Getting active after stoma surgery can feel like a really daunting prospect especially when you’ve had abdominal surgery. I am coming up for my 5 year stoma-versary this June, so I wanted to share how I got there and where I am now.
Start small
When I first came home from hospital after my stoma surgery I followed the physios guidance and the little booklet of approved exercises. If I remember correctly it involved some light abdominal exercises, all focused on engaging your core strength gently.
Ease back in gently
Once I got the all clear from my surgeon I started going back to my yoga class. I spoke with my teacher beforehand to let her know that even though I was fully healed from my surgery, I might need to take things a bit slow and I wasn’t keen on doing too much that involved lying on my stomach. She helped make adaptations throughout the class and I really enjoyed it!
Getting back to cardio
One thing that definitely took a nose dive after years of being unwell, and then surgery, was definitely my cardio fitness. From the first week I was home, I made sure that I walked somewhere everyday. It started off with short 5 minute walks and gradually built up over time. 4 months later, I went for my first run and started the couch to 5K. This was a great way to ease into running and start working on my cardiovascular fitness.
How long until I stopped worrying?
The period of time between 6 months and 1 year post-op is where I built up most of my confidence. I was back doing 10K steps a day, regular yoga/ Pilates workouts and the occasional bit of running. For me, once I felt confident in my stoma bag, knowing it wouldn’t leak or burst if I laid on my front during a Pilates class, it massively changed my perspective. Gone were the days of constant worry and I was just able to focus on moving my body.
Where am I now?
As I mentioned earlier, I am coming up for my 5 year mark with my stoma and I’ve probably never been more active. I regularly go swimming, to Pilates, scuba dive and recently even learnt how to surf! Going from being too scared to lay on my stoma to surfing, where you’re constantly laying on your stoma on the board.
Bottom line
Follow the advice of your surgeons and physios in the early days. Once you start building your confidence up doing exercises little and often, you’ll be unstoppable! So trust me if I can do it, you definitely can too!
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