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by tarheelmom
Thu Jul 05, 2018 11:27 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: menstrual cycle question
Replies: 2
Views: 871

Re: menstrual cycle question

I was 52 and starting to show signs of menopause- missed periods, hot flashes, extreme moodiness, etc. I didn’t have chemo but my resection seemed to affect my hormones in a weird way because all signs of menopause stopped, and I went back to having clockwork type periods for about 15 months. I aske...
by tarheelmom
Sat Mar 24, 2018 3:35 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Recommendation for colorectal surgeon in NC
Replies: 10
Views: 2370

Re: Recommendation for colorectal surgeon in NC

I recommend Dr. Sadiq at UNC. A friend, who is a head of a department at UNC told me that Dr. Sadiq did the most difficult cases because he was very skilled. I have heard good things about Dr. Thacker at Duke also. I received superb care at UNC from my surgeon through PA to nurses and WOCN. Plus pri...
by tarheelmom
Sun Dec 31, 2017 10:33 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Number of lymph nodes removed excessive?
Replies: 10
Views: 2468

Re: Number of lymph nodes removed excessive?

TME with 32 nodes removed - similar to CRGuy. Everything taken along with my rectum and sigmoid colon.
by tarheelmom
Tue Dec 26, 2017 9:55 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Reversal recovery time
Replies: 16
Views: 3024

Re: Reversal recovery time

Surgical recovery was quick. 2 days in the hospital. Back to work within 2 weeks. Learning to live with my new anatomy is an ongoing but improving process. The first 6 months were tough. Good luck to your mom.
by tarheelmom
Sun Dec 24, 2017 12:09 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017
Replies: 1760
Views: 497324

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Marshmallows worked wonders for thickening my stoma output
by tarheelmom
Mon Nov 06, 2017 2:51 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Surgery in Morning and I just got sick (Lost Antibiotics)Uh OH?
Replies: 16
Views: 2712

Re: Surgery in Morning and I just got sick (Lost Antibiotics)Uh OH?

Same thing happened to me on the day before surgery. I called, and the response was that it was still ok and it happened to a lot of people. I vomited from about 2 pm on the day prior to surgery until they put me under.
by tarheelmom
Sun Nov 05, 2017 12:07 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Having open colorectal surgery 11/09/2017
Replies: 55
Views: 9599

Re: Having open colorectal surgery 11/09/2017

Echo the suggestion for finding a board certified colorectal surgeon. Many of us have had tumors very close to the anal verge and have: had a laparoscopic procedure and avoided a colostomy. Colon cancer is generally very slow growing so you may want to search out a second opinion at a major cancer c...
by tarheelmom
Fri Nov 03, 2017 1:29 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017
Replies: 1760
Views: 497324

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Have a safe trip home. I forgot about the heparin shots. I only had them in the hospital. I do remember a nurse asking me if I "wanted" the shot so I asked the surgeon if they were optional. The surgeon said once I went home, I would be moving around so much that the threat of blood clots ...
by tarheelmom
Sun Oct 29, 2017 10:28 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017
Replies: 1760
Views: 497324

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Good luck tomorrow! I was in the ERAS protocol. I think it really minimized the pain. Thinking good thoughts for you!
by tarheelmom
Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:19 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Digestive issues after rectal cancer treatment
Replies: 22
Views: 5723

Re: Digestive issues after rectal cancer treatment

You may have LARS (Low Anterior Resection Syndrome). Unfortunately for me, it seems to be an individual trial and error journey to find what foods are tolerable. Those tolerable foods seem to vary. I also feel as if my diet is more carb heavy since many vegetables and salad are on my "bad"...
by tarheelmom
Thu Oct 19, 2017 7:35 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Mom's surgery is in two days!
Replies: 29
Views: 4837

Re: Mom's surgery is in two days!

So glad that everything went well with your mother. She sounds like a trooper, and you are a great caregiver! NHMike - To reaffirm another post, I did not find the pain level that bad after my ULAR and temp ileostomy. My surgery started at 8 AM on a Tuesday; in recovery at ~2PM; in a room at 5 PM; o...
by tarheelmom
Sun Oct 01, 2017 5:07 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Just told I have a mass in rectum
Replies: 46
Views: 18936

Re: Just told I have a mass in rectum

Hi KathyLynn, I was a T2N0M0, 3 cm from the AV. No chemo/rad - just surgery. My surgeon did mention that if it had been T3N0M0, then he would have recommended chemo (no radiation) pre-surgery. His rationale was that he was trying to avoid a permanent colostomy since the tumor was so low and that rad...
by tarheelmom
Thu Sep 14, 2017 12:23 pm
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Just told I have a mass in rectum
Replies: 46
Views: 18936

Re: Just told I have a mass in rectum

Kathy, My tumor was really low, and I was pretty sure that I would need a permanent colostomy. However, my surgeon was very confident that I would only need a temporary ileostomy as long as there were no cancer cells in the sphincter muscles. There has been a lot of progress on "sphincter spari...
by tarheelmom
Tue Sep 12, 2017 10:25 am
Forum: Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum
Topic: Diet struggles after illeostomy reversal
Replies: 6
Views: 3287

Re: Diet struggles after illeostomy reversal

I had a similar diagnosis and treatment. I'm about 15 months out from reversal. I stuck to a low fiber, bland diet for a few weeks; and then started to gradually add in foods. My doctor said that it would be mostly a trial and error process. I have found that raw vegetables, fruit with skin, and sal...

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