Squirrel Hunting with an Ostomy

I generally love being outdoors and enjoying the weather.  It really doesn't matter if it is raining or nice and sunny.  All kinds of weather simply makes me feel more alive and I enjoy it!  One of my favorite things to do outdoors is to hunt. To be truly honest I was afraid that having an ostomy would keep me from hunting ever again.  This luckily turns out not to be the case as was most of my misconceptions about living life with a stoma.  It turns out life is pretty much the same just with some extra gear and procedures that come along with it.  Boy that sure is a great thing. Now with all of this I have learned a few things hunting with a stoma.

One of the animals I like to hunt is squirrels.  It is simply because they are fun and tasty.  Yes, I eat everything I shoot. I think it's immoral to do otherwise.  I find the cheap bountiful amount of meat a boost to my income and have learned that having an ostomy can actually help my hunting.  First thing is that it's really nice to not have to go to the bathroom while hunting.  Yes I technically go but I am not spraying my scent all over the forest.  I usually have a good ostomy Supplies bag with me and it holds the scent in very well.  Now I also use scent blocking clothing and I am certain that it also helps.

Which is the second coolest part of an ostomy, the scent blocking ability that using a bag has.  Now I usually pick up a bag from ostomy Supplies that also has belt loops on it.  This allows me to cinch it into my body so it doesn't make as much noise when I am out and about. Being quiet is a really important aspect of hunting and having that capability really makes me psychologically feel better about my situation. 

Generally I am a stalking hunter when it comes to squirrel hunting and I like to be on the move.  So being able to be mobile with my gear and quiet is awesome and important.  I usually use my old remington 870 that my father gave me and I have found it to be a really easy and inexpensive way to put meat on the table for myself and my family. So I want to say hunting is great, and it is completely doable with an ostomy!

Best Deer Hunt with an Ostomy

Last year was certainly a great year for me.  One I wasnt trapped inside thanks to covid-19 and two I also was able to hunt.  Last year was an absolutely amazing hunting season and it brought me home with more meat in one day than I had ever had before. The reason why it was so amazing is that I ended up taking the largest deer I have ever gotten and I did it with an ostomy bag on.  These are two things that just absolutely make me smile and it should be a big boost to anyone who just had an ostomy surgery. I want you to know that nothing is beyond your reach and you should go after all your goals.

So this year the weather was absolutely amazing.  Generally, the temperature is below 30 degrees and snowing or possibly right around 32 degrees and raining where I live.  This makes it rather uncomfortable to be outside for hours upon hours at a time.  Now for ostomy gear I usually strap up with a ostomy Supplies bag and belt. I really like this company because they gave me the hint to get a bag with loops so I could keep a belt on me and not let my bag be very mobile.  Ostomy Supplies actually gave me a hunting tip and that was really cool.  It allowed me to move around without my gear making more noise.  This is really important to me and they understood it. So this year I started in a stand.

This means that I had to climb up and wait for a long time.  I waited the whole morning from dawn until noon in my stand.  Then I decided to start an afternoon stalk.  This simply means that I would walk the grounds and try to do so as quietly as I possibly could. This is honestly my favorite type of hunting because it's more difficult.  If you find a deer, the deer is likely going to be just as surprised as you or he will know you are there before you know he is there. 

Well this year I was just as stealthy as the deer and I noticed him 60 yards away right when he noticed me.  We looked at each other and for the split second that he froze I did not. It ended up being a 176 lb buck and has filled my dinner table with meat for several months now.  I am so happy to be able to hunt with a stoma and still be successful and I hope you have the courage to go out and do your favorite things as well!

Some Useful Tips for Urostomy Patients

Ostomy brings self-care but more than usual. With some changes in the body, there are a few new things in your diet, self-management, and hygiene routine. Urostomy needs a bit agile pattern in life and a few changes in diet, daily activities, and self-care. The following are some necessary tips you should follow for a happy and healthy urostomy life.

​​​​​Diet and Nutrition

Many urostomy patients think that their life is going to change, and they cannot eat their favorite foods from now onwards. Well, this is just a myth. Therefore, urostomy people do not need to follow a special diet, they only have to be cautious regarding fluid intake.

Too much water intake can make your day restless and frequent rounds to the loo. It does not mean that you should not drink an adequate quantity of liquid and dehydrate your skin. Peristomal skin and stoma dehydration can lead to some severe skin infections and diseases. Therefore, take at least eight glasses of fluid (you can add fresh juices in the liquid intake), no use of caffeine, and try to drink a very low quantity of energy drinks and soda. It can decrease urinary, stoma, and peristomal infections.

Apart from infections and dehydration, there is another problem for urostomy patients. You have to get rid of urine odor. Well, this would be an embarrassing situation in public. But, you can clear out this issue if you eat healthy food, empty your pouch on time, use a medicated deodorant, and drink fresh juices and water. Try to avoid eating onions, asparagus, garlic, and red beans to avoid stoma odor.

Daily Activities

Well, many ostomates afraid of going gym, swimming, running, and cycling. However, there is no specific restriction regarding any physical activity, but an ostomate has to be watchful while weight lifting. You should ask your doctor about the weight-lifting limitation. Apart from this, you can go for swimming, running, and any other physical activity. Moreover, some exercises are best for abdominal muscles and decreasing the risk of hernia. Therefore, you should do sit-ups and leg lifts daily for belly wall muscles' health.

The only vigilant point regarding physical exercise is that wait for three to four weeks after the surgery.

Emptying the Urostomy Pouch

For urostomy patients, emptying a pouch can be a hectic routine. You have empty the bag again and gain. If you do not clear your ostomy pouch, it will create skin and health problems. Therefore, on-time vacating of the stoma bag is necessary. Moreover, when you empty your ostomy pouch, make sure urine does not splash. Place some tissue papers in the toilet, it will sort out your problem. Your daily emptying routine is an essential point. Drain your pouch when you feel it is 1/3 or half full. Moreover, clear all the content in the pouch before going to bed. Well, the most appropriate thing would be to change your urostomy appliance before sleeping. It will generate a pleasant, gentle, and cozy feel. You will sleep carelessly all the night. Apart from replacing tools, you can wear a stoma belt or collar to avoid leakage. Your night will be untroubled with these special appliances.

Changing of Ostomy Appliances

You can change your appliances when you feel the need. However, you can wear the wafer before sleeping or after waking up in the morning. Urostomy patients should wear drainable pouches. Try to avoid closed-end bags. Well, these are suitable for swimming and intimate moments. Moreover, you should apply a skin sealant before the wafer application. Do not use alcoholic wipes or sealants. It can burn or irritate your skin.