some of their greatest fears about life with an ostomy
Roadmap to Recovery
Take a few more steps today than you did yesterday.
As your bowels recover and adjust in the weeks after surgery, you can expect these types of output from the stoma depending on which type of surgery you had:
• Ileostomy: Stool is usually semi formed to loose (toothpaste consistency).
• Colostomy: Stool is soft to well formed (similar to what it looked like before surgery).
Food and Nutrition
See how different foods will affect your output here
Potential Complications
Be vigilant so you can stay out of the hospital
These potential complications may be preventable if you recognize the warning signs early and take the appropriate action.
1. Dehydration. One out of three ileostomy patients will be readmitted to the hospital for dehydration within 30 days of their operation. Learn how to stay hydrated here.
Learn more about hydration from our dietitian, Danielle.
2. Skin problems. Peristomal skin is the skin surrounding your stoma and should look and feel just like the skin on the rest of your abdomen (not irritated or red). Learn more about how to care for your peristomal skin and catch any problems early so they can be addressed.
3. Hernia. This happens when an organ or other tissue pushes through your abdominal muscles and creates a bulge. Since having ostomy surgery increases your risk of developing a hernia, you will want to follow these guidelines:
• Limit your lifting to 5-10 lbs. for the first 4-6 weeks post-surgery (or as directed by your surgeon) and always use proper lifting technique.
• Support the area around your stoma if you sneeze, cough, or laugh by squeezing a folded blanket or pillow.
Learn more about hernias and how to protect yourself here.
Hear Nurse Melody talk about hernias and how to prevent them here.
4. Problem Solving. You may encounter problems like skin irritation, leaks, no output and others. Click here for more details.
5. Medical Emergencies.Review this list so you will know when to call your surgeon/nurse or go to the nearest emergency room.
Embracing Ostomy Life Goals
Goals for Today
• Prevent food blockages by chewing your food well and eating slowly. Ileostomy patients should initially avoid high-fiber foods that could have difficulty passing through the small intestine and exiting the stoma.
• Work toward independence on changing your pouch.
• Addressing problems with your ostomy early is critically important. Find a WOC nurse here or here.
Ostomy Terms you Want to Know
Output – stool/waste
The average daily output of an ileostomy is about 500 ml per day but may be up to 1,000-1,500 mls in a day. The average daily output of a colostomy is about 500 ml per day, with a range of about 200-700 mls.
Don’t Worry about Tomorrow
Thoughts for Today
• Be kind to yourself. As you speak kindly to yourself and offer yourself compassion, you will notice that you build resilience and encourage yourself when needed.
• You may not always believe these kind, compassionate statements, but we tell our brains what to believe. Don’t believe me? Try this exercise and see what your brain tells you!
How helpful was today’s message for your recovery?
We offer our sincerest thanks to Joan Scott — a kind ostomate and brilliant writer — for allowing us to include excerpts of, her book, “The Ostomy Raft”, in Alive & Kicking. To purchase a copy filled with tons of practical tips for living with an ileostomy or colostomy, click the button below.
Rolf Benirschke is a former NFL Man of the Year and All-Pro placekicker who played 10 seasons in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers. His career was briefly interrupted when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease that required ileostomy surgery in his third season. Remarkably, Rolf returned to play seven more years with the Chargers, becoming the first ever professional athlete to play with an ostomy appliance. He has been an outspoken champion of the ostomy community for the past 40 years and created Embracing Ostomy Life™ to provide the hope, education and encouragement to ensure that no one goes through ostomy surgery alone.
Join Team HOPE
Do you wish you could connect with someone like you who has an ostomy and similar life goals? You can! Our Team HOPE (Helping Ostomates through Peer Encouragement) program can pair you with a volunteer who has an ostomy that will listen, empathize and suggest resources to help you along your journey.
