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Re: Food-Toilet-Exercise Log
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 4:01 pm
by juliej
O Stoma Mia wrote:...
Food-Toilet-Exercise Log- I have a Food-Toilet-Exercise log that I used for the first couple of years after reversal. It had three panels. In each of the panels I had items organized by time, where each item could have several subscripts to further describe the item. For example, in the Toilet log I used the Bristol Stool Chart for describing the type of stool, but I also had other subscripts, like 'size of stool', 'color', 'level of urgency', and 'time on toilet', etc. It was the same for the other panels: Each item entered in the spreadsheet had multiple subscripts.
The three panels were then interleaved and displayed on a master timeline so that I could see the overall pattern.
I haven't used my spreadsheet for a couple of years now, because my situation has stabilized, and I now know all of my bowel-movement trggers by heart. .But when I was first starting out, I used the spreadsheet on a daily basis for planning purposes.
O Stoma Mia, this is brilliant! I kept all my labs in spreadsheets. Hell, I even kept track of my tumors in Excel, noting the change in size of each tumor after every scan. But I never thought to use a spreadsheet for post-reversal potty tracking!
I just used basic reflex action like when you touch something hot -- "
nope, I wasn't ready to eat spicy quesadillas yet" -- and then avoided the offending food for two weeks or so when I'd try it again. Your approach is much more logical. I wish I'd thought of it...
Juliej
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:12 pm
by Aqx99
NHMike wrote:Does the reversal surgery normally take four days in the hospital or is that due to the loop illeostomy?
My surgeon told me beforehand that it is normally a 3 day stay, barring complications. I was there almost exactly 72 hours, even with the extra stuff that happened to me. Surgery was at noon on Tuesday, I was discharged around 11am on Friday.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:17 pm
by NHMike
Aqx99 wrote:NHMike wrote:Does the reversal surgery normally take four days in the hospital or is that due to the loop illeostomy?
My surgeon told me beforehand that it is normally a 3 day stay, barring complications. I was there almost exactly 72 hours, even with the extra stuff that happened to me. Surgery was at noon on Tuesday, I was discharged around 11am on Friday.
Thanks. I was under the impression that it was outpatient stuff. I'll have to plan for more I guess. I meet with the surgeon in March and I guess she'll set my expectations.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 10:23 pm
by Aqx99
NHMike wrote:Aqx99 wrote:NHMike wrote:Does the reversal surgery normally take four days in the hospital or is that due to the loop illeostomy?
My surgeon told me beforehand that it is normally a 3 day stay, barring complications. I was there almost exactly 72 hours, even with the extra stuff that happened to me. Surgery was at noon on Tuesday, I was discharged around 11am on Friday.
Thanks. I was under the impression that it was outpatient stuff. I'll have to plan for more I guess. I meet with the surgeon in March and I guess she'll set my expectations.
They actually removed 18.5cm of my small intestine in the process. I don't know if that is normal or not, I only found out about it by reading my pathology report online.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 11:24 pm
by rockhound
NHMike wrote:Aqx99 wrote:NHMike wrote:Does the reversal surgery normally take four days in the hospital or is that due to the loop illeostomy?
My surgeon told me beforehand that it is normally a 3 day stay, barring complications. I was there almost exactly 72 hours, even with the extra stuff that happened to me. Surgery was at noon on Tuesday, I was discharged around 11am on Friday.
Thanks. I was under the impression that it was outpatient stuff. I'll have to plan for more I guess. I meet with the surgeon in March and I guess she'll set my expectations.
I was in the hospital for ~4 days; really depends on how fast your bowels start working again. They are not going to let you leave until things are moving! It was a much easier recovery, surgery-wise, than the resection. Was up and about pretty soon after getting to my room after surgery and I was so much more mobile.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 11:26 am
by Aqx99
I had a very informative session with my pelvic physical therapist yesterday. She taught me the massage technique to help me have an emptying bowel movement, instead of clustering. It will take some practice to get it right, but I could tell it helped this morning.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 5:15 pm
by susie0915
I thought the pelvic floor therapy was very helpful. Did she tell you to get a squatty potty. I found that to be very helpful.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:26 pm
by Aqx99
susie0915 wrote:I thought the pelvic floor therapy was very helpful. Did she tell you to get a squatty potty. I found that to be very helpful.
Yeah, she told me to get one or use a stack of books or shoe boxes at my first visit. I bought one for my master bathroom. I was amazed at how it helps open you up.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 8:20 am
by susie0915
Aqx99 wrote:susie0915 wrote:I thought the pelvic floor therapy was very helpful. Did she tell you to get a squatty potty. I found that to be very helpful.
Yeah, she told me to get one or use a stack of books or shoe boxes at my first visit. I bought one for my master bathroom. I was amazed at how it helps open you up.
Yes I have one in my master bedroom as well. I also got one on amazon that I can travel with. It folds down flat for easy packing. Really does help with evacuation.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 11:37 am
by Aqx99
The massage she taught me seems to be working. It will take a while to perfect the technique, but I am getting there. Yesterday I had a much larger movement than normal after I massaged. This morning, I started passing gas while massaging. I'm hoping I can eventually get to where I empty out completely and don't have to worry about going until after my next meal.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 11:48 am
by heiders33
I'm going to have to learn this massage technique!
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 12:32 pm
by susie0915
Pelvic floor therapy is really beneficial. You should ask about it after your reversal.
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 1:54 pm
by Atoq
heiders33 wrote:I'm going to have to learn this massage technique!
Me too!
Claudia
Re: Reversal is Over
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 2:01 pm
by Aqx99
Atoq wrote:heiders33 wrote:I'm going to have to learn this massage technique!
Me too!
Claudia
PM me your email addresses and I will scan and send you the sheet she gave me detailing the massage.
Abdominal massage for constipation
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 1:57 am
by O Stoma Mia