Blue Jeans
and the Ostomate
Most ostomate can wear blue
jeans just as normal people do. We have
some concerns about wearing tight fitting cloths around the stoma and this is
legitimate. But, if your jeans are tight
around your stoma, they will also be tight around your waist. You will be more uncomfortable with pants
squeezing your waist than your stoma.
We have members coming to our
meeting wearing jeans all the time.
They do not wear the waistband across the stoma. This might restrict its normal
operation. The following is some
information on brands that some of our members wear:
There are many brands of blue
jeans that are comfortable for a person with a stoma. Some jeans don't have a very high rise, and the belt line hits
right across the stoma. This is
a problem. It is better to not wear any
type of pants that have a waistband across the stoma. Khakis and most other pants have a high enough rise that
this isn't a problem. Also, some pants
are pleated and allow room for expansion of the pouch as it fills--which isn't
the case with some jeans.
LL Beans' most relaxed fit blue jeans with some elastic on the waistband, has the waistline way too low and they weren't very roomy in the midsection.
Try Lands' End--they have an elastic waist and pleated
jeans. They are very comfortable.
You can
look at them at www.landsend.com or just call 1-800-356-4444 to order a catalog. They also have all shades of sports pants.
Big and Tall men's store has option. The waistbands of jeans have the higher rise. They are comfortable and allow room for expansion. Try wearing shirts on the outside. You only need to tuck in, with pleated slacks.
JC Penney has some casual pants with full elastic-waist band that are quite nice.
Calvin
Klein has high quality jeans that have a high rise and may be worm
comfortably.
Ralph
Loren also has quality jeans that are form fitting but have sufficient
room to be comfortable to wear and yet be gentle around the stoma.
Levi's
and Lee have a wide variety of
pants that are stylish and may flatter one's figure.
Ladies may want to wear
stretch jeans, and if all else fails, the good old maternity one without that
cotton panel. Word has it that there is
a fashionable young men's catalog from California called something like American Mal, and it
has lots of obviously young, toned male models in it, but you could get waist
sizes up to 35 or 36 from them a few years back.
Dockers jeans may be
purchased there. They are pleated, and
we heard that they work great. People
report being able to wear jeans again immediately after ileostomy surgery. Reports are that they're great for
middle-aged ostomates. The only
problems noted are that they don't last as long as regular blue jeans. They go white quickly around the appliance,
and they are not available in Canada.
Try the Levis 545's.
They have the higher rise and are permanent press. Try cotton twill pants with elastic in the
waistband. This accommodates the pouch
nicely, and sells for about half the price of anything from Levi Strauss. If you have a Sears near you, they carry
stretch blue jeans hat seem to work
very well.
Editor's note: These suggestions are just based on the experiences of some people in our Chapter. Many of us have designer jeans, Calvin Klein, Polo etc., and have no issue what-so-ever with them. Wearing cloths is very much a person preference, just like it is for non-ostomates. Some have issues because of the placement of their stoma or for other special reasons, but most of us do not. We wear whatever we like. If your stoma is above your waist, you will have special challenges to meet. Stop by a UOA chapter meeting. People there have alternatives and everyday solutions to many ostomy issues. You may also talk to you ET. He/she has seen patients with issues similar to yours. Your ET can help. But if your stoma is lower than your belly button, like most of us, you can wear virtually any jean you want.