I would check with surgeon before incorporating fiber back into diet. I was put on a low residue/fiber diet for two weeks after my reversal. Since two weeks just passed, they are allowing me to slowly incorporate fiber back into my diet. I'm still taking colace so I don't strain while having a BM. N...

I thought you are using a bidet? I went ahead and purchased one based on your post, set to arrive on Thursday.

I just had a follow up with my surgeon, two weeks post the ileostomy reversal. He said he generally doesn't like using immodium and would recommend slowly incorporating psyllium husk (1 teaspoon a day) to my diet starting next week. Also he said don't use soap down there. That area doesn't need to b...

Your body needs protein in order for muscle and tissue to heal quickly. Not eating for long periods of time may delay the healing process. I had a little dinner tonight. I've had maybe 500 calories over the past three days. The wound healing is going quite well and I'm getting back the ability to d...

Anyone have a rough idea as to how long it took for the hole to close up? If I recall correctly, it took me about four weeks for the hole to close up completely. Now I have a dent in abomen that looks a little ridiculous, but I think that's due to where the ileostomy was located. I am worried about...

I am 6 weeks out. It is already getting better. I have more good days than bad. Today I went in the morning, went to church and my daughters 2 hour water ski show with no issues. Came home and went again. 3 weeks ago I had all kinds of issues at her last show. Today was as normal as they come. A go...

So cool! Only a week to go, good luck with this last surgery! Atoq It's hard to describe the feelings. Sometimes happy, sometimes odd, sometimes worried. I have all of these Ostomy Supplies as well and I've been looking around the web to see what to do with them. Life with cancer changes you so muc...

I actually just had my ileostomy reversal two weeks ago, and I have to say, living with an ostomy wasn't bad at all. I had my LAR April of this year. It took maybe a few weeks to get used to changing the bag, and with little planning. But in just four weeks after the procedure, I traveled to Asia ( ...

Congrats on the good news!

In my opinion, if you will indeed be placed on FOLFOX, it will not possible for you to opt for these particular options. I think you could opt for these if you were assigned to CAPEOX, but not if you are assigned to FOLFOX. Can you check with your oncologist about this? Thanks I meant to say, I hav...

... @jacques - thank you for sharing the link. What is CEA testing? CEA is one of the main tumor markers for colorectal cancer. It would be important to know if your CEA level is elevated right now, before any treatments or interventions are done. If your CEA is high (out of range) right now, it co...

My surgeon indicated there were very strict guidelines for admission to their Watch and Wait program. I believe this paper by Dr Habr-Gama outlines the guidelines, sorry this link only gives the abstract unless you pay: http://www.hemonc.theclinics.com/article/S0889-8588(14)00125-7/abstract Also, o...

I'm meeting with the radiation and medical oncologist next week to discuss treatment.

Does anyone share what radiation therapy or chemo will be like? Will I be able to work? Do I need to take time away from work? How will I feel? How to best cope with the after effects?

Thank you all for your responses. The biopsys came back and it is cancer. My GI doctor told me to get a CT scan of my pelvis area. Then my oncologist had me get a CT scan of my chest area in addition to an MRI of the pelvis. All with and without contrast. I am on a high deductible insurance plan, an...

Hi - I'm new to the forum. I'm 33y/o and just went through a colonoscopy. My dr showed me the picture of a lesion and is quite large, he indicated that it's roughly the size of four fingers? We sent this in for biopsy two days ago and still waiting for results. The lesion is located in my rectum. My...