Hi Chelly, I am a building contractor. The job involves machinery, power tools and heavy materials. Yes I have to be careful with lifting etc but try to be careful and sensible. I have never found the bag has held me back although sometimes squeezing through tight spaces can be awkward. I hear what you say and the hernia is probably the biggest problem rather than the bag itself. The bag and wafer can stand up to quite a bit of wear and tear.

Howdy Chelly,

I'm retired with a colostomy and get around in a wheelchair.  But am a very active farmer and goatherd. Today I built a new wheelchair ramp up to my front porch, yesterday, it was wrestling a goat who didn't want her hooves trimmed.

I also have a hernia, and use a convex wafer, 2 piece Hollister system which has completely stopped my leak problems over the years. When I'm going to be really active, I wear a hernia belt to insure everything stays put.

I do tons of bending at the waist, crawling around and over things like the ramp I was building.

If you're having leaks, try experimenting with different brands and styles of wafers and bags. You'll get a handle on it I'm sure!

Wow a real farmer and goat hearder! Yes you sound very active! I’m usually like you but I think I’m wearing down from it all. Either my age is catching up or I’m just giving up the struggle. I’m checking out different pouches now but so far the mio is the better than all this far. Adhesive issues too so that’s another battle. I’ve always been interested in farming. My daughter in laws mother owns a very large farm south of here. It goes in for miles and miles and they found oil on her land so she gets paid for the oil as well. They do corn for feed and soybeans. 
I really hand it to you in a wheel chair and dealing with a pouch and still doing what you do. 

@john68 wow, that is a hard job to have. Good to know others are working so hard and still able to deal with a pouch. When I think about what you said about the hernia being more of a problem. Yea that hits home. I think you’re absolutely right in saying that. 
I really hand it to you doing such hard work dealing with the pouch and all.

I retired a year and a half ago. I worked in an office and classrooms at a university so had to walk a lot. There was a single-stall bathroom with a locking door right across the hall from the office, which was great, though it got a lot of use and wasn’t very clean (not due to me!). I never had a pouch emergency; I was concerned that my stoma would make noises while in a classroom, but if it did nobody noticed, including me.

A few months ago I went back to work part-time, at the same university, different building, and that is so far so good.

The people I worked with, including my supervisors, were very very kind during all of the difficult times. I enjoy what I do - however, having had a taste of not working I have to say I really enjoyed not having to get up and ready every morning!

@llholiday congratulations on your retirement! I so wish to be able to retire somehow, someway. It would make me feel more in control. That was great that you had that single stall restroom right there for you. Oh boy I do understand how those office restrooms can get. Lol! I worked in an office building for 12 years  at one time and surprisingly it was the filthiest place I’d ever seen. The man was there around the clock to clean it too! He’d clean it and boom someone would have an explosion! 
yes I bet it feels good to not have to get up at certain time, get ready and all of that. You can do life at your own pace now. These days it’s luxury to be able to retire. Not many can afford to do it.

Thanks, Chelly; it was great to retire, and great to see the happy and appreciative young man who was hired to replace me. My party: we all went out to lunch, six of us, and they paid. They gave me a large flowering plant for my yard and a card with sweet little notes in it. Best retirement party ever. 

Well, I may not get paid for it in cash but I do in love, snuggles & tons of giggles! I babysit my now 3 yr. old Granddaughter 4 days a week starting at 8 a.m. to almost 5 p.m. four days a week and sometimes on weekends I get her for a few hours. She was 7 months old when I started sitting her. Lol! 

I'm a hands on Gramma or as Gwen calls me, Munga! We start the day by walking Missy my little dog then my whole day is about Gwen & I love every second of it. I play on the floor with her when I'm not getting a snack or meal or tossing in a load of laundry! (How did my Mom raise 5 kids with a wringer washer  & closeline!? Impressive!!)

If we aren't crawling around on the floor  I'm pushing her around my livingroom & into my kitchen & around the island on her little car or sitting in a child size tent playing dolls & make believe. There's a coffee table time with her hotwheels race car track... she plays I crawl for the runaway cars, there's also puzzles  or sitting in the floor to cieling front window having deep conversations or just bugging Missy a bit. Good thing she has been as tolerable towards Gwen as I hoped for. Missy is 4 months older then Gwen.   Everyday there's been lots of carrying, snuggling and close holding for feeding of bottles, burping & rocking chair time. From diapers to potty training.  Lots of love & fun to fuel my heart. 

I keep a summer veggie garden & flower beds tending to them on my knees for planting & weeding. I also sew, crochet & cross stitch & I can't wait to teach Gwen these crafts. I have no one to share housework with & I'm super picky about clean floors & bathrooms. So lots of housework every week or inbetween washing floors if theres a spill. 

Its a good thing I don't think about all I do in one day bcuz with my Iron 8 or lower the majority of the time I'm doing this all by sheer determination. At this time I'm getting about 4 days of pouch wear time. I think it would be longer if the wafer wouldn't split where I bend the most! 

I too get the grossed out having to use public washrooms but as a child my Mom taught us to place a double layer of that lovely one ply of toilet tissue around the ring of the toilet seat & then use tissue again to flush & folded paper towel to turn taps on & off for hand washing. I use paper towel to unlock & open the door back then now as an adult.

@dlkfiretruck that’s awesome that you have your granddaughter. Seems even though your home yes you are still working in a sort of way. 
I guess my problem is that being committed to 8 or more hours away from home and no way to leave if there  be an accident. I guess I just feel so out of control. 
One day last week I had to leave there were no ifs ands or buts as I only had 2 bags with me and they both would not stick. I must have touched something oily. Manager was already there so I was able to just take off. Holding my belly where the bag was the whole drive home.

I usually have this sticky mess problem but touching something oily can sure slicken things up real quick. 
yea so I guess what I’m saying is I feel out of control of my situation and environment when away from home. 
Once I blew a bag in Walgreens. Left a full cart in the isle and drive home. Taking cloths off in the bathtub lol! Needless to say I threw some of those cloths out. But, I had control because I was on my own time. It’s a struggle. I guess more so because I started a new job a month ago and still yet to feel comfortable about letting other know in case things like this happen. 

@dlkfiretruck 

Linda, I’m so glad you are feeling well enough to care for Gwen that many hours a week!! 

❤️❤️

I’ve been working with my ostomy for several years, through all the problems with leaks. I started my current job in November of 2021 and the ladies room was right across the hall from our audit room and I had the perfect setup in the handicapped stall. Then we moved to a different building and there is nothing magnetic to stick all my stuff to. It is some sort of composite plastic. I’ve only had one emergency since we moved in July, which is when I discovered the non magnetic surface. 

I had a leak today, but fortunately I was working from home today. I saw the ostomy nurse last week to burn off my granulomas. She suggested I talk to HR because it would be a reasonable accommodation for them to set something up to help me out. 

Good luck to all those struggling with their ostomy in their working lives and congratulations to those who either don’t have to work or don’t have struggles. 

@chelly chelly... you sure have your hands full with this sticky situation. I learned a long time ago that if someone comes in contact with Fentanyl their life is in danger very quickly due to absorption into their body. Contact,   accidentally or on purpose can kill you  or cause an severe overdose reaction.  Whats happening to you seems to be a similar type reaction to the absorption & reaction to your environmental exposures.

  You said a while back that your open to suggestions...lol!... I'm just wondering if you've timed the sticky reactions from time of a physical exposure??  Then take that to your doctor & base it along the lines of an allergic reaction to these environmental issues & possible Allergens you face daily at work & the "other" affects its having on you. It may not be such a bad idea to see an Allergist. If anything it would be "medical proof"  & you can rule out allergies. Plus the Allergist may have contact as to who to send you too next.  

Have you considered disability? I don't ask that lightly, I myself know whats involved, but, I think this seems to be causing you a lot of stress & as we know, stress as regular or not, can cause a lot of other physical issues not just for obvious "Pouch" concerns  either... but... what are these chemicals doing to the rest of your physical health on long term exposure also? 

That said, if you haven't,  maybe you should bring this topic of comparison to the Fentanyl & long term exposure to your GP .  I sure would. Your having to drive in compromising situations.  I have worked in a care home  for the mentally & physically challenged So I totally get your concerns about not being able to leave the residents with enough support staff when you could be in an unsanitary conditon very quickly due to exposures. 

All this matters BIG time!!  You matter!  I would suggest you take an advocate  along that kniqs you well  & of your sticky situations that can vouch for you to your GP Apt. if you bring this concern forward.  This way the GP is kind of forced into taking this seriously.   If your GP doesn't wake up from this, then maybe its seriously time to find a new one.   

@squeakyandliza ... I do LOVE spending time with Gwen but honestly, I barely have so called energy. As said I do it out of sheer "Determination" & love for her alone. 

@dlkfiretruck hi, thank you for your thoughts. My hernia surgeon saw my hands and ankles and he feels it may be that I’m allergic to my Ostomy supplies. He does not think it’s from the mesh. My car , well you can see that in my sticky mess thread and the dealer has it now trying to figure things out with that. 
for me to get on disability I would need a diagnosis and I do have many of those but do not know if I’d qualify. You also need your doctors on board to feel that you can’t work. They would need to fill out their part of the application. My pcp did once tell me to get a job working from home, but how? I don’t have the computer skills needed for that I don’t think. I had one suggestion to call a disability attorney to see if they feel I would qualify. 
you know, I had a thought that at my job I do work with many cleaning supplies such as bleach, floor cleaners and disinfectant wipes. No matter how much you wash your hands there always still seems to be a trace left. Even wearing gloves, it goes right through the gloves. I do wear gloves when emptying but maybe it’s still getting into my bag when I’m wiping the end etc.  so that may cause the adhesive to melt. I have cuts all over my hands, feet and my ankles. Red and swollen as well. It does feel as if I have a layer of something in the skin. 
it’s funny that you mention chemical exposure because if chemicals get in my hands or feet I can literally taste it. Same with my stoma, if any type touch my stoma I can taste it. Even adhesive remover wipes. It makes me feel sick. But I think I was exposed to chemicals last year in a rental we were living in and I got sick from it. That’s why we moved. 
I did a lot of thinking after my last PCP visit and I’m getting s new one. The wait is till April to be seen to get established though. In the meantime I really don’t have to see her if I don’t want  to. I can see someone in her team instead until the transition takes place. She was a wonderful PCP and really cared when I got into a car accident a few years ago. I liked her but she was so cold and cruel the last visit about this situation. It was not the same PCP I’m used to. Maybe they are over working her I have no idea but my health is suffering. 
I do find it hard to work anymore but most of that is due to things co workers are using around me and for things they are not doing to keep things clean which makes me have to do it and get cleaning supplies all over my hands and such. It’s a no win situation. I’ve been really thinking and brainstorming trying to figure out a job that would be perfect for me but this far have come up with nothing.