Caving with a Stoma

[tdobson]

Hey friends,

Someone has expressed interest in coming on a introductory trip with us and has mentioned they have a stoma.

My gut reaction (unintentional) is that for easy (largely walking) trip, this should be ok, but I'm keen to hear from anyone - quite possibly professional cavers - who've taken people with stomas on trips before.

They've said they won't be able to do any "tight squeezes" and I agree, and we wouldn't send them through mandatory tight squeezes immediately!

There's a great old thread here, and it occurs to me that it's possible in the past 19 years, we have a tiny bit more collective knowledge.

I think we're aiming to take them caving in feb, so a good bit of time to level up.

No SRT, or harness (or belt!) work planned, so that may make things easier.

 

[LJR]

My Mrs has a stoma. She says your assumptions would be about right. Hands and knees should be fine but tight squeezes might be a problem.
Harnesses largely depend on the location of the stoma. The waist strap could fall in the wrong place for some people but maybe not others.
Some stoma patients wear a support belt to help prevent hernias around the stoma too. If she does anything strenuous, herself wears one and would do so for cycling, mountain walking and the rare times she goes underground.
I think gently does it until your newby caver gets a feel for things and decides their limits.

 

[mrodoc]

If they have learnt how to manage the stoma I don't see a problem. Some people with stomas go scuba diving. I quite like this personal account I found : https://www.coloplast.co.uk/about-u...ican-jungle-and-scuba-adventure-with-a-stoma/ and there is plenty more on line. I suspect the USA with a large caving population will have plenty of stoma using cavers.

 

[JoshW]

If you decide harness/belt required, something like this might be the answer as it lacks the conventional waist belt.

https://m.petzl.com/INT/en/Sport/Harnesses/8003

 

[tdobson]

If you decide harness/belt required, something like this might be the answer as it lacks the conventional waist belt.

My Mrs did *not* enjoy these for climbing when she was pregnant But yes, a useful tool - thanks for reminding me.

And thanks for the helpful comments everyone

 

[JoshW]

My Mrs did *not* enjoy these for climbing when she was pregnant But yes, a useful tool - thanks for reminding me.

And thanks for the helpful comments everyone

I don’t think they’re generally the most comfortable thing in the world, but through a caving suit and furry I imagine they’re not the worst, and definitely better than putting pressure on a stoma!

 

[LadyMud]

Wow, what a surprise to see this new thread last night!

I spent all day having a tumour removed, and a temporary colostomy replace by a temporary ileostomy. Roll on next year . . .

 

[Boy Engineer]

Wow, what a surprise to see this new thread last night!

I spent all day having a tumour removed, and a temporary colostomy replace by a temporary ileostomy. Roll on next year . . .

And I’m sure I speak for all of us in sending best wishes for your recovery.

 

[Steve Clark]

I have no direct experience of a stoma, but I did go SRT caving with someone with a tethered insulin pump and she can happily cave at a high standard.

If you want inspiration for what's possible have a listen to this. Mick Fowler is up there with the best : E6 in 1976. Cancer surgery resulting in a stoma in 2017 and back climbing in the Himalaya in 2019.

Mick Fowler - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

JCPC 050 Mick Fowler — niall grimes

What an honour! This week we welcome to Jam Crack Climbing Podcast Mick Fowler, Britain's most celebrated adventure mountaineer of the last decades. He talks about loose seacliffs, Scottish winter, the London scene, expeditions and cancer. Listen via the player below. Better again go via iTun

www.niallgrimes.com

 

[LadyMud]

I'd love to know what happened to Frog (Julie) in that old thread. Did she manage to resume caving?

 

[tdobson]

Just to update y'all / any future people looking for advice.

My gut reaction (unintentional) is that for easy (largely walking) trip, this should be ok, but I'm keen to hear from anyone - quite possibly professional cavers - who've taken people with stomas on trips before.

They've said they won't be able to do any "tight squeezes" and I agree, and we wouldn't send them through mandatory tight squeezes immediately!

The person has now been on their second trip with us, and I lead it so I have a sense of a small few things.

Walking around - eg Peak Cavern -> Secret Sump is fine. The approach to Surprise View in Peak Cavern where it's a slightly crabwalky, slightly-squeezy-if-you're-my-size piece of passage = about their limit in terms of tightness, which is fair enough.

Very much got the impression that the thing that really mattered was attitude + taking it slowly - and they have a great attitude and are keen to walk before running - so all good.

They're currently not keen for longer crawls. I think this could be a headspace (rather than stoma) thing, so we shall see. They're supposed to go on a trip to Mouldrige mine sometime soon - so that may be turning point.

They're probably not going to be doing Daren anytime soon, but they may well discover they have a love of several Matlock mines, and if they find something that adds colour to their life - hurrah.

Loads of respect to the person in question - honestly, when you meet them - it feels like a non-issue.

 

[tdobson]

Just wanted to share that the caver in question has now completed basic SRT Training successfully.

Their preferential harness is a Fixe one, as a Petzl Superavanti didn't seem to be working for them.

They were able to go down, go up and do changeovers. Rebelays and deviations weren't tackled, but I'm pretty sure that with time and practice, they'd be possible. They may not be doing in Peak, out Titan soon - but pleasant simple pitches - say Dollytubs - should be well within their reach now.

The stoma didn't really seem to be a big part of challenges for the day. The SRT was the challenge - as it should be. They have a great, keen attitude - and doubtless that is part of what makes it work for them.

Hopefully - this turns out to be useful to someone else sometime, someday.

 

[LadyMud]

Thanks for this very positive update, Tim
Stomas are so common (though not often talked about) so it will definitely be useful . . . someday.

 

[LJR]

Stomas are so common (though not often talked about)

However, they do tend to talk amongst themselves from time to time.....