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- Manage your weight
Being overweight is one of the biggest causes of parastomal hernia, as additional weight causes pressure to push on the abdominal wall. - Strengthen your abdominal muscles
People with weak abdominal muscles are more likely to develop a hernia. Always check with your physician before beginning any new workout regimen or daily activity. - Wear a light support garment
to help boost your confidence while maintaining an active lifestyle. Ostomysecrets® offers a line of apparel and undergarments that help conceal and support your ostomy pouch. - Stop smoking and stay active
to maintain general physical well-being. - Maintain strong muscles
that help you lift and move more safely, therefore protecting your abdomen. Start with your arms. - Be careful when lifting
When you lift or carry anything, do it safely and with good technique. - Adapt exercises and daily activities
to make sure they’re appropriate. Consult your healthcare professional before beginning any new workout regimen or daily activity.
Featured Articles
10/10/2024
Travel
Traveling with an Ostomy: What to Pack
The idea of taking long trips with an ostomy may seem daunting at first. But with a little extra preparation, you can...
Read more Read more17/10/2025
Everyday life
Travel
Road Trips with an Ostomy
Now that you have an ostomy, the idea of taking long trips can seem daunting. But with a little extra preparation, yo...
Read more Read more8/10/2025
Travel
Ostomy Travel Tips
Extra security precautions are being taken at airports and other transit hubs worldwide. A little pre-planning and un...
Read more Read more8/10/2025
Diet
Everyday life
Living with an ostomy: Hydration
Drinking more is one of the simplest ways to improve your health and well-being. These tips can help you stay one ste...
Read more Read more17/10/2025
Fashion
Fashion Tips for Men Living with an Ostomy
After ostomy surgery you can wear the same clothes as anyone else – and do it with style! Here are some fashion tips ...
Read more Read more7/10/2025
Fashion
Fashion tips for women living with an ostomy
Here are some practical fashion tips from Jearlean Taylor, a successful model, author, and businesswoman who has neve...
Read more Read more8/10/2025
Everyday life
Tips for Managing Anxiety After Ostomy Surgery
One of the biggest worries for people who have recently had ostomy surgery is what other people will think.
Read more Read more8/10/2025
Everyday life
Returning to Work with an Ostomy
From industrial jobs to the classroom, from long shifts at the hospital to dancers – and all workplaces in between – ...
Read more Read more8/10/2025
Everyday life
Back to school with an ostomy
As your child begins to recover from ostomy surgery, it is normal for them to feel fearful or anxious about their nee...
Read more Read more8/10/2025
Activity
Exercise After Surgery: Back to Basics
No matter what level of physical activity you want to pursue, ostomy surgery shouldn’t hold you back.
Read more Read more8/10/2025
Everyday life
Everyday Life - Bathing with an Ostomy
Showering and bathing with an ostomy should not interfere with your regular cleaning routine. With the right informa...
Read more Read more27/11/2024
Everyday life
Peristomal Skin Care
Knowing how to identify irritated skin around your stoma early and keeping it healthy could help avoid greater compli...
Read more Read more1. Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society. (2014). Stoma Complications: Best Practice for Clinicians. Mt. Laurel: NJ, Author.
2. Inside Out. Pelvic Floor Safe Exercising. Michelle Kenway 2016 www.pelvicexercises.com.au.
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Fashion
Fashion Tips for Men Living with an Ostomy
After ostomy surgery you can wear the same clothes as anyone else – and do it with style! Here are some fashion tips ...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Renee
I had moderate to severe Crohn's disease for 25+ years which ended up with me getting the surgery to have an ileostom...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - André
Hello, my name is André Estrela, I am Brazilian, married and work as a graphic designer and influencer with an ostomy.
Everyday life
Travel
Road Trips with an Ostomy
Now that you have an ostomy, the idea of taking long trips can seem daunting. But with a little extra preparation, yo...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Taylor
My name is Taylor Mitchell-Ross and I'm in my 30's. I had ostomy surgery due to severe idiopathic constipation and un...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Maggie
My name is Maggie and I received my ostomy at the age of 16. Originally, I had gone in for a resection of my terminal...
Activity
Post-Ostomy Surgery: Dos and Don’ts of Exercise(2)(3)(2)
Exercising after ostomy surgery is about patience and doing what feels right. It’s important to take your time and kn...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Maurizio
I'm Maurizio, I'm 48 years old, I've had a colostomy for 10 years due to colon cancer.
Relationships & Intimacy
Date Night with an Ostomy
Are you feeling nervous at the thought of date night after ostomy surgery? You’re not alone. With a little planning a...
Activity
Post-Ostomy Surgery: Dos and Don’ts of Exercise(2)(2)
Exercising after ostomy surgery is about patience and doing what feels right. It’s important to take your time and kn...
Everyday life
What to do if your stoma bag leaks in public
Leakages in public may be a stoma wearers' worst nightmare. Leaks happen, but the good news is that it doesn’t have t...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Lauren
What do you get when you cross a yoga-loving ad exec with a house plant- obsessed fashionista? You get Lauren Beach o...
Diet
What to Eat After Ostomy Surgery
There is no specific ‘ostomy diet’ but there are important considerations as you discover the foods that work best fo...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Harrison
Hi, my name is Harrison Kefford and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I have been living with an ostomy since February ...
Activity
Post-Ostomy Surgery: Dos and Don’ts of Exercise(2)(3)
Exercising after ostomy surgery is about patience and doing what feels right. It’s important to take your time and kn...
Travel
Ostomy Travel Tips
Extra security precautions are being taken at airports and other transit hubs worldwide. A little pre-planning and un...
Activity
Swimming with an Ostomy
Having an ostomy should not prevent you from swimming. Here are some helpful tips to get you feeling confident in the...
Everyday life
Top Tips for Preventing Stoma Bag Leakages
Tips for preventing stoma leakages, find out if there’s something you could try today to help prevent leakages in the...
Everyday life
How can I stop my stoma leaking at night?
There are some simple things that you can try today that could help reduce stoma bag leakage at night.
Diet
Everyday life
Living with an ostomy: Hydration
Drinking more is one of the simplest ways to improve your health and well-being. These tips can help you stay one ste...
Diet
Enjoy your fruits and vegetables
Tips from our me+ contributor, Sarah Biggart about enjoying a healthier diet whilst living with an ostomy.
Everyday life
Back to school with an ostomy
As your child begins to recover from ostomy surgery, it is normal for them to feel fearful or anxious about their nee...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Angelo
Eu, Angelo dos Santos, tenho 47 anos e tive que fazer a cirurgia para colocar uma urostomia por causa do tratamento d...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Jearlean
Jearlean Taylor has never known life without an ostomy. She has had two ostomies since she was just three years old. ...
Everyday life
Tips for Managing Anxiety After Ostomy Surgery
One of the biggest worries for people who have recently had ostomy surgery is what other people will think.
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Meghan
Instagram Star, Meghan Brown, Shares How Easy Pouch Removal is with ESENTA™
Everyday life
Caring for a Child with an Ostomy
Even though it’s often a lifesaving procedure, it’s still difficult to watch your little one undergo ostomy surgery. ...
Activity
Exercise After Surgery: Back to Basics
No matter what level of physical activity you want to pursue, ostomy surgery shouldn’t hold you back.
Everyday life
Preparing for Winter Weather
If you live in an area that may be affected by a natural disaster or severe weather, these tips may help you feel mor...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Dianne
It’s not easy to hear that you have stage-four colon cancer, and even harder to be told you’re having stoma surgery o...
Everyday life
Navigating public restroom with an Ostomy
When you’re out and about, everyone needs to take a quick pitstop from time to time, and the key to a good pitstop is...
Everyday life
Everyday Life - Bathing with an Ostomy
Showering and bathing with an ostomy should not interfere with your regular cleaning routine. With the right informa...
Everyday life
me plus Community
Slaide Bowden's Story
"Swapping my school bag for a colostomy bag", by Slaide Bowden, living with a stoma since 2018.
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Ellyn
For most of her life, 73-year-old Boca Raton resident, Ellyn Mantell, has suffered chronic stomach and bowel complaints.
Everyday life
Returning to Work with an Ostomy
From industrial jobs to the classroom, from long shifts at the hospital to dancers – and all workplaces in between – ...
me plus Community
me+ Community Stories - Alannah-Jayne
I'm Alannah-Jayne and I had emergency surgery for an ileostomy due to Inflammatory Bowel Disease causing sepsis in my...
Diet
Why Hydration Matters
On average, a person loses around 2.5 litres of fluid per day through sweat, urine, breath and faeces. Stoma bag wear...
Activity
Post-Ostomy Surgery: Dos and Don’ts of Exercise
Exercising after ostomy surgery is about patience and doing what feels right. It’s important to take your time and kn...
Activity
Post-Ostomy Surgery: Dos and Don’ts of Exercise(2)
Exercising after ostomy surgery is about patience and doing what feels right. It’s important to take your time and kn...
Everyday life
me plus Community
Ted Vosk’s story
Ted has been living with an ileostomy since May 2012, after developing ulcerative colitis.
Fashion
Fashion tips for women living with an ostomy
Here are some practical fashion tips from Jearlean Taylor, a successful model, author, and businesswoman who has neve...
Everyday life
Sleeping with an Ostomy
‘Learning’ how to sleep again after ostomy surgery may be odd. But when you have a stoma, your old sleep positions ma...
Everyday life
Travel
Managing Humidity and Extending Pouch Wear Times
For people living with an ostomy, humid climates and certain situations may cause concern in pouch wear time. The me+...
Relationships & Intimacy
Intimacy with an Ostomy
Tips to enhance intimacy with your partner and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Activity
Everyday life
Reducing Risk of Parastomal Hernia
You may have heard about a complication known as a ‘parastomal’ hernia, an abnormal bulge around the stoma. These tip...