Update - Colostomy

Colostomy
Hi, I am new to this site and so happy to be here! I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Anal Cancer in Jan. 2011. I had a colostomy put in right away and began chemo and radiation together. It took some getting used to but is really not bad. I was happy to have it during the painful healing from radiation and dont know how I could have kept that area clean without it. I still have it and am waiting to here "cancer free". The original plan was to reconnect but I have learned that that is not always possible due to some damage to the anal area from radiation....healing and time will tell. The hardest part is that everyday people, even family try to be understanding but they just dont know what its like. You learn to develop a system that works for you and learn that certain foods affect your digestive process different than before, not bad just different. How I dress is a little change too. The bag lays flat and when I have stool in it I empty it soon as I can, but I am slim and used to tuck shirts in and now I mostly where loose longer tops....not such a bad thing in the whole picture of life. Its kinda like a portable bthroom if you cant get there and need to!!! There are annoying problems though....I had to try different brands to find what works best for me. Some leaked a little!!!, some itched!!!, ect. but I did in time figure it out. There are support groups with great ideas and nurses called stoma nurses in most areas that can help find what works for you. Good luck on this part of your journey and always know no matter how you feel you are NOT alone, there are a lot of people out there in the same boat if you just look. I'll try to keep in touch.

eihtak said:

Colostomy
Hi, I am new to this site and so happy to be here! I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Anal Cancer in Jan. 2011. I had a colostomy put in right away and began chemo and radiation together. It took some getting used to but is really not bad. I was happy to have it during the painful healing from radiation and dont know how I could have kept that area clean without it. I still have it and am waiting to here "cancer free". The original plan was to reconnect but I have learned that that is not always possible due to some damage to the anal area from radiation....healing and time will tell. The hardest part is that everyday people, even family try to be understanding but they just dont know what its like. You learn to develop a system that works for you and learn that certain foods affect your digestive process different than before, not bad just different. How I dress is a little change too. The bag lays flat and when I have stool in it I empty it soon as I can, but I am slim and used to tuck shirts in and now I mostly where loose longer tops....not such a bad thing in the whole picture of life. Its kinda like a portable bthroom if you cant get there and need to!!! There are annoying problems though....I had to try different brands to find what works best for me. Some leaked a little!!!, some itched!!!, ect. but I did in time figure it out. There are support groups with great ideas and nurses called stoma nurses in most areas that can help find what works for you. Good luck on this part of your journey and always know no matter how you feel you are NOT alone, there are a lot of people out there in the same boat if you just look. I'll try to keep in touch.

Eihtak
Welcome. Your experience and knowledge is needed here. It sounds like you adapt well to change. I think change is very difficult for most people, maybe you could share with us, how you learned to accept change.