Suregry over. Not as expected.

Helen321
Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member

Thank you all for the last year and all of your support. Surgery over, still in hospital.  Woke up with a colostomy which was not expected. Will write again soon.  Just wanted to say all is okay and talk to you soon.  Helen

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Comments

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    Thanks for letting us know.
    Thanks for letting us know. Wish you a very speedy recovery.

    Chelsea
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    Dear Helen

    Sorry you got a surprise colostomy, but you can live very well with one.

    When you are up to writing more, ask all the questions you have about it.  I have had one for 3 years this March.

    Wishing you a speedy and uneventful recovery.

    Hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties

  • steveandnat
    steveandnat Member Posts: 886
    Glad to hear

    It is good to hear yoursurgery went okay. Wonder. Why the colostomy . When your up to it you will have to let us know. Pray for a quick recovery.  Jeff

  • k44454445
    k44454445 Member Posts: 494
    glad your surgery

    is over. praying for a quick recovery.

    hugs

    judy

  • hippiechicks
    hippiechicks Member Posts: 509 Member
    Glad to hear all is ok. 

    Glad to hear all is ok.  Wishing you quick recovery and comfort to you. Ostomies are ok....sometimes even a blessing! Cool

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    Hope you're feeling better soon...

    keep us posted!  Hugs~Ann Alexandria

  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member

    Hope you're feeling better soon...

    keep us posted!  Hugs~Ann Alexandria

    Helen

    Helen I am glad your surgery is over....sorry you had that surprise waiting for you.  So many people here will be able to help you when you feel ready.....thanks for checking in with us

     

    speedy recovery.....mags

  • Momof2plusteentwins
    Momof2plusteentwins Member Posts: 509 Member
    Helen
    So glad surgery is over. Hope you're feeling better and home now. Is your colostomy going to be reversed? Did you get your staging?
    Sandy :)
  • Varmint5
    Varmint5 Member Posts: 384 Member
    Glad to hear you are okay

    Sorry about the surprise but you will find that there is life after a colostomy or ileostomy. Hang in there. Hope you are doing well in your recovery from surgery.

    Sandy

  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    We are sending you are

    We are sending you are thoughts and Parayers for a quick recovery Helen!

     

    Best Always, mike

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    Thanks guys.  I'm now five

    Thanks guys.  I'm now five days out and just got home.  My sister had a laptop with her in the hospital that day and so I grabbed it.  The doctor said he would do his best to give me a temporary, and he did just that but he said that the tumor marker (his office had done a tattoo week before) was just so close to the muscle, had he done a reversible, I would have spent my life with such an incredible amount of leakage that I would have been miserable.  He came out before he started and asked my proxy what she thought he should do, stop or continue and she said continue.  I had also already signed a paper saying that I understood he may have to do a colostomy.  That's what I would have picked also.  So although life will now include some extra daily maintenance, I have life!  And so at this moment in time, I'm just glad for that.  I'm home in my own bed (ahhhhhhh) and I will spend the next five days relaxing until the pain subsides.  The surgery was 10 times more painful than I imagined (the first one last year was a walk in the park).  I think the drainage tubes were the worst part. Glad it's over.  My ovaries were also removed so we're waiting to find out what the spot was.  Waiting for my biopsy for staging and to backup NED from CT scan.  Fingers crossed!  I'll definitely ask questions as they arise.  Day one home is just me actually cleaning this bag out.  Pew how stinky!  Other than that, I'm just ready for a full night's sleep (at least I hope!).

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    Helen321 said:

    Thanks guys.  I'm now five

    Thanks guys.  I'm now five days out and just got home.  My sister had a laptop with her in the hospital that day and so I grabbed it.  The doctor said he would do his best to give me a temporary, and he did just that but he said that the tumor marker (his office had done a tattoo week before) was just so close to the muscle, had he done a reversible, I would have spent my life with such an incredible amount of leakage that I would have been miserable.  He came out before he started and asked my proxy what she thought he should do, stop or continue and she said continue.  I had also already signed a paper saying that I understood he may have to do a colostomy.  That's what I would have picked also.  So although life will now include some extra daily maintenance, I have life!  And so at this moment in time, I'm just glad for that.  I'm home in my own bed (ahhhhhhh) and I will spend the next five days relaxing until the pain subsides.  The surgery was 10 times more painful than I imagined (the first one last year was a walk in the park).  I think the drainage tubes were the worst part. Glad it's over.  My ovaries were also removed so we're waiting to find out what the spot was.  Waiting for my biopsy for staging and to backup NED from CT scan.  Fingers crossed!  I'll definitely ask questions as they arise.  Day one home is just me actually cleaning this bag out.  Pew how stinky!  Other than that, I'm just ready for a full night's sleep (at least I hope!).

    You sound so positive and

    You sound so positive and upbeat. I am so glad you are home and able to sleep in your own bed, that is healing in itself.

    Good luck with your new routine, I pray that it is temporary. 

    We'll wait with you for the results. 

     

     

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    Trubrit said:

    You sound so positive and

    You sound so positive and upbeat. I am so glad you are home and able to sleep in your own bed, that is healing in itself.

    Good luck with your new routine, I pray that it is temporary. 

    We'll wait with you for the results. 

     

     

    Thanks, the colostomy is

    Thanks, the colostomy is permanent, that part is a given but hopefully getting used to it will be temporary and quick.  I've already cried twice about it but only in the midst of pain in the hospital.  I'm more in the thinking of well you all go out of a hole in the back and I go through one in the front.  Big deal.  Of course, I haven't looked up any of the down points yet.  Once I do more research I might be singing a different song. 

     

    I'm with you, sleeping in your own bed is definitely healing! 

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    Helen321 said:

    Thanks, the colostomy is

    Thanks, the colostomy is permanent, that part is a given but hopefully getting used to it will be temporary and quick.  I've already cried twice about it but only in the midst of pain in the hospital.  I'm more in the thinking of well you all go out of a hole in the back and I go through one in the front.  Big deal.  Of course, I haven't looked up any of the down points yet.  Once I do more research I might be singing a different song. 

     

    I'm with you, sleeping in your own bed is definitely healing! 

    Chemo brain means I can't read.

    Sorry for the misunderstanding. 

    I know you're a positive person and will do well with whatever you face.

    And you know that living with a permanent colostomy means living, and thats what its all about. 

  • wawaju04976
    wawaju04976 Member Posts: 316 Member
    Helen321 said:

    Thanks, the colostomy is

    Thanks, the colostomy is permanent, that part is a given but hopefully getting used to it will be temporary and quick.  I've already cried twice about it but only in the midst of pain in the hospital.  I'm more in the thinking of well you all go out of a hole in the back and I go through one in the front.  Big deal.  Of course, I haven't looked up any of the down points yet.  Once I do more research I might be singing a different song. 

     

    I'm with you, sleeping in your own bed is definitely healing! 

    You will be surprised at how

    You will be surprised at how quickly you will get used to the colostomy. U'll get so you'll remember to get everything together, set up, etc. BEFORE changing your appliance. You'll also want to look at the catalogue (if the hospital gave you one) and see what might be right for you. I went to the Coloplast site and and they had free samples. I ordered the free samples and got a pile of different types of appliances, bags, etc. They also sent a very nice travel carrier for your supplies. I'm sure other companies do this, and it makes a difference what you have and how you put it on. Take it one day at a time. I've had mine since November.

    Judy

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member

    You will be surprised at how

    You will be surprised at how quickly you will get used to the colostomy. U'll get so you'll remember to get everything together, set up, etc. BEFORE changing your appliance. You'll also want to look at the catalogue (if the hospital gave you one) and see what might be right for you. I went to the Coloplast site and and they had free samples. I ordered the free samples and got a pile of different types of appliances, bags, etc. They also sent a very nice travel carrier for your supplies. I'm sure other companies do this, and it makes a difference what you have and how you put it on. Take it one day at a time. I've had mine since November.

    Judy

    W2Go Helen

    Your attitude is great...keep up the good work!

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    Helen321 said:

    Thanks, the colostomy is

    Thanks, the colostomy is permanent, that part is a given but hopefully getting used to it will be temporary and quick.  I've already cried twice about it but only in the midst of pain in the hospital.  I'm more in the thinking of well you all go out of a hole in the back and I go through one in the front.  Big deal.  Of course, I haven't looked up any of the down points yet.  Once I do more research I might be singing a different song. 

     

    I'm with you, sleeping in your own bed is definitely healing! 

    Glad you are home

    I know that an ostomy takes getting used to, but as with other changes we must make, you will figure out how to make it just another of those things you do.

    If I can be of any help at all on the subject of dealing with an ostomy, don't hesitate to ask.

    Wishing you speedy and good recovery.

    Hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties

  • bailee2012
    bailee2012 Member Posts: 60
    love your positive attitude!!

    My husband also came out of surgery in June with a colostomy.  Neither of us had every had any experience with one before so it has been a learning process.  Make sure to go to the UOAA website and check out their discussion boards because it has been very helpful in figuring out all of this.  Also there is a list of the manufacturers for supplies and I went down the list and requested different free samples from each to find what would work best for us.  Best of luck and your great attitude will get you far!!!

  • bailee2012
    bailee2012 Member Posts: 60
    oops

    repost. sorry

  • tachilders
    tachilders Member Posts: 313
    Helen321 said:

    Thanks, the colostomy is

    Thanks, the colostomy is permanent, that part is a given but hopefully getting used to it will be temporary and quick.  I've already cried twice about it but only in the midst of pain in the hospital.  I'm more in the thinking of well you all go out of a hole in the back and I go through one in the front.  Big deal.  Of course, I haven't looked up any of the down points yet.  Once I do more research I might be singing a different song. 

     

    I'm with you, sleeping in your own bed is definitely healing! 

    The smell while cleaning is a

    The smell while cleaning is a definite downside to having a colostomy, and it can be tough on some people who are sensitive to smells.  Luckily, it doesn't bother me too much.  I usually tell people this little bit of wisdom when/if they ask about a colostomy: "there is a reason god/nature didn't put your butt close to your nose".....  Unfortunately, with a colostomy, that is exactly the case!!!  I have had mine since June 4, 2012 and it's pretty much "normal" for me now to deal with it.

    Tedd