Exercise and stoma

Hi FloC 

I can’t advise as my situation is different because of my different surgery, but I know I’ve chatted to Latestart about these types of exercise and I’ll tag her  in so she might be able to help. She has a urostomy, so I don’t know how much difference it that might make, having a different type of stoma. 

Sarah xx

Hi FloC, I think your best bet is to talk with Sarah Russell. She is a physiotherapist, I think, who has a stoma (colostomy) and who is an expert in these things. I found her by Googling stoma + pilates. I also recently watched a webinar with her and a bladder surgeon on the Urostomy Association website on just this topic, which was both informative and confidence-building. She is working with stoma nurses to create info on the topic as well.

Pre-op I had 20 years of daily Pilates practice in class and at home but, although I having been walking daily - fast and up and down hills - since my op (2 years ago) using walking poles to increase upper body effect and at the start for balance, I left it quite late to restart my Pilates practice ie after talking with Sarah by phone. And then interrupted it for a while as I was told by the hospital to be careful with my arm - aneurysm.

However I am now doing it again and concentrating on gentle arms, pelvic floor and abs while building up on load bearing legs. I do some matwork later on, on the floor as well and am I'm hoping to get back to reformer before too long.

My advice is to start with what one teacher I had used to call 'duvet pilates'. I do 15 minutes every morning on the bed before I get up and uncouple my night bag. Fairly gentle arms, legs (especially glutes) and stomach work - not much load as yet on abs and lower back - which has really improved my fitness in the past 3 or 4 months (and is trimming my midriff too). Then while sitting on the edge of the bed I do some 'chair' pilates' - the NHS website has a video on that. I just do a few minutes of leg exercises. I have lower back weakness as well as the stoma so am building up again carefully. And I don't do yoga as  I find those exercises can take me outside my safe range of  extension etc (I also have osteoporosis). Listen to your body and if you find it's a bit soon for something build up to it.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Latestart

That’s brilliant thank you so much.