Stock of Supplies

Something people should not have to worry about during a nation-wide lock down is their medical supplies. Americans all over the country are wondering where they are going to get their ConvaTec ostomy supplies during a time like this. Thankfully, the government understands the importance of medical supplies and will continue to produce and distribute ConvaTec ostomysupplies through this difficult time. Anything could happen at any point, so they would recommend that patients stock up over the next several weeks. People would be put in a pretty sticky situation if they did not have access to the supplies they need. Consider ordering a few extra of these products during the quarantine. You never know what might happen.

Bags

Bags are oftentimes reusable. And this is great for a few uses and cleanings! But obviously, the bag will eventually need to be changed. This could even be a time to try out a new type of bag that you have not had the time prior. You will, afterall, be spending the majority of your time at home so you can check on the bag and how quickly it needs to be changed.

Adhesive

Each time you reapply a bag you have to apply an adhesive. Some people opt for time. Some really enjoy paste. Another option to think about is also a spray type adhesive. It is important to make sure the adhesive you choose is agreeable with your skin. The reason most people have to try a few different types of adhesive is because of how their skin reacts to it. Might as well get a few different type just in case your body develops this weird reaction to the type of adhesive you have been ordering for years.

Ostomy Belt

One thing you certainly can do during this time is take a little walk, run, or hike. This does not put you in any danger because this does not put you in direct contact with anyone else. If you have not previously purchased one, an ostomy belt is perfect for physical exercise. It helps the bag and stoma stay staple during any strenuous movements. This might be a great chance to try out something new.

Cleaners and Deodorizing

Cleaning supplies are the most important part of your ostomy. Keeping your stoma clean is of the upmost importance during a time like this. Infections spread much quicker through open wounds. And your stoma essentially is an open wound. So always wash your hands before cleaning and make sure you are cleaning quite often.

Changing Drainable Bags

At first people may feel like their ostomies are an inconvenience. Sure, changing your daily routine can be difficult and frustrating at first. But the payoff is worth it. After just a few short months, it will no longer be an inconvenience. Once you have the feeling of relief and stress-free, you want to do everything you can to keep that. Sometimes patients are hesitant to change their routine once they’ve had that feeling. But the truth is, sometimes things change. And sometimes your stoma changes and you need to change your routine accordingly.

One product many people report is with their ostomy bags. Especially while healing, it is possible your stoma can change size and shape. If the stoma is changing, the bag you are using probably isn’t going to work anymore. You and your doctor picked a specific bag to fit your needs on that specific day you went in. Now that you are at home your stoma could start to change and you can make a decision on what type of bag to try next. ConvaTec ostomy supplies come in many different forms. There are so many types of ostomy bags available to choose from according to your needs. Maybe you have always had a drainable bag, but now you may benefit from a two-piece ostomy bag. Don’t be afraid to try different options and see what’s best for you.

Also, people report not being able to feel their stoma becoming active after healing starts to take place. At first the intestines and stoma are raw and swollen, so you may feel the pressure of the stoma becoming active. After a while, though, the healing will take place and the pressure will go away. Sometimes this means people will not realize how many movements they are having in a day. The bag could leak because of this. They could opt for a different bag that is either slightly larger or that has better leak protection.

If you have never tried drainable bags, they are very convenient. You can wear this type of bag for several days so no more raw skin after replacing adhesive every day. The skin can be easily irritated by changing the bag so often. If your skin is constantly irritated, consider switching to drainable bags. When the person wants to empty the bag they simply position themself over the toilet (or catch it in a cup to be discarded) and open the seal to let the output drain out.

Getting Ready for Calamity and being safe with your ostomy gear.

There is nothing worse than seeing people in pain and suffering. The fact is that the economy is not great in 2021 and because of the pandemic it probably won't recover well.   It really is hard to believe, because I have never felt that our first world economy would ever struggle at anything.  But we saw that our freedoms could be taken away in a heartbeat and half the country wanted it.  Now, this is not a talk about freedom or rights, but as a person who has a stoma and needs medical gear to survive to see the ability to get that gear to disappear made me an advocate for freedom fast.  It is wild to think about in the United States and since I have an ostomy I fear that healthcare will be involved in my loss of safety and rights. 

I saw a lot of bad things happen in other cities and I didn't want it to happen to me.  I had friends who have stomas and need medical gear each month who lived in those cities.  They told me that most stores shutdown.  Their local pharmacies were allowed to stay open, but then the riots came.  People started rioting and burning and looting all across the nation and in major cities, they were not stopped.  The governments stopped the police from policing and people are now pretending like it never happened.  Cities are in ruins a year later and it was like it never happened.  

This is really crazy, but pharmacies are not the first stop for ostomy gear in most people's lives. But they are a place we can get supplemented or backups from when we need them.  Now, what didn't make the news was that deliveries and shipping did not happen in those major cities where riots took place.  People stopped working in those areas and my friends were trapped.  It was literally a looting nightmare and if they left their home their safety was going to be put at stake.  No police action was going to save them.  It took about two months for them to get new replacements.

Yep, it all happened last year and it seems likely to happen in 2021.  So what I took from this was a lesson they told me.  It was to prepare for supplies to not be available for up to two months.  This is a good buffer of extra gear to have on hand in case something bad does happen again.  The election is right down the road and it looks like this is all a possibility again. So my plan has been to be ready for another economic shutdown and collapse.  

I am not a prepper, but being prepared is pretty smart.  This is pretty expensive and can be hard to do but if you save up and get a little here and there it is possible.  I know that I am a stickler for expiration dates, so I also plan on substituting the gear out over time as my monthly shipments come in.  I think that with the way our economy is and how uncertain the markets are that this is a wise move.  It is not normal to have a ton of extra gear and supplies, but when economic collapse is the new normal it may be worth it. 

Getting back into shape after an ostomy surgery

This year hs been a little different than most.  Our country moved into a totolitaian society and most people thought that was not a bad thing.  But I also ended up getting an ostomy and that has not been the most fun experience.  I have worked really hard to make sure that I am physically fit enough to survive in our new United States.  The new normal is terror from governments and jail time for those who enjoy our constitution.  But one area that I have had to focus on is my stoma. There are a lot of misconceptions about what happens when you have a stoma and many people have them and live a wonderful and absolutely normal life.  In most cases, life doesn't really change and the things that you don't really change. That is what you should know and be excited that you are alive and that life will go on pretty much the same as it did before.  That is because I use really awesome gear and don't have to think about it failing. Now that the serious stuff is out of the way let's talk about being active with a stoma. I am not the most in-shape person but I do love to be outdoors and play sports. So getting back into shape was key to me.

If you are going to be a bit wild outside and active then you need to be prepared.  I know that there are some great gear items that help me be able to do this without having to think about my stoma. Calling up your pharmacist or some cool online companies is key to learning. I know that there are a great many companies that I didn't know.  I called up up few after finding them on the internet and had some great conversations and learned a ton from them. I have found that the vast majority of companies in the ostomy care business are amazing and really good at helping people learn and giving great gear advice. These helped to move me into a safe and happy feeling doing activities outside and in the wild.

One of my go to products that I ended up loving bags that have belt loops and also elastic belts.  This helps me keep things tighter when I am being crazy.  I love to play basketball, go hiking on a weekly basis, and lots of other outdoor activities with my family.  This helps me out when I know I am going to be super active.  I also put on a stoma guard as well. It is just what is sounds like and is awesome for full-contact sports.

Don't jump into working out right after surgery though.  It is no surprise that I didn't start off after the ostomy by going full-on into being super active.  I started slow and worked my way up to grow my muscles back and be safe.  I have had many injuries and starting slow is always the best way to not injury yourself more. So this is one thing that I really suggest you do too.  You are now more apt to having hernias and abdominal issues, so follow your healthcare provider's advice and stay as safe as you can.  But also have fun, and remember that being active is part of enjoying life.