Overall, yes. Ostomies do come with many considerations, however. Here are some to think about:

• Water is not harmful to your stoma, so you can bathe or shower with your pouch either on or off. If you decide to leave your pouch off, make sure that skin is dry before putting on your new appliance to ensure a tight seal.
• You can continue to play sports and exercise – if the pouch is fitting properly and is secure, it should not cause any irritation to the skin.
• For activities that cause excessive sweating it may helpful to consider an ostomy guard or wrap for added protection. The ostomy pouch is water resistant and should not keep you from going swimming.

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