Lest you assume this is another one of those inspirational stories of how one man overcame cancer, arthritis and heart disease through regular exercise, be assured it is not. For almost a year after my surgery, I did not go near a gym. When finally I worked up the determination to begin exercising again, I wore bulky sweat suits to and from the spa and stayed out of the pool, sauna and shower. Physically, my doctor advised, I could have resumed regular exercise 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Psychologically, I needed much longer. I had to overcome my embarrassment at having a colostomy. I had to convince myself that the sight of my prosthesis was something others would just have to get used to; if anyone didn't like it, that was their problem, not mine.
Tough talk? Well, even though I early on accepted the concept intellectually, it took a long time to overcome my self-consciousness in the locker room. But once I did begin to exercise regularly, swimming, showering and changing in the locker room soon followed. My regular swimming regimen began twenty years ago with plenty of rest between each lap. After about a year I could swim 20 laps without resting. Today, for the sake of time I limit my workouts to as many laps as I can swim in a 25 or 30 minute time period. I still have arthritis and my hypertension has not disappeared. But I have a sense of well-being and invigoration that just is not there if I skip a day of swimming.
Why swimming? It is great exercise for the heart and lungs and it's easy on my arthritic joints. The most important benefit for me, however, is psychological. I now feel comfortable with my body; swimming has given me a sense of accomplishment.
As for the mechanics of swimming with a colostomy, I have never experienced a problem. The two piece flange and pouch that I wear lasts me 5 to 6 days without a change. Water does not seep in and since I irrigate daily there usually is nothing present in the pouch. But if there were, that would not interfere with the act of swimming. Although I no longer use water-proof or paper tape around the edges of the flange, this does not seem to affect the condition of the new flexible flange.
Most pools have fast, medium and slow lanes and almost any style or stroke can be beneficial. I use a sidestroke because of a chronically dislocated shoulder. Many people prefer a crawl or back stroke for maximum physical benefit. But also, I see a lot of people doing the dog paddle. If you want them, many public pools offer swimming lessons and some now offer aerobic exercise classes right in the water.
If you do take up swimming, you should invest in a good pair of goggles to keep the chlorine in the pool from irritating your eyes. Other than that, all you need is a bathing suit. Tight briefs suits will help you swim faster; but loose, blousy ones will hide your bulges. As with any exercise program, consult your doctor first, start off slowly, and be sure to do it regularly. Aim ultimately at working up to 15 to 20 minutes of continuous exercise three times each week. Good luck and maybe someday, I will see another prosthesis in the locker room.
