News of a colostomy

theresa8

Today we went to meet my husband's surgeon prior to his surgery fo a rectal cancer T3N0M0.
He answered all of our questions since we hadn't seen him since October. My partner underwent 5 weeks of radiochemotherapy.Then he came out with the subject of a temporary colostomy. He had never talked about this possibility before since his tumor is at 10 cm. Maybe he wanted to spare us the pain of this news back then even though we had asked him about it. We really weren't prepared for this news. Even though the surgeon says it gives the rectum a better chance of healing and avoiding any leaks. We had a scenario that by summer all of this would be behind us but the reversal should happen if everything goes well by the end of August.
We live in Canada and summer for us is a special time but it seems that our plans for traveling will have to be postponed. I'm sorry I'm so overwhelmed by this, I know that when I'm having a positive attitude on things makes him see things in the best possible way but friends I'm having a little problem here. Hope you can help me. I come to this board every day and it has really helped me.

NWGirl

Summer will still be great!
Please don't postpone summer travel plans because of a colostomy. I had my ileostomy for a year while I went through chemo/radiation. I flew from Portland to Chicago for a week long stay while I had my ileo - no problems at all. BUT - skip the beer at the airport bar before getting on the plane! OMG - I had a couple of beers before getting on the plane ride home and had to go to the bathroom mid flight because my bag filled up with gas! Kind of funny now.

I know a colostomy sounds scarey, but once you get your head around it - which yes, does take some time - it's really okay. It takes time, patience and a new perspective - but there are many, many worse things than having an ostomy.

My best advice? Find a GOOD ostomy nurse. They are worth their weight in gold and can help you with the mental, physical and emotional adjustment to your (husbands) new body.

mac1212

Hang in there
I am also T3N0M0 and did 5 weeks of chemo and radiation. I had my surgery on the 29th of October and now have a loop ileostomy. I was also at 10cm. NWgirl said get a good ostomy nurse and I cannot agree with her more. They helped me out more than anyone in the whole process. Don't postpone any plans...the ostomy is a non issue. Once he gets a rhythm down he will do fine and can do anything you did last summer. My reversal will come up at the end of April. If you have any other questions, definitely ask on the board or you can shoot me a PM since he matches almost to a T the dx I had.

Brian

tiny one

Plans
Don't change your plans, keep them. There is no need to think you can't travel. Ostomies are not hard to get used to. Anything your husband could do before he will be able to do after. Maybe not contact Karate but anything he puts his mind to he can do. I had my temporary ileostomy for 10 months. I had a resection and woke up with mine, no warning before surgery. Mentally it was an adjustment, but I was determined to do everything I like to do, and I did. It didn't slow me down at all.I like to do heavy gardening, push mowing, painting rooms, and even lift weights. I did all of this with my ostomy. One guy wind surfs with his. People run marathons with ostomies. Weight lifters have ostomies. The only way you know if someone has one is if they tell you. So no need to cancel plans, just take extra supplies with you.

theresa8

tiny one said:

Plans
Don't change your plans, keep them. There is no need to think you can't travel. Ostomies are not hard to get used to. Anything your husband could do before he will be able to do after. Maybe not contact Karate but anything he puts his mind to he can do. I had my temporary ileostomy for 10 months. I had a resection and woke up with mine, no warning before surgery. Mentally it was an adjustment, but I was determined to do everything I like to do, and I did. It didn't slow me down at all.I like to do heavy gardening, push mowing, painting rooms, and even lift weights. I did all of this with my ostomy. One guy wind surfs with his. People run marathons with ostomies. Weight lifters have ostomies. The only way you know if someone has one is if they tell you. So no need to cancel plans, just take extra supplies with you.

Italy travel plans
We don't know if our travel insurance will cover us for travel overseas. That is the issue we are trying to solve. We'll wait until the surgery and see how things go and then we'll contact our insurance. Thanks for your encouraging words because of you things seem less frightening today. By the way what is the difference between a colostomy and an ileostomy ?

Buzzard

theresa8 said:

Italy travel plans
We don't know if our travel insurance will cover us for travel overseas. That is the issue we are trying to solve. We'll wait until the surgery and see how things go and then we'll contact our insurance. Thanks for your encouraging words because of you things seem less frightening today. By the way what is the difference between a colostomy and an ileostomy ?

difference according to google
First let me tell you this....If you cancel your travel plans because of an ostomy, let me know cause I have one and I will certainly go...it is nothing to worry about. It is easier than the old way for me, and no raw butt or chapped butt anymore.......Good Luck, Buzz






Both an ileostomy and colostomy are used to help patients pass stools when the colon or rectum cannot do the job. While each surgery serves a similar purpose, the two are quite different with regard to the surgery involved, its aftercare, and the reasoning that leads up to each procedure.

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Surgical Definitions
While both are surgical procedures, the details of each are different. Both surgeries are used to create an opening through which solid waste from the body can pass. With an ileostomy, an opening is created from the ileum, the lowest part of your small intestine, through the abdominal wall to replicate the function of an anus. Ileostomies allow stools to pass through the body when the colon or rectum is unable to serve this purpose. A colostomy is quite different, and involves a procedure to bring an end of the large intestine through the abdominal wall so that stools moving through the intestine can bypass the colon and travel directly to a bag that is attached to the abdomen.
A Case for Each Surgery
Ileostomies are performed under a number of different circumstances where there is damage to the colon or rectum. Most ileostomy patients suffer from some sort of inflammatory bowel disease or colon or rectal cancer. Abdominal infections, like an abscess or a perforated diverticulitis, colon or rectal injury, or large bowel blockage, can led to a colostomy. Patients with rectal or colon cancer, as well as those with injuries in the perineum area, may also require this sort of surgery.
Permanency
Both colostomies and ileostomies are designed to be temporary or permanent depending on the particular situation and the condition of the colon or rectum. After large intestine surgeries it is not uncommon for a surgeon to recommend either procedure to give the intestine some rest. Short-term colostomies or ileostomies can be reversed when part of your rectum remains intact.
Post-surgical Expectations
Expect to stay in the hospital for anywhere between three and seven days after either surgery, with the longer stays reserved mainly for emergency surgeries. Most patients can expect to eat normally as little as two days after the colostomy and the ileostomy.
Aftercare
Both the colostomy opening and the colostomy bag must be well taken care a few times a day of to ward off infection. You will need training on how to clean both as well as how to empty the bag. Ileostomies require little aftercare, and most patients can return to their pre-surgical activities including sports, travel and jobs with no problem. Patients with ileostomies that suffer from a chronic intestinal condition like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis will require ongoing medical treatment to manage the disease.