What does “discretion truly mean?
The prospect of swimming can present some worries if you have an ostomy. This article looks at ways to discreetly manage your condition and what you can do to help you feel confident while poolside.
Finding the right swimsuit
Depending on the placement of your stoma, you may be able to find swimwear that is immediately comfortable and already conceals your ostomy pouch sufficiently. Special swimsuits do exist for people with an ostomy. You can reach out to your nurse or contact a Coloplast® Care Advisor to help point you in the right direction.
For women, one-piece swimsuits and big patterns can often be a good shout to help camouflage a pouch and draw attention away from your stoma. Other high-waisted swimsuits may allow you to tuck the pouch inside if you wish to be more discreet. For men, board shorts and bigger trunks may allow you to conceal your pouch a little more than fitted alternatives.
Gaining confidence
Try on your swimsuit at home: If you are nervous, it may be a good idea to try your swimsuit on in private with your pouching system before heading to the pool. You could even take a bath or shower while wearing your swimsuit to get more acquainted with how everything looks and feels once it is wet.
Try not to worry about changing in front of other people before diving in. If you want to be more discreet, you can always use a big shirt to cover yourself while you slip into your swimsuit. If you are concerned, you can always put your swimsuit on at home and wear your clothes over the top until you are ready to jump in.
If you wish to be more discreet…
Remember wraps and towels: If you want to be more discreet about your stoma when walking around the pool – a towel is an easy accessory to help you conceal your pouch. Just wrap it around your waist and you are good to go – nobody will think twice about it. If you enjoy lounging around by the pool and a towel just won’t cut it, you may also choose to invest in a couple of shawls or sarongs to help hide your pouch, if you feel uncomfortable or wish to be a little more private.
Living your best life poolside
But perhaps most importantly, don’t worry too much about whether your ostomy pouch is obvious or not. Most people are not looking out for one in the first place, and the one who is most aware of it at the pool will be you!
