Back to Work
8 Tips to Get You Back to Work Hassle-free
Don’t Chance It: A Solid Plan Trumps Ostomy, Would-be Mishaps
Train station parking lots are filling up again. Looks like more people are heading back to work, which may be a mixed blessing if you’re an ostomate.
It’s hard to immediately think blessing, when you fear several obstacles. Proper office attire. Meetings. Lunch and intake-output. Hydration. Working late past dinner. Think like this, and a return to the office could surely seem a little daunting.
#1 Get ready
But once you get over your initial panic, consider taking a step back. First of all, one of the most important reminders to give yourself is this: Once you recover from your surgery, and can change your bag with ease, it’s important to get back to normal. Normal means not shunning social opportunities and getting back to being with people. Socialization is a basic human need that has been proven to be one of the best pick-me-ups and an important component to good mental health.
Your challenge is not coming to terms with whether you should go back or not, but rather what important steps or precautions you must take to do so. Perhaps all you really need is a little well-thought-out prep. Yes, true, as an ostomate you may need a bit more forethought than someone who doesn’t wear an ostomy. Still, well-thought-out prep will help you develop logical solutions to potential problems. On top of putting you at the ready for potential or near mishaps, it will make you feel more take charge.
#2 Think function
What to wear is typically one of your first challenges, especially if you are in a people-facing role. Dressing for work is even more of a problem, if you work in a professional services firm that requires suits for women or coats and ties for guys, at least when client-facing meetings are scheduled. Belts and buttoned waist bands with fly zippers can put pressure on ostomies. When you sit down, a slight downward pull can wreak havoc with the flange or barrier that protects you from stomal output. What’s more, a leak will almost instantly show through shirts tucked into pants or skirts.
Reality is that fitted shirts and clothing are pretty much out. We all have to accept that. Fortunately, though, for the most part companies have relaxed dress codes and business casual allows for more opportunity to put together fashionable and functional outfits. Consider purchasing some pants with elastic waist bands which are an option for both men and women. The right-length untucked shirts with appropriate finished hems can also make for a smart look and allow a jacket to be worn over them.
Ostomy wraps and, for women, the right undergarments are also big savers for creating a smoother pouch profile. They also provide support if you have extra output.
#3 Know thyself. Know your timing
Attention to timing wards off several problems. So does knowing your body and how you process food and drink. Attention to these issues can make the difference between your staying throughout a meeting or having to rush out to go to the bathroom.
Timing means also eating and drinking regularly to maintain your body dynamic. For example, if you have a scheduled meeting, time your intake accordingly—far enough in advance and allowing adequate timing for you to head to the rest room beforehand. And in general don’t let your workday get away from you so that you resort to shortchanging healthy meals and start snacking instead on treats like nuts or popcorn. Give yourself enough time to eat slowly. Avoid bolting down food or gulping water. On the other hand, don’t let the fear of having to run to the bathroom cause you to stop drinking water and/or starving yourself. These tactics come with dire health consequences, including serious or permanent kidney damage.
#4 Brown-bag lunch and healthy snacks
Cook meals ahead, perhaps on the weekend when you are home for longer periods. This way, you can brown bag your lunch, control you diet and avoid the risk of grabbing “unknown” food outside the office. Preparing and planning your meals in advance will also enable you to be attentive to your intake of vitamins and minerals which are essential for optimal health and overall body function.
While at the office you might consider eating foods that thicken your stool to avoid leakage. These include bananas, peeled potatoes, white rice, unseasoned crackers and pasta, applesauce, marshmallows and creaming peanut butter.
#5 Meet long days head-on
If you have a job that requires staying at the office into the after-five hours, consider creating a new dining routine. Brown bag your lunch with a dinner menu. Eating your big meal midday, and a smaller meal when you get home post-a-normal dinner hour will aid digestion and make for a more comfortable and uninterrupted sleep.
#6 Come clean
While every ostomate has different feelings about speaking out about their ostomy, consider sharing your status with colleagues—at least your boss, and even your teammates. You will likely find that people are accepting and appreciate your candor. Plus, transparency prevents idle office gossip and conjecturing about why, for example, you’re making frequent trips to the rest room or taking longer bathroom breaks.
Following some or all of these tips will help you create a work-life routine that accommodates the new, healthier you. Plus, once you have a plan, including its adaptability to the days that will require team meetings or even sessions with clients, you’ll have a workable routine you can easily follow.
#7 Remember…
On last thing to keep in mind: Most people struggle to at least some degree with issues about their bodies. In fact, they are likely more concerned with how they look as opposed to concentrating on you. Work is a very important part of life and your personal identity. Take your life and workdays back after your absence because of your surgery.
#8 Talk Positively
And each day before you leave your house, talk to yourself supportively. Positive affirmation informs mindset and results in confidence. Confidence, after all, is the most important thing you can bring to your workplace. So you got this. Go get ‘em!
Life has an unusual way of pushing us to where we need to go. To me, that’s what Ostoh is all about.
If you’re interested in learning more about Ostoh and how it might increase your comfort, email us at hello@ostoh.com or use our contact form. Our goal is to make your ostomy life easier and make you feel what it means to be yourself.