If you are awaiting stoma surgery or had your operation recently, it’s likely that you have a number of questions that you may not have had the chance to discuss with anyone yet. Here at Oakmed, we try to answer as many of these questions as we can on our FAQ page.
A common question that ostomates have is when can they return to work after stoma surgery. After having major abdominal surgery, it’s usual to remain off work for at least 6 weeks. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as preoperative fitness, recovery rate from surgery and the type of job undertaken. To find out more about when you can expect to return to work after surgery, visit our FAQ page.
If you’ve just had stoma surgery, you may be wondering how to get your supplies. There are in fact two ways of obtaining your supplies. Firstly you can get your prescription from your GP and then take this to your local pharmacy who will order them in for you. Alternatively, you can obtain your prescription from your GP and send it to a delivery company, who will then send the supplies to your home. To find out more information about how to get your supplies, along with the answers to other questions you may have, visit our FAQ page.
Many ostomates wonder about whether their activity levels will need to change after surgery. A common question is whether you can still play sport as an ostomate. The good news is that once you are fully recovered from your operation you should be able to play sport as normal. However, if it is a contact sport such as rugby then it’s a good idea to wear a guard over the stoma for extra protection.
Whether you can shower, bath or go swimming with a stoma is another common question. The answer is yes, all stoma products are designed to stay on when in contact with water so they are fine to wear when washing or swimming.
To find the answers to any questions you may have regarding your stoma, or how it may affect you, visit our FAQ page.
