Hi my name is Laura Cox and I am Shield HealthCare's
Ostomy Lifestyle Specialist. Today we're going to be talking about
how to dress with an ostomy.
When I first got an ostomy, I thought that I couldn't wear any tight clothes.
I thought I was destined to wearing a baggy t-shirt and baggy sweatpants, and I
was wrong.
I started off with wearing those baggy clothes and then,
when I started feeling better, I started to look for solutions. And I think that the
secret is underneath the clothes.
First up are Spanx. Spanx are great because
they're a little bit tighter and they secure your ostomy in one place. They also
apply an even pressure to your ostomy pouch so the output is flattened.
If you have a diverting ileostomy, it's important to note that if you let your
pouch to get too full the pressure from the Spanx can actually cause output to go
back into your stoma and discharge through your rectum.
Also like the Spanx, spandex biker shorts are a good option
especially if they're high waisted. Just like the Spanx, they apply even pressure
on the stoma and really make discreet and can be
worn under clothing. For a less tight option, bandos
are great. They're really meant as tube tops for women.
I like to put them around my abdomen to keep the ostomy pouch
close and tucked in. You can get them at department stores or any Target near you.
If your abdomen is sore or distended, it's really good to wear a less tight
option underneath your clothing. So tank tops or camisoles help to keep
everything close to the abdomen and really just smooth it over and make your ostomy pouch less
noticeable underneath your clothing. Belly bands, usually worn by pregnant women, are also a great
option to keep your ostomy pouch close
and concealed underneath the clothing. You can tuck them into
your trousers, or your skirt, or your jeans, and they're just a perfect size to
completely cover up
the ostomy pouch. Lastly, there are especially designed products for people with ostomies.
These are products like the Stealth Belt, ostomy wraps,
and ostomy undergarments. Ostomy undergarments have pockets
sewn in, so that your pouch can fit into the pocket and it keeps it away from
your skin. These are designed by "Awestomy" spelled like
"Awesome." And these you can find
at Ostomy Secrets. Links will be down below. These products help to keep your
ostomy pouch close to your abdomen
so even when it's filling up, it's very hard to see underneath clothing.
I find I can wear anything when I wear these products.
If you don't want to wear any of these undergarments, some clothing options conceal
ostomies better than others.
Dark colors conceal better than light colors.
Patterns are distracting and can take the focus away from
any bulges that occur underneath your clothing. Loose t-shirts hang away from your abdomen.
Any cinched waist item shows off the figure and then
flows away from the body. High-waisted pants, shorts, or skirts draw the attention
up above the ostomy bag. Just make sure that the waistline does not hit directly
on your stoma.
Pleated trousers allow for more room for the bag to expand.
Bring a light jacket, loose sweatshirt or scarf to put on
if your bag starts to fill up and become noticeable. This will cover up the area and you
can continue to go about your day.
So these outfits were for women. Some of the tips and tricks for undergarments will
work for men as well,
but if you're interested in seeing some great examples for
outfits for men with ostomies, I will link down below
to a video by Eric from VeganOstomy all about how to dress with an ostomy for men.