Just Keep Swimming!

I’ve never really enjoyed exercise, I’m more of an ‘extra fries’ kinda girl but I loved walking and would regularly walk 5 miles each day with my faithful furry friend, Sherlock. We stomped around the Forest; we climbed the hills and then we couldn’t. We were both struggling to walk anywhere, me with all my health issues and him being a chocolate lab, his back legs were starting to go. However, there is one thing that we both love and that is the water.

Soothes my Soul

For me, being in or near the water, is a calming experience. I love how light and free I feel whilst just bobbing up and down, thinking of nothing in particular. What utter bliss! The fact that even while you are having fun you are working your whole body out. I mean what is there NOT to love about swimming? Well, apart from getting my hair wet and the possibility of being stung by a jellyfish.

Body Confidence

If you are a little curvy like myself and worried about how you look in a swimsuit, I am here to tell you not to sweat it. I’ll let you in on a little secret, “no one is looking at you, you look fabulous”.

Despite the focus on body positivity over the last few years, I feel society still tries to brainwash us into thinking that “thin is good and fat is bad”. We are all so different inside, why wouldn’t we all be different shapes and sizes. I have recently learnt that what other people think of you, is none of your business. Live your life free, we are all just as anxious as each other, all nervous to show our wobbly thighs, wonky boobs or stoma so grab that swimming cossie and show them off in style!

As I am reading this to myself, I realise that not once have I thought about my stoma and swimming, and I guess it is because having a stoma doesn’t prevent you from swimming or taking part in aqua fit or any exercise for that matter. Not. An. Issue.

Thinking about the first time I went to aqua fit after my stoma op, I was super conscious of my bag under my costume but then I was conscious of my bag through my clothes as well. Any given situation is frightening if you haven’t done it before, so I say show your bag, don’t show your bag, the choice is entirely yours. However, I tell myself to be proud of my stoma, I’m alive because of it.

Honestly

It is true, having a stoma doesn’t stop you from doing ANYTHING at all. Any type of exercise is possible if you really want to do it. There may be times when you will have to alter the exercise to ensure that your stoma is okay and take steps in order to prevent hernias. Perhaps be a little over-cautious as opposed to overzealous with your exercising. CliniMed have some great free guides for exercising with a stoma including the Breathing and Movements guide which is perfect for beginners.

Be Prepared!

I feel that the only difference is that having a stoma forces you to ‘prepare yourself’ in advance. I make sure that my stoma-to-go bag is replenished with all the items I may need if I leak. I do take the bag with me and leave it in a locker however I rarely have had to use it.

I will go swimming and bathe once I am at home and change my bag in my own surroundings. I could change my bag at the pool if I needed to. If I am honest though, I prefer to change my bag in the comfort of my own home. I have a set routine for bag changing and I like to have everything ready and at hand.

Changing Room Toilets

To be able to change my bag at the swimming pool, I would have to use their toilets. A normal sized loo doesn’t have enough space to change a bag and I don’t feel ‘secure’ in the disabled loos at the swimming pool. I was challenged about using them once before. I explained I had every right to use the disabled toilet however, I did not want to tell this stranger that I have a stoma. It isn’t her business.

The changing room toilets aren’t great, they just aren’t practical for bag changes. I don’t want to sit on the toilet to change my bag and it leaves nowhere for me to put my clean bag, wipes etc? I just don’t feel it’s hygienic.

In the end my husband had to come into the loo with me to hold my supplies as there is no way I would put them on the floor because it is soaking wet from visitor footfall. Never again!

My Stoma-to-go-bag!

My stoma-to-go bag is filled with everything I need if I were to have a ‘leak’.

I have extra bags, flanges, wipes (dry and wet) both removal and adhesive sprays, and even a change of clothes! A full kit in case the worst does happen. Thankfully over the years the leaks have become fewer, and my confidence has grown.

Full Bag Must Haves

• Stoma bags
• Towel or disposable bed pads – to protect yourself from extra leakage.
• Scissors – to cut a hole in my bags.
• Hand Sanitiser – to be able to clean my hands before and after.
• Wet wipes/dry wipes – to clean around stoma.
• Adhesive remover spray – to help easily lift the bag away from the skin.
• Barrier Spray – to spray onto clean stoma, giving a layer of protection, so that you aren’t ripping your skin off when you remove the bag. Very Important bit of kit for me although you may find you don’t need this.
• Convex Ostomy Barrier ring – also known as a donut. I place this around my stoma before I put my bag on. It helps to smooth out my stoma dip.
• Flanges – adhesive strips that I can place around the edge of my stoma bag to ensure it is extra secured.
• Rubbish bags.
• I also have body spray, a full change of clothes plus extra pants!

Swimming as an exercise

Why is swimming such a good way to exercise? Well, everyone can do it regardless of age and it is great for those who haven’t exercised in a while or who, unfortunately can’t do other types of exercise due to health conditions. Swimming is an all over ‘aerobic’ exercise that doesn’t place a heavy strain on your joints, ligaments or most importantly, on your heart.

Swimming helps to boost and improve your heart health. Research done by Swim England has highlighted how aquatic activity provides huge health benefits, not just for our physical self but for our mental health as well. The studies show how people with chronic pain, depression and cardiovascular issues benefit from regular aqua exercise.

What is Aqua Fit?

Aqua Fit is a low impact way of exercising using water resistance as a way to get fitter with specific exercises that can use floats and pool noodles. Your body will work 12 times harder in the water than it would in the gym AND you don’t get hot and sweaty.

I love aqua fit. It is my spiritual home, a bunch of middle-aged women (mostly), who are embracing their newfound self-confidence, bouncing about and exercising to music, and having a really good laugh about it all. Because the water supports your weight (and joints), you feel light as a feather as you swish here and there, as graceful as a gazelle.

Just Swimming

If aqua fit doesn’t sound like it is for you, what about just going to your local pool and doing laps? This is a great way to gain strength and endurance plus all the other benefits that I have already mentioned.

What are you waiting for? Let’s go swimming!

Swim Secure

For those times where you want some added reassurance UltraFrame Film Flange Extenders can help provide extra security and comfort while you swim.