I opted for a permanent colostomy after 7 months of a nightmare reversal. I was in pain, incontinent, going 20+ times a day and getting no sleep. That was 5 years ago last week. It was the best decision I've ever made for myself. My quality of life is so much and I'm really not limited in any way.
Bit late on this one. But yep David has been mentioned a lot in Aussie cancer forums and the media, and I know some others that have investigated HIPEC at Peter Mac so they would probably be your best places to start some research.
I have been MIA from here for quite awhile for a myriad of reasons, but one is definitely that I was afraid to hear this news. I pray hospice is a peaceful, loving time for you spent with the people who you love best. You have been a great comfort to me since I was dx and I hope these messages are a...
So my *touch wood* didn't work because I had my first blow out yesterday! Driving to a function of all times. Thank goodness it was easily contained. I think it was due to pancaking. I had mac and cheese for lunch yesterday and I was wearing fitted pants to the function. So thick, thick output combi...
If you haven't already, you might want to post on the United Ostomy Association boards at uoaa.org. Lots of ostomy specific advice there! I had an oval stoma with my ileostomy and had quite a few leaks when I was using a one-piece bags. Not sure if that was the reason for those leaks but it might ha...
I've been away a little while, but what a great thread! I'm so, so grateful for my colostomy. It has truly given me my life back. In the last week I've been out for dinner (twice!), something I hadn't been able to do since my reversal in January.
I have been away for a little while and it's so sad to return to this news. RIP Marco, you were a beautiful soul here on earth and so you will be in the stars.
I pretty much had the same experience as CRguy after my original resection. Although I went back to theatre to have a washout. Took another week and some antibiotics to heal up. Hoping for the same for you!
That's a good point Elise. I'm definitely not fertile thanks to radiation but we stored some embryos quickly after my diagnosis. I now have to work out if the radiation fried my uterus too, but we are open to surrogacy. Plus, after 4 abdominal surgeries and a stoma I'm not sure if I'm prepared to pu...