When I first received my ostomy in 2016, imagining a time when I would be able to work a full-time job was difficult because, in the moment, I felt like my world was on hold. As time passed, though, I learned just how much my ostomy actually gave me the ability to do. I could work, exercise, and live the life that I always dreamed of. Now, almost 4 years later, I work a full-time job that I love and it is all because my ostomy saved my life.
Now, I feel it is important to note that working with a chronic illness and ostomy is not always easy. The nature of my job is very high energy and involves great time commitment, so I have had to learn how to juggle the responsibilities of my job and the demands of my health to create the necessary balance to keep me healthy and happy. With that in mind, here are 5 of my best tips for working with an ostomy:
Always have snacks. When I first began my job, I had no idea how much I would rely on snacks to get me through the day, and I was greatly unprepared. Now, I keep an entire drawer full of a variety of snacks like granola bars, Cheerios, apple sauce, and more. Having the peace of mind that I have snack available when I am feeling low on energy is a so reassuring and something that I highly recommend to everyone - ostomy or not.
Stay hydrated. I preach hydration a lot, but for good reason. As someone with a chronic illness and ostomy, I rely heavily on staying properly hydrated. With adequate hydration, I run the risk of becoming dehydrated and needing fluids. When I am at work, I am constantly reminding myself to drink. My go-to when it comes to staying hydrated is to mix a packet of DripDrop ORS, an oral hydration powder, with a liter of water. I aim to finish this during the day, and go on to finish another liter in the evenings. I have found that this routine keeps me aware of my hydration and makes it harder to neglect it. DripDrop ORS is the perfect mixture of salt, electrolytes, and sugar to hydrate my body and encourage it to hang on to the hydration that I am drinking. To learn more about DripDrop, visit: https://dripdrop.com.
Pack extra supplies. As an ostomate, we often have to carry around a little extra "baggage" - AKA ostomy supplies (do you see what I did there?). Early in my ostomy days, this was a huge point of fear. Where would I put my supplies? What if someone saw them? If you have an ostomy and need to store supplies, I highly recommend finding a small makeup bag to keep your supplies in. This keeps it discreet and not obvious as ostomy supplies. At work, I have a small bag with enough supplies for at least 3 bag changes - just in case!
Listen to your body. When it comes to balancing a busy work schedule, it is imperative to listen to your body to stay happy and healthy. If you are feeling run down and exhausted, really focus on self-care to refuel your energy levels. Since starting my job, I have strived to pay mind to when my body needs rest and listening carefully.
Trust your body. While this is tip is not like the others, I feel as if it is incredibly important to mention. The biggest challenge that I faced when it came to starting a new job was my own mind and the limits that I had put on myself. After so long of fearing my body and not knowing what was next, it took time and trust on my part to learn that I was capable doing what I aspired to do.
So there you have it - these are my best tips for working with an ostomy. Remember, while ostomy surgery is life-changing, it should not be life-limiting. My ostomy gave me a second chance at life and I intend to do everything I can to follow my dreams and live the life that I always dreamed for myself - and you can too. Listen and trust your body and you will be surprised at what you can accomplish.
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