AppleTree wrote:After the surgery, there is still fecal matter that will come out of your rectum. Wear Depends until it passes. I wish someone told me that!
AppleTree wrote:After the surgery, there is still fecal matter that will come out of your rectum. Wear Depends until it passes. I wish someone told me that!
BethD wrote:Yes thank you for all the replies. & thank you Lee. I'm able to see the silver lining. I'm alive and I'm getting a little bit better everyday.
I feel very grateful and fortunate to be in the care of UCSF. I verified that my surgeon is board certified. She is the Chief of Colorectal Surgery.
My nurse said I will have the Barbie butt.
talk to you soon
Beth
BethD wrote:Yes thank you for all the replies. & thank you Lee. I'm able to see the silver lining. I'm alive and I'm getting a little bit better everyday.
I feel very grateful and fortunate to be in the care of UCSF. I verified that my surgeon is board certified. She is the Chief of Colorectal Surgery.
My nurse said I will have the Barbie butt.
Surgery date is right around the corner. I had hoped to avoid surgery altogether. I went to UCSF to participate in an OPERA study to see surgery could be avoided. Long story short, my oncologist, radiologist and surgeon recommend the surgery so here we are. I trust my team at UCSF and this is the next step on the path.
But at the same time, it's hard to accept what the next few weeks and months will bring. I was in so much pain a year ago and I'm already feeling so much better, better than I have in two years. I had problems with abdominal pain, bleeding and constipation a year ago, but since my first chemo in April, I've felt better. I didn't have problems any problems with chemo. Radiation was a little tougher, especially at the end, but I don't have any issues with urgency or loss of control. I work as an independent contractor and I've been working throughout.
These days I'm pooping like a champ. I'm really glad to be feeling better. It would be nice to just go on like this and not have to take another big step. I really wish I could avoid the surgery. So I have second thoughts about it. But it's not worth taking the risk of leaving this cancer inside me. I'll do the surgery and look forward to many more good days and a better long term chance of survival.
The nurse marked a circle on my left side that seems to be in a good spot and sent me home with an ostomy home skills kit and stoma practice model.
talk to you soon
Beth
Aqx99 wrote:It is quite a change when you have a stoma. I have a temporary ileostomy and it took me a while to accept it. The first month or so, I cried every time I changed my pouch. It was also frustrating at first, trying to get the right system set up. It's good that they sent you home with learning materials and a practice model. That should help. My mantra the entire time I have had this ileostomy has been to remind myself that it is helping to save my life. Any time I feel down about it, when it decides to erupt right as I start a pouch change, etc. I just take a moment and think of what could be if I had not had the surgery. You are stronger than you think, you will make it through this and come out even stronger on the other side. I would like to suggest that you check into talking with an oncology counselor. This is a major change in your life and it might help to talk with someone trained to help people through cancer treatment and the effects it has on the body. I have been seeing the oncology counselor at my cancer center for several months and she has helped me immensely.
heiders33 wrote:I had major problems in December with leaks and blowouts. Fortunately I called my ostomy nurse and changed my system which seems to be working (for now). I have read that temp ileostomies are much harder to manage than permanent ileostomies or colostomies because of the high level of caustic output, since the stoma is created out of the loop of the ileum rather than the end. If I had to get a permanent colostomy I think I could manage it much better.
heiders33 wrote:I had major problems in December with leaks and blowouts. Fortunately I called my ostomy nurse and changed my system which seems to be working (for now). I have read that temp ileostomies are much harder to manage than permanent ileostomies or colostomies because of the high level of caustic output, since the stoma is created out of the loop of the ileum rather than the end. If I had to get a permanent colostomy I think I could manage it much better.
heiders33 wrote:I had major problems in December with leaks and blowouts. Fortunately I called my ostomy nurse and changed my system which seems to be working (for now). I have read that temp ileostomies are much harder to manage than permanent ileostomies or colostomies because of the high level of caustic output, since the stoma is created out of the loop of the ileum rather than the end. If I had to get a permanent colostomy I think I could manage it much better.
heiders33 wrote:I would think if the output is more solid coming out of the perm colostomy or ileostomy, it would be much easier to manage. My problems are all related to the liquidity of my output. I almost wish I could have a temp colostomy, although I realize that's not possible since my colon is healing from surgery.
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