This year I had the privilege to go to Lake Michigan with my family. We went on a nice vacation to the beach and we were able to enjoy some privacy and great social time out mostly alone. Now many people get afraid instantly when I mention beach and stoma's but in reality lots of people have them and enjoy going outside and enjoying the water just like everyone else. In fact I suggest people with a stoma to go out and enjoy the beach. Yes there are some things extra that you need to do and you also need to make sure its the right time if you are wearing a stoma cap, but go out and have some fun.
This year we were able to do some sailing. This was my first time actually being able to control the sale and even dock the boat. It was great because normally my brother in law takes care of the sailing, but it was fun to learn. Being forced to watch the wind and the tails on the sail was a bunch of fun. Guiding us while gliding along the water really is a cool experience and I suggest everyone give it a try. I personally enjoyed tacking. This is where you jump from one side of the boat to the other when the sail switches. It was a blast and I was careful not to smack my stoma on anything and all went just well. No seals got loose on this trip.
Another day we just hit the beach itself. I went swimming and luckily without salt water it sure was nice. Salt in a wound is not a thing in Lake Michigan because there is no salt water. This keeps your stoma safe and I surely enjoy that. So for me I like to play frisbee and toss a football around in the water. I will say it is a good amount of extra abb work so be careful not to injure yourself. I ended up having a blast in the waves and was able to enjoy the time with my family floating around and just having a good time.
When it comes to being outside in the sun though I do take extra precautions. I wear a shirt to cover my stoma and to keep me from getting sunburnt. The last thing you want is that and that is why I make sure my clothing is uv protected. Otherwise the sun gets right through anyway and it's all for nothing. So for me I take a little extra care and put lots of sunscreen on and make sure my skin is nice and moist. It is also important for me to bring some extra ostomy gear along with me.
Just in case I keep my gear in a waterproof container. Otterbox is a really good brand and it seals out water and sand really well. I still put my gear in a bag inside the box and put water, hand sanitizer and a towel in there as well. I want to keep things clean and this is a good way for me to do it. It may not work for everybody but it does for me and that is enough. So go out and enjoy the beach this year even if you have a stoma. Take a few extra steps to stay safe and have fun!
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