anyone know if this is ok with a k pouch stoma?will it dry out the stoma/dehydrate the stoma? Chris was told never take benadryl or antihistamines for that reason so i wonder.

Boy, I would think a sauna would very likely lead to dehydration, which can sneak up on one. I've been hospitalized since my k-pouch 3 times for about a week each time for "acute renal failure." I couldn't really tell I was even sick; I just felt weak and tired and got winded easily. My husband said my eyes looked funny. But each time I was so dry my kidneys failed. I bounced back each time, but why risk it.

One way to tell how dehydrating a sauna can be is to have a healthy person take a drink (alcohol) and then take a sauna. One can become very drunk very quickly as one sweats. We had a home sauna when I was a girl and my Dad did that one time; Good we were home because he became very inebriated.

My advice: forget the sauna, especially with a shortened digestive track to absorb water.

I am a great lover of both Steam baths ans saunas and took them for years with no problem other than the obvious dehydration. Drink lots of water afterwards and a little before( too much makes you nausious (sorry for the spelling on that one!). I just wear a towel or bathing suit without a stoma cover because the heat tends to melt the glue or sylicon to my body and irritates it more.
I have also been on antihisthamines for cronic alergies for years...again....drink lots of fluids.
Sharon

you don't have to avoid benadryl or antihistamines, you just have to be aware that it'll dry you out, and it'll probably take longer to intubate.
right after i came back from surgery, i had to finish up 12 more weeks of chemo, doing it for three days every two weeks.
just before they hook you up to the chemo pump, they give you a half hour infusion of zofran for nausea, and then they pump you FULL...and i mean FULL of benadryl.
they syringe full of it was about equal to like...9 or 10 benadryl pills. it really makes you feel like you were hit by a mac truck. it did wierd things to me.
but i learned quickly on to try and intubate JUST before getting the benadryl, b/c one time i didn't, and bout an hour or so after i needed to intubate..no joke...it took about 45 min. to get barely in. it was dry as a bone. and i had it lubed up crazy good.
it's just like normal people. you take benadryl you get real real thirsty. it dries up that mucous membrane.

as for sauna, i have no clue. but i'd think that a steambath...like a eucalyptus steam bath (which they have at a spa near my job that i just ADORE) would probably be good. it'd keep you nice and moist all over! hehehehe...

thanks for all the helpful info.
of course in chris's case anything that will cause dehydration is not advisable. he has enough trouble keeping hydrated without causing more!

One of my favorite hydrating drinks is a mint lemonaid made with fresh mint and fresh lemons...does wonders to keep up hydation and tastes great...just a suggestion
sharon