One thing that I have found essential to my healing journey is exercise. Exercise releases feel good endorphins, keeps my weight down, and allows me a great way to beat stress without medication.
Prior to my trauma, I thoroughly enjoyed swimming as exercise. As a college level competitive swimmer, I was used to tough workouts and long hours in the pool. As you can imagine, fecal incontinence and swimming laps in a pool DO NOT MIX. In fact, there are signs posted everywhere that any fecal matter in the pool will result in a pool closure for all patrons. Besides the obvious fact that a leakage would affect other’s enjoyment of the pool facility for the day; there was no way that I was getting into a pool if there was a chance that I could have an accident. Obviously this proved a huge loss, emotionally and physically, as I thought about all of the times I would miss in the pool.
Through physical therapy, but, prior to my Interstim surgery, I gained some control of my bowels that would allow me a pretty good idea about when my leakages may occur. It was at this time that I began to swim again, albeit cautiously. Even though I felt good about going into the pool again, my plans could change in an instant if I was having a bad day with my sphincter.
Fast forward to now. Interstim has allowed me complete freedom in the pool. I no longer foster feeling of uncertainty and grief when stepping into the chlorinated goodness that was my second home prior to trauma.
It turns out that swimming is one of the best exercises I can do with my Interstim implant. The low impact exercising has allowed me to stay in shape, engage in great workouts, and have fun again. I could not have imagined this 6 months ago.
Thanks for Reading,
Lauren
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