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Living with a stoma

Clinical Advisor


From A Bigger Life

We are all different, with different capacities for dealing and healing. After 6-8 weeks you will be starting to think about going back to work. From around 2 months you will be able to get back to work. However if your job involves heavy lifting or manual handling you might need to leave it 3-6 months to allow your abdominal muscles to heal properly. Nobody can tell you when you should return, only you can decide when, listen to what your body is telling you. Discuss your plan to return to work with your stoma care nurse or GP.

You should think about keeping some appliances in your work place. If your pouch is working well for you then your anxiety levels will be reduced but it is always reassuring to have spare appliances.
It would be a good idea to tell your boss so they are aware that you might need time off for appointments or that you might need to use the toilet more often.
You should work with your employer, start off slow and add more hours as you are capable. It will take some time for your strength and stamina to return to normal limits. In the meantime increase your level of activity as you are able.

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