ocstacy wrote:My ostomy nurse started me on that because sometimes your output can get on the vent and leak through to your clothes.
Yes, that happened to my mommy. She was too scared and nervous to change the whole pouch herself so I helped her with the whole change. She is afraid to shower with it off, which the surgeon and nurses said it would be just fine if water hits it. I have been watching You-Tube videos and now we have a routine, where she uses chucks tucked in her pants as a leak guard, etc. She is a 1 1/4 circum. cut. I didn't know that they shrink to different sizes. I'm learning each day. My mom doesn't like it at all, but she needs to understand that her cancer is nearly gone. I have no idea when she will start the chemo again. Does she have to?
I can understand the anxiety in changing the bag. I haven't heard the term "chucks" in a long time - basically when I was working on a medical-surgery floor in my teens. As you know, my situation is similar to your mothers and I expect post-surgical chemo. My surgeon has already spoken to my Oncologist (well, my Dana Farber Oncologist) and I find out in two weeks. I expect 5FU/Xeloda. The question is will there be anything else?
I like your statement "is nearly gone". Your mother has endured two-thirds of a marathon.