Scared. Blood in my colostomy bag

[BreeBree]

Hi, I have read and read your forum. I was diagnosed in late 2017. You guys have helped me thru this journey more than I can say. Today I am scared. It's time to post.
I have called my oncology team and am waiting to hear back...
I will fill out my info later, but so you know I was 41(F) when diagnosed with stage 2 rectal cancer. I have had my barbie butt for over a year. Everything has been going just fine, NED, for a year. This morning there was blood on my stool. Then I had diarrhea. Now there is clear liquid and blood in my bag. Has anyone else had this.... I'm scared.

[TinaFish]

What is a Barbie butt?

[BreeBree]

Sorry... Barbie Butt = my rectum has been removed

[TinaFish]

It's been a few days... what did your doctor have to say about the blood?

And may I ask, please, why you needed a permanent colostomy? I'm worried that I'll need one.

[BreeBree]

It seems like I have a lovely bout of gastroenteritis. It has gotten better. I take a baby aspirin every day and since stopping that the blood has stopped. I'm doing much better.

I had cancer. It was very low on my rectom, therefore I had to have my rectum and anus removed. So I needed a permanent colostomy. I was scared too. But I focused on my need to beat the cancer, the colostomy was just a side effect of that. I looked at it as a new accessory like my glasses, I need it, its different... but oh well. I am lucky to be very practical, and to have a wonderful family support system.

If you need one... it's no where near the end of the world. It might take a little bit to get used to it, but there are much worse things. It's good to do lots of research and to keep perspective.

[Rikimaroo]

I will be honest with you I miss my ileostomy bag. Some days suffering from clustering then butt Burn from going so much makes one wonder what the fack did I reverse and go back to not normal lol.

I guess it’s a nuisance to have a bag but some days wish I had it. I could do everything with it. Most days have been better then worse but those worse days really suck butt.

My wife and I talk about it and she says get the bag back but it’s hard to pull the trigger on that.

[Rock_Robster]

I will be honest with you I miss my ileostomy bag

Hi Rikimaroo, I’ve only had my temp ileo for 2 weeks but reading about LARS, already I wonder about this. If you went back to the bag, could you have a permanent end colostomy? I feel like a colostomy seems much easier to manage than a loop ileostomy.

[Rikimaroo]

You know it’s tough to say as my only experience was with ileostomy.

I already have the scar and a black area around where the surgery was done and reversed. So to make another incision somewhere else is something I would have to think about but at the end of the day my surgeon would tell me what’s right and probably colostomy since it’s less frequent emptying.

I don’t know just yet what I am going to do still trying things and 2 years is the benchmark on how things will be going forward.

So time will tell my friend

[Rock_Robster]

Thanks Rikimaroo; appreciated. Best of luck for improvement.

Rob