Postby Soccermom2boys » Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:16 pm
Hi Gloria—oh man, I am so sorry to hear how rough your recovery has been. Naturally there is going to be pain and a decent recovery, but yours does sound like it is not the norm unfortunately. I had apr surgery with a permanent colostomy in December of 2015. I was home five days later and honestly was able to walk at least a mile a day once I was home. My diet was low fiber as I was urged to give the ostomy a chance to get settled so to speak, but I did have an appetite, I don’t recall that being an issue. My surgeon was very diligent in reminding me to not sit directly on my butt for more than 20 minute intervals and to try and avoid it as much as possible in general for the first two months. I really did do my best to “sit”/recline/lay around on couch so that I was not directly putting pressure on it and I am fortunate to say I didn’t have any extra pain than what would be expected. However when I was still within a month out of surgery and had to drive in a car to an appointment, it hurt like hell! I did the least amount of being in a car as was possible during that time because it did hurt to sit directly on it but when you are in a vehicle you can’t really avoid being on your butt.
It was a full eight weeks before I would say I felt “recovered”, but then as I was a stage 3, I did have chemo after surgery (about 7 weeks after). Fortunately by that point I was close to feeling recovered so the chemo didn’t really hamper my surgery recovery.
As for chemo post surgery, it really does appear to be a mixed bag with stage 2a like yourself. I think based on the pathology report from your surgery they look for any possible high risk factors to determine if it’s necessary otherwise it may be your possible decision to make. With having a lymph node test positive for cancer after my surgery, chemo was a definite for me.
Again, sorry you are having such a tough time of it. Try to keep off of your rear as much as is possible and while I know you said you are having a tough time with eating, my surgeon was also a stickler for having patients get high amounts of protein to help with the healing process as well. Sending you healing thoughts.
8/3/15 Went in with a hemorrhoid, came out with a tumor
8/12/15 Biopsy from colonoscopy confirms RC (45 yrs old--zero family history!)
9/21 - 10/29/15 chemorad 28 tx (with Xeloda)
12/17/15 APR with perm colostomy
Pathology report stages me as IIIA (T2N1M0)--1/15 LN detects cancer
2/3/16 chemo port inserted
2/8-6/2/16 8 rounds of Folfox