Stoma, Guards, and Hiking

When Spring is around the corner my heart starts to sour.  It means I am going to be able to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors after being locked away for months.   I love this time of year more than any because it is the best time to be active outside.  When you have a stoma and carry around ostomy gear, it is not super fun to hike covered in sweat.  I am not the biggest fan of being super sweaty at any point in time, but add on some ostomy gear and you know that the extra sweat and weight are just not that fun. So spring is the perfect time to get outside and have fun on the trails.  Now getting ready for this time of year may be different if this is the first time you have done it with a stoma. 

Gear is pretty key and getting a good ostomy guard can keep you safe in any situation. Now, this can be the right ostomy bag, but I think a backpack is also important.  For me, I like to do really long day hikes instead of backpacking.  That is because on an average backpacking trip I usually do about ten to fifteen miles.  This is usually around a few days to do.  But I also found out that if I simply carry a very small backpack that fits water, food, and clothes for a day that I can hike that amount of miles in one day.  That leaves the other 2 days of exploring new territory.  That is a concept I learned from my brother in law and we were able to explore national parks many times what normal people do.  

If you have a stoma you may need a slightly larger backpack.  That is because I like to take emergency gear along with me.  When hiking mountains or just woods you can slip, fall and puncture yourself or your gear.  When you have an ostomy bag that can be a gross and frustrating experience.  So be prepared for the worst.  I don't go overboard, but know that If something happens I have extra gear and cleaning supplies.

Hit up an REI or a nice backpacking store and get your body fit to a good one. I like to use medium size backpack that is super comfortable for my body.  I use a chest strap to help divert the weight a little from my shoulders.  But if you are able to with your stoma then getting a hip belt can be really useful.  That is not necessary though, transferring weight to your hips is more important for backpacking and not just a day hike.  So if you cant use a waist belt that is ok.  Get a backpack that has comfortable shoulder straps are important. 

Now just protect your stuff and make sure it is dummy and rainproof.  I like to waterproof my ostomy spare gear.  This can be done super lightweight which is also important to me.  I like to use double zip lock bags.  They are great at waterproofing gear that I don't want to get wet and it is super lightweight.  That is a double win in my book.  Not get out and find a great time for yourself.