Moving toward feeling grateful for Your Second Chance at Life
Congratulations, you made it through the hardest week! You may be discouraged and battling thoughts of “bitter” – that’s OK, I did too! As my friend Jeremy Poincenot, the world blind golf champion says, “You are allowed to visit the ‘Poor Me’ house — you just can’t move in!” Keep working to choose “better” and realize that, though what you have gone through has been challenging, you are one week closer to your full recovery…and starting up that mountain. You will get through this!
Remember that we are going to be with you every step of the way. You probably didn’t get through this first week on your own – there’s likely someone who is helping you through your recovery. Take a moment today to tell that person or them how grateful you are for their impact on your life. “In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Former NFL Kicker
Former NFL Kicker, Walter Payton Man of the Year, Grateful Ostomy Patient
Second Chances
A kicker RARELY gets a second chance in overtime, but I did in a famed NFL playoff game that became known as “The Epic in Miami”. That second chance was only possible because I had finally learned to put away my bitterness and chose better. You can make that choice too. I wonder what your second chance will be!!!
Roadmap to Recovery
Take a few more steps today than you did yesterday.
You have taken in a LOT of information about living with an ostomy since your surgery and may feel a little overwhelmed. Write down any questions you may have for your medical team and visit our website for more resources.
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.
Embracing Ostomy Life Goals
Goals for Today
• Ostomy pouch change with some hands-on practice if possible. Learn how to empty and change your pouch here.
• Familiarize yourself with ostomy supply manufacturers. You can visit their websites or call them for information and to request free samples of products. Many suppliers and distributors have WOCN nurses on staff to help answer questions about how to use their products.
• Insurance providers and Medicare require a prescription from the physician. If you have home health support, they will be required to order your supplies while you are under their care.
Ostomy Terms you Want to Know
Appliance (also called a pouch or a bag)
The basic appliance is a baseplate (also called a barrier, flange or wafer) that sticks to your skin with the pouch attached to it. The baseplate has a hole in the middle which fits around your stoma so your waste will go directly into your pouch.
• It has been a full and challenging week, but you are well on your way to recovery!
• Take a moment to reflect on the past week and think about all you have learned and were able to accomplish.
• Allow yourself to look to the future with hope. What are you most looking forward to with your “second chance at life”? You will get there…I promise!
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.
