As a retired NFL kicker, I hardly consider myself an expert on fashion. My idea of a great outfit is a pair of jeans or slacks and a golf shirt! Fortunately, things have changed a LOT (for the better) since I had my ostomy surgery and made it easier for ostomy patients. There are now all types of specialized clothing/belts to allow you the freedom to wear just about anything over your pouch…and nobody will have to know you are wearing a pouch.
That said, you do need to take into consideration where your stoma is located when you manage your wardrobe. If your stoma is at your waistline, you want to be sure nothing is pressing hard on your stoma, or you may have to consider using a stoma guard or wearing low rise skirts/pants. If it is above your waistline, you want to be careful not to restrict the output so consider wearing loose elastic or fabric that stretches.
So, the answer to “What can I wear with an ostomy” is easy … whatever you feel comfortable in! But, since I am NOT a fashion model, I want you to meet three of the most fashionable women I know who will give you their insights in our “Ostomy Life” section – Jearlean our international fashion model, Maria who is my favorite third grade teacher, and Maggie from Let’s Talk IBD. We’ve also included a link to a video from Eric, our friend at Vegan Ostomy so the guys don’t feel left out.
Former NFL Kicker
Former NFL Kicker, Walter Payton Man of the Year, Grateful Ostomy Patient
Story of the Day
Meet Maggie Tretton
We adore sweet Maggie and so appreciate her generosity and kindness for the ostomy community. She shares her life in a beautiful, authentic way with her over 164K subscribers on her YouTube channel, Let’s Talk IBD.
Potential Complications
May be preventable if you recognize the warning signs early and take the appropriate action
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). About 25% of patients with a urostomy have a urinary tract infection (UTI) each year. The symptoms usually are fever, pain, and strong-selling urine. Diabetes increases the risk of a UTI.
• Drink at least 8 glasses of fluids each day.
• Eat food and drink fluids that inhibit the growth of bacteria. Examples include cranberry juice, blueberries, peppers, cherries, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.
CALL YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A UTI
4. Dehydration. Dehydration is a common reason why patients with a urostomy return to the hospital. Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluid than it takes in.
Signs of dehydration:
• Being thirsty
• A dry mouth
• Decreased urine output
• Dizziness when standing up
• Muscle or abdominal cramps
5. Diarrhea. is common because part of your intestine was removed and re-routed to make the urinary diversion. This can affect the absorption of fluids from your intestine, resulting in watery stools. Vomiting and nausea are also common in the first few weeks following a urostomy. Patients often report having a loss of appetite and experience weight loss.
6. Nausea/Vomiting . following a urostomy, patients sometimes report weight loss, tasting food differently and feeling nausea or full soon after eating. It is not unusual to lose 15-20 pounds after surgery.
Learn more about hydration from our dietitian, Danielle.
7. Problem Solving. You may encounter problems like skin irritation, leaks, no output and others. Click here for more details.
8. Medical Emergencies.Review this list so you will know when to call your surgeon/nurse or go to the nearest emergency room.
Ostomy Life
How to look fashionable with your ostomy – what to wear
Maria
Maggie
Jearlean
Eric
Getting to know your ostomy – What could go wrong?
Blowouts
Blowouts is a general term for epic pouch failure, from any cause, resulting in the contents spilling out. It’s the stuff of ostomy nightmares, and can also be the subject of some hilarious stories (blowouts tend to be much funnier in hindsight). Read about the causes of blowouts and how to cleanup if it happens to you here.
How will your ostomy change you?
Having an ostomy can build a “community” that will love and support you. Hear Maggie say she would not trade her ostomy for “the world” and how precious the gift of her community is to her.
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.
