The information I have is from my colorectal surgeon. He said that a tumour occuring anywhere in the lower 2/3 of the rectum is classified as low.

I''m right there with you - my takedown is scheduled for next Friday and I'm feeling all the same things. It was a shock to learn I'd need an ileo but I adjusted quickly and now it's no biggie, and I sometimes wonder a bit about trading this acceptable new normal for the great unknown, and risking i...

Mine was 7cm from the anal verge and the tumour was 2.5cm. I had LAR/TME surgery with a temporary ileostomy. Takedown scheduled for next week. My surgeon said this is considered low but not in the extreme, I had clear margins and I believe something like a few cms of rectum were spared.

I think the other posters made some excellent points. It depends on what shape you're in going into the procedure, whether it's open or lap (mine was open), what other stuff you're facing like ileostomy, chemo etc., and also complications that come up, plus what kind of support you have from your em...

I had a LAR/TME Jul 5 and still off work, nowhere near ready to go back. That being said, I was very ill in Jan., and had chronic fatigue issues going into the surgery.

So sorry to hear this, are you carefully watching what food is being eaten? I had one horrible experience and it was due to eating 4 small, very moist Mini-Wheats! Even after chewing it really well, I learned that whole wheat anything does NOT agree with me right now. Maybe try banana or applesauce?...

The recent medical journal studies favour the TCP especially with respect to early fragmentation and urgency/control issues, with long term (one year) results being very similar. These were very important to me, so I'm glad I got the TCP. I suspect that like the TEM procedure (came from the same are...

Once you're poop is looking like light Apple juice with no solids at all, you're good, according to my GI. Last time I only had to do half the prep as I'd just had another prep a week before and had basically not eaten all week (had just been diagnosed, no appetite).

Good question.... I Googled and they are definitely three different procedures. The transverse coloplasty pouch was invented relatively recently not far from here in Bonn, Switzerland so maybe that's why it seems less popular in north America. With the TCP, a vertical line is cut and then folded dow...

I found that using a straw helped.

I was just wondering if anyone else here has one? I see lots about j pouches and straight connects, but haven't seen anyone else here with one. I'd love to compare stories if anyone else has one.

Hi there, I had a lower anterior rejection/ total mesorectal excision 5 weeks ago today. It was done open (not laparascopic) and also with a temporary loop ileostomy. My tumor was 7cm from the anal verge, and the tumor was 2.5cm. At first I was freaked out at the idea of an ileostomy. However when m...

Sorry, forgot to say it was open surgery in the end, though we'd hoped for laparascopic....

First, I wanted to say thanks to all the people who posted to me when I first diagnosed, what a terrifying weekend that was. I found a lot of comfort and encouragement here, so thanks for that! :D The medical system here in Germany moves incredibly fast, especially for life threatening things. I had...

Thanks all. Waiting to see the head surgeon in a few mins, and he speaks English. Will let you know, I am so scared!