Learning Ostomy

Question:

GET IT IN WRITING! (….and then sue) i’ve been living on my yacht lately and go for a swim regularly with my PFD, "personal flotation device", aka bag, i’ve never noticed any leakage. but i’m reluctant to jump in without my bag, on the one hand i’d hate a big fish to come and have a nibble on my stoma, but i’m uncertain as to the possibility of infection. the only discrimination, the only "negative feedback" or "bad vibration" i’ve encountered since becoming a ileostomate and learning i had crohns disease was from the "blood bank" and that was because i rang and asked (about pentasa) before attending. everyone else simply gets told "do it my way or i’ll empty my bag in your pocket" cheers bruce – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 19:14:49 -0600, James Rice wrote: > Pardon me if this has been asked before. Since it’s coming on close to > summer, I’m sure it will be asked again. > A member of my UOA chapter, Lawton-Ft Sill (OK) wrote the following to me > today. "I called the YMCA today to ask if the pool is open or closed to > ostomy patients. Answer – closed, because it is considered an open wound. > I was told to call back next week to talk to a supervisor." > Now I know this subject must have been talked about every year when the > weather turns warm and people begin thinking of going swimming in their > local pools. How do others handle asking or do most not bother and swim > anyway? Is there anything in writing of what could be considered an > ‘official’ position by the UOA or a health organization on swimming in > public pools with an ostomy? > I need some hard information real fast as this has me feeling quite angry. > Really sounds like a case of discrimination. But for public health reasons > I can understand the ignorance of those who try to enforce the rules. One > of our jobs as members of UOA is educating them. Who has done this before > and had success? > Thanks for your answers. > Jim > President, Lawton-Ft Sill (OK) > Ostomy Association > —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– > http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–== > Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

B….y nerve of the pool management, how dare they. Keeping Mum is good advice, but me being the b….y minded old sausage that I am I would go to the high board and just before diving shout, ‘Look everybody, I have an ostomy, clear the pool’.Then I would be absolutely delighted as a ‘health hazard’ in being evicted. What a splash (sorry for the pun) for the local paper! Good wishes. Classic 42

Response:

Hi Jim, While it may seem to be underhanded to some, I agree that in this instance it is better to keep mum.  I have swam in all kinds of places since my ostomy and have never asked for permission first.  Most people who you would ask don’t even know what an ostomy is in the first place. I think in this instance we will have to be our own judge of whether we are creating a health risk to others and ourselves, in other words, if I were having problems with leakage I would not want to be in a public pool. I think most ostomates who do swim are confident that they are are as secure as anyone else in that regard.   Jim, I haven’t been to this site in over a year or so, note my new e-mail address. Have a good one, Joy  (used to be grannywag)

Response:

I like the "DON’T ASK = DON’T TELL"! rule. Do the YMCA’s ask if women are on their their period? Do they ask if the senior citizen has to wear "senior underwear" (diapers) because of "leaks"? NOT! In my 28 + years as an ileostomate I have only had one accident in the water, 27 years ago, and that happened at a lake and I was diving. Now I wear a tank top, one size smaller, so I can dive and enjoy the water the way I want. I mentioned in post about a year ago so for newbeeesss: Several years ago, at a new enclosed water park at the Wisconsin Dells, a two year old’s diaper came off and the whole complex was shut down for an hour. So folks: "DON’T ASK DON’T TELL"!

Response:

I agree! When asked about swimming, I tell the person: Of course I swim, I’m cleaner than you are—I’m totally sealed, and you have dingleberries hanging! That always brings a perplexed look and an end to further questions. Best— Ron DB <nos…@ourhome.com> wrote in message

news:iuh7c.1$gN3.526@news20.bellglobal.com… > Hi James, > Practice, don’t ask and don’t tell.  Your ostomy is cleaner than any > of the naked a@@holes the others have under their trunks. > Yours who loves swimmin’ > David

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Response:

Hi James, Practice, don’t ask and don’t tell.  Your ostomy is cleaner than any of the naked a@@holes the others have under their trunks. Yours who loves swimmin’ David "James Rice" <jr…@lvcisp.com> wrote in message

news:405ced86$1_4@corp.newsgroups.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Pardon me if this has been asked before. Since it’s coming on close to > summer, I’m sure it will be asked again. > A member of my UOA chapter, Lawton-Ft Sill (OK) wrote the following to me > today. "I called the YMCA today to ask if the pool is open or closed to > ostomy patients. Answer – closed, because it is considered an open wound. I > was told to call back next week to talk to a supervisor." > Now I know this subject must have been talked about every year when the > weather turns warm and people begin thinking of going swimming in their > local pools. How do others handle asking or do most not bother and swim > anyway? Is there anything in writing of what could be considered an > ‘official’ position by the UOA or a health organization on swimming in > public pools with an ostomy? > I need some hard information real fast as this has me feeling quite angry. > Really sounds like a case of discrimination. But for public health reasons I > can understand the ignorance of those who try to enforce the rules. One of > our jobs as members of UOA is educating them. Who has done this before and > had success? > Thanks for your answers. > Jim > President, Lawton-Ft Sill (OK) > Ostomy Association > —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– > http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > —–==  Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

Pardon me if this has been asked before. Since it’s coming on close to summer, I’m sure it will be asked again. A member of my UOA chapter, Lawton-Ft Sill (OK) wrote the following to me today. "I called the YMCA today to ask if the pool is open or closed to ostomy patients. Answer – closed, because it is considered an open wound. I was told to call back next week to talk to a supervisor." Now I know this subject must have been talked about every year when the weather turns warm and people begin thinking of going swimming in their local pools. How do others handle asking or do most not bother and swim anyway? Is there anything in writing of what could be considered an ‘official’ position by the UOA or a health organization on swimming in public pools with an ostomy? I need some hard information real fast as this has me feeling quite angry. Really sounds like a case of discrimination. But for public health reasons I can understand the ignorance of those who try to enforce the rules. One of our jobs as members of UOA is educating them. Who has done this before and had success? Thanks for your answers. Jim President, Lawton-Ft Sill (OK) Ostomy Association —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–

Response: