Hello everyone;
I am living in Ohio at 71 years young and I have had a colostomy for over 12 years.
I guess I should have found this site sooner because I have learned so much here that I learned on my own, due to such a limited budget and no medical insurance one is left to fetch for ones self in the medical arena.
About the problem with swimming and showering; I made a cover for the wafer and pouch from a #1 ‘Rubbermaid’ bowl. It is secured with an adjustable fabric belt from a carry all bag or purse you can find that has a clasp on each end (Wal-Mart, $3.00.) and the length that fits your mid section. I made a stainless steel (I was a welder for way to many years.) ring around the bowl from .030” welding wire with a smaller ½” hoop on either side for the clasps. > oOo < If the pouch is emptied and rolled up it fits in the bowl and then snap the clasp on each end to the smaller loops securing it to the body. A small twist of the bowl and all the hair is moved out of the way to secure a seal.
With a long ‘T’ shirt on, no one knows I wear a pouch at the pool and my shower time is as long as I wish.
For intimate times with my lady I have made a sort-of ‘Cummerbund’. She and I are in the process of developing a design that will be easier than stepping into or putting this one over my head to put it on. I will see how this will work with Velcro for more adjustability than the elastic. Hopefully this will also double for a trip to the pool with the bowl on the inside and maybe a colorful pattern on the outside. We will see how this idea works as time and money allows.
Only we who have been close to not having life really respect the value of it every day.
I am living in Ohio at 71 years young and I have had a colostomy for over 12 years.
I guess I should have found this site sooner because I have learned so much here that I learned on my own, due to such a limited budget and no medical insurance one is left to fetch for ones self in the medical arena.
About the problem with swimming and showering; I made a cover for the wafer and pouch from a #1 ‘Rubbermaid’ bowl. It is secured with an adjustable fabric belt from a carry all bag or purse you can find that has a clasp on each end (Wal-Mart, $3.00.) and the length that fits your mid section. I made a stainless steel (I was a welder for way to many years.) ring around the bowl from .030” welding wire with a smaller ½” hoop on either side for the clasps. > oOo < If the pouch is emptied and rolled up it fits in the bowl and then snap the clasp on each end to the smaller loops securing it to the body. A small twist of the bowl and all the hair is moved out of the way to secure a seal.
With a long ‘T’ shirt on, no one knows I wear a pouch at the pool and my shower time is as long as I wish.
For intimate times with my lady I have made a sort-of ‘Cummerbund’. She and I are in the process of developing a design that will be easier than stepping into or putting this one over my head to put it on. I will see how this will work with Velcro for more adjustability than the elastic. Hopefully this will also double for a trip to the pool with the bowl on the inside and maybe a colorful pattern on the outside. We will see how this idea works as time and money allows.
Only we who have been close to not having life really respect the value of it every day.
