Question for runners with ostomies

My daughter had colectomy, J-Pouch formation and loop ileostomy 12/16/11. After many complications, she finally felt well enough to try running on the treadmill. May be a coincidence, but she had terrible gas pains that night for the first time in over 2 months. Her pains manifest in her back and it took lots of walking, TUMS, simethicone (and back rubs for moral support) for them to go away. Could it be possible that the increased mouth breathing when you run causes gas pains? We asked the surgeon and he said no way to be sure, just try running again and see if it happens again.

I'm a distance runner with a j-pouch and I've never experienced what you are describing, so I wouldn't consider it something that has to happen or will always happen. I do drink frequently while running, so the swallowing due to dry mouth isn't such an issue for me. If she isn't used to drinking on the run, have her start as her hydration needs are much higher now. I carry a bottle with a strap that keeps it in place on my hand nicely and take a sip every four to five minutes.

I don't know how anyone can breathe through their nose and run. I would never get enough air that way!

Also, I did find that my needs around when and how much I could eat and then run changed drastically. I used to be able to eat anything at all and then run almost immediately with no problems. Now, I have to keep the portion small and allow 45-60 minutes in between eating and running. Found that out through trial and error. Have her experiment with this and see if it helps.

One more thought....are you sure they were gas pains? I had a good bit of low back pain when I started back up due to the abs being so out of shape and not lending the proper support. That eventually went away.

Please send her some encouragement from me! She will run again. I ran a half marathon seven months after my surgery to form my j-pouch. I'm also running a half marathon in May which will be roughly four months after my takedown. She will get back to it, it just takes time.

Thanks for the tips. I will pass them along. It is great to see my daughter feeling so well (drain in butt for abscess resulting from hole in anastamosis just came out yesterday after 4 months!) and great to hear, run4pancakes, that you can run so far, so soon after your takedown. So many of you are an inspiration and give hope and comfort to so many of us "lurkers". : )