I’ve told you how impactful the lessons were that I learned from reading the books on the prisoners of war that survived the Vietnam War. What they endured was unimaginable to us. Most of us live our lives between the guard rails of life – bumping up against one side or the other but ultimately staying in that safe, middle of the road. When we do crash through the guard rail and plummet down a rocky hillside into the proverbial ditch, we have an incredible opportunity to discover our “indomitable spirit” that I believe God has gifted each one of us. We can learn that we have greater courage, greater creativity, and a greater ability to cope and persevere. We can become changed and, one day, look back at this very difficult experience with incredible gratitude for what it did to us and how we get to live the rest of our lives.
I realize it can be very hard to understand that where you are now, but I KNOW that you will reach a point in your life where you will look back on this and realize that the wisdom you have gained through this experience will allow you to live the rest of your life differently.
Introducing you to my friend, Magen Cherry, a former Miss Texas, who talks about discovering her inner strength and courage through her ostomy journey.
Every day you have a chance to lean into that indomitable spirit and embrace the second chance at life you have been given. Take it!
Former NFL Kicker
Former NFL Kicker, Walter Payton Man of the Year, Grateful Ostomy Patient
Discovering Your Indomitable Spirit
You have a chance to discover that you have more courage than you ever knew you did.
Magen Cherry, former Miss Texas talks about the inner strength and courage she discovered she had during her ostomy journey.
Read more about Magen Cherry’s ostomy journey here.
Roadmap to Recovery
Take a few more steps today than you did yesterday.
• The skin around your stoma (peristomal skin) should be healthy and not be irritated, painful or have a rash.
• Learn how to prevent skin breakdown around your stoma.
• Change your pouching system which includes the wafer (adhesive skin barrier) every 3-4 days paying special attention to how the skin around your stoma looks.
1. Remove the old pouching system (appliance) gently by holding a corner of the tape and pushing the skin down toward your body to remove the tape and not strip your skin.
2. Use adhesive remover wipes or spray to assist in removing tape if extra sticky.
3. Clean the skin around your stoma with warm water using a washcloth, soft paper towel or plain disposable dry wipes. Do not use disposable wipes with cleansers unless they are specifically made for ostomies. If you still have a sticky residue, you can use a mild soap that does not have moisturizers or fragrance and rinse with water thoroughly. Keep in mind that the less products used the better. Warm water is usually adequate to clean your peristomal skin.
4. A great time to clean around your stoma is when you change your faceplate as you are taking a shower in the morning.
5. Dry your skin well before applying your new pouching system.
6. A well-fitting ostomy pouching system that does not leak is essential. Learn more about managing leaks here. And if you need a WOC nurse you can find one here or here.
7.Read more about how to keep your peristomal skin healthy.
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
• Intact healthy skin around your stoma can improve your comfort and is essential to maintaining good pouch adherence.
• Work toward independence on changing your pouch.
• Spend some time thinking about your own indomitable spirit — how you have been stronger and more courageous during the last 13 days than you ever thought possible.
• Addressing problems with your ostomy early is critically important. Find a WOC nurse here or here.
Ostomy Terms you Want to Know
Indomitable [ in-dom-i-tuh-buhl ]
Adjective – that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable.
Don’t Worry about Tomorrow
Thoughts for Today
Re-entry exposure
Going back into “real life” after your surgery will bring up different feelings for everyone. When you feel ready, slowly begin to work your way back. Start very slowly and go at your own pace.
Here are a few helpful tips for re-entry anxiety:
• Allow yourself to feel anxious. Nothing good ever comes from avoiding anxious thoughts, feelings, or situations. That simply prolongs the anxiety and doesn’t allow you to learn or grow. Be honest with yourself and name the anxiety you are feeling.
• Start very slowly. Perhaps begin with a car ride without getting out. Next, maybe order a coffee to go and go in the coffee shop to get your order. Work your way up to the next small step, understanding that you will be anxious and uncomfortable at first, but with each tiny step, you are making huge progress.
• Give yourself time. The process of mastering your new world takes time and cannot be rushed. Do not compare yourself to others or put your recovery on a specific timeframe. You will have ups and downs, victories and setbacks, times you feel encouraged and times you want to give up. Each part of this is a lesson from which you will grow.
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.
