Stoma marking this week. Surgery on the 31st.

Helen321
Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Well, this is it . . .I'm going in.  Getting my marking this Friday.  Online doing a little research because I remember someone on here saying placement is very important.  Mine is a temporary.  Scan on Monday to verify that the chemo/rad worked (I think this has me the most neverous).  Then rectum removal on the 31st. Had a dream last night that the dentist sawed all my teeth in half, woke up from that and thought, okay think good things and go back to sleep, then dreamt that the doctor put holes all over my body.  I think I slept 12 minutes total last night. Will be glad when the surgery is actually done because the surgery is never as bad as the imagination.  I came through my last one just fine.  I think the idea of wearing my intestines on the outside of my body is what's freaking me out.  It just sounds painful. 

Comments

  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #2
    Just want to say good luck

    Just want to say good luck with your tests and your upcoming surgery.   I haven't gone through this, but others that have can give you some great advice!!!

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #3
    smokeyjoe said:

    Just want to say good luck

    Just want to say good luck with your tests and your upcoming surgery.   I haven't gone through this, but others that have can give you some great advice!!!

    Thanks!  I think having my

    Thanks!  I think having my teeth sawed in half last night was probably worse than the surgery!  lol   I can't believe the way things come out in dreams.  I am always very nervous about the unknown.  I made myself a promise that like the last surgery, if I get through this without the awful pain that I am imagining that I'd stop doing this to myself.  Just go along with things as they come.  Time goes so fast that it's over before you know it anyway.  I have to remind myself of that also.

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #4
    Dear Helen

    I have had my colostomy for nearly 3 years now.  The ostomy itself is not painful as there are no nerve endings in the stoma.

    The surgery will take a little while to recover from, but with a good surgeon all should be well.

    If it is a trained wound/ostomy nurse who is doing the marking you should get best placement possible within the scope of the surgery planned.

    I recommend the following book to understand the surgery and how to live life with an ostomy:

     

    The Ostomy Book: Living Comfortably with Colostomies, Ileostomies, and Urostomies

    Barbara Dorr Mullen and Kerry Anne McGinn RN BSN OCN

     

    It was recommended by my ostomy nurse. It is an excellent source for the person just starting out. It was written by a mother who has an ostomy and her daughter who is an ostomy nurse. You may find it at your library, but definately on Amazon or perhaps at the local book store.Barbara Dorr Mullen (Author)

    Wishing you well with surgery and speedy, easy recovery.

    Marie who loves kitties

    › Visit Amazon's Barbara Dorr Mullen Page

    Find all the books, read about the author, and

    See search result for this auth

    Are you an author? Learn about Author Ce

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #5
    Helen321 said:

    Thanks!  I think having my

    Thanks!  I think having my teeth sawed in half last night was probably worse than the surgery!  lol   I can't believe the way things come out in dreams.  I am always very nervous about the unknown.  I made myself a promise that like the last surgery, if I get through this without the awful pain that I am imagining that I'd stop doing this to myself.  Just go along with things as they come.  Time goes so fast that it's over before you know it anyway.  I have to remind myself of that also.

    Good luck, Helen...

    hope the surgery goes smoothly and that there are no more scary dreams (that one about the teeth sounds really awful...I've had a few bad teeth dreams over the years myself, wonder if it's a common symbol for other sources of stress?).  It seems like most of the people I know who have had this done are pretty happy with the results once they get through the adjustment period.  Keep us posted on how it goes, we'll be thinking of you!  Ann Alexandria

  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #6
    Helen -

    Re:
    "Then rectum removal on the 31st."

    "I remember someone on here saying placement is very important.  Mine is a temporary."

    Rectum removal, but the stoma is temporary? There's more to this story, I take it?

    If you click on my name and go to my "blog", there's some info regarding stomas
    that may be of help.

    Placement is important for a permanent ostomy, but not really as much for a tempo..

    Once the stoma is placed, that spot can't be re-used for another stoma (or so I've been informed).
    So if the temporary one (loop type, I'm assuming) that's been placed in the perfect spot has
    to be replaced, the new stoma might end up being in a spot that's not so great.

    Just some things to ask about prior to this great addition to your lovely bod!

    You'll do fine!

    John

     

  • Coppercent
    Coppercent Member Posts: 158
    #7
    Good Luck! The unknown is always worse!

    I had a temporary ileostomy loop for 11 months and it was not bad at all.  I was a little freaked by it all until I changed it myself for the first time which was before I left the hospital.  The ostomy nurses changed it the first two times to show me how and I changed it the 3rd time.  I went home in five days and the day I left I changed it myself. 

    I had a open LAR, removed my whole rectum and the temp ostomy put in and recovery time was not that bad. It still amazes me that after losing my rectum I can have a normal BM. Of course, I always joke and say my rectum has been replaced by my colon and a teaspoon of psyllium.  LOVE my psyllium!  I was able to go back to work 5 weeks after the surgery.  Don't worry about the pain....I did not have any pain with my ostomy.  I named mine OSCAR.  I do have to say I enjoyed saying goodbye to OSCAR just because I hated carrying around all of the ostomy change supplies.  You never know when he may misbehave.  Mine only did a couple times at first because of my inexperience but after one accident the bag of supplies was a nice security blanket. You will do just great! I think most people make it a bigger deal than it really is to take care of.  I always changed mine in the morning and it took a couple of minutes.  They are really pretty maintenance free.

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #8
    Lovekitties said:

    Dear Helen

    I have had my colostomy for nearly 3 years now.  The ostomy itself is not painful as there are no nerve endings in the stoma.

    The surgery will take a little while to recover from, but with a good surgeon all should be well.

    If it is a trained wound/ostomy nurse who is doing the marking you should get best placement possible within the scope of the surgery planned.

    I recommend the following book to understand the surgery and how to live life with an ostomy:

     

    The Ostomy Book: Living Comfortably with Colostomies, Ileostomies, and Urostomies

    Barbara Dorr Mullen and Kerry Anne McGinn RN BSN OCN

     

    It was recommended by my ostomy nurse. It is an excellent source for the person just starting out. It was written by a mother who has an ostomy and her daughter who is an ostomy nurse. You may find it at your library, but definately on Amazon or perhaps at the local book store.Barbara Dorr Mullen (Author)

    Wishing you well with surgery and speedy, easy recovery.

    Marie who loves kitties

    › Visit Amazon's Barbara Dorr Mullen Page

    Find all the books, read about the author, and

    See search result for this auth

    Are you an author? Learn about Author Ce

    Thanks Marie, see that no

    Thanks Marie, see that no nerve endings, well that makes me feel better already.  Last surgery was a resection and I came through that like a breeze.  This one is more complicated but I'm still hoping it's not as bad as I imagine!  The last one didn't involve any cutting, this one does and so the picture in my mind is different.  I've had one surgery in the past that required very minor cutting, I remember being very nauseous afterwards.

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #9
    Lovekitties said:

    Dear Helen

    I have had my colostomy for nearly 3 years now.  The ostomy itself is not painful as there are no nerve endings in the stoma.

    The surgery will take a little while to recover from, but with a good surgeon all should be well.

    If it is a trained wound/ostomy nurse who is doing the marking you should get best placement possible within the scope of the surgery planned.

    I recommend the following book to understand the surgery and how to live life with an ostomy:

     

    The Ostomy Book: Living Comfortably with Colostomies, Ileostomies, and Urostomies

    Barbara Dorr Mullen and Kerry Anne McGinn RN BSN OCN

     

    It was recommended by my ostomy nurse. It is an excellent source for the person just starting out. It was written by a mother who has an ostomy and her daughter who is an ostomy nurse. You may find it at your library, but definately on Amazon or perhaps at the local book store.Barbara Dorr Mullen (Author)

    Wishing you well with surgery and speedy, easy recovery.

    Marie who loves kitties

    › Visit Amazon's Barbara Dorr Mullen Page

    Find all the books, read about the author, and

    See search result for this auth

    Are you an author? Learn about Author Ce

    Thanks Marie, see that no

    Thanks Marie, see that no nerve endings, well that makes me feel better already.  Last surgery was a resection and I came through that like a breeze.  This one is more complicated but I'm still hoping it's not as bad as I imagine!  The last one didn't involve any cutting, this one does and so the picture in my mind is different.  I've had one surgery in the past that required very minor cutting, I remember being very nauseous afterwards.

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #10
    Coppercent said:

    Good Luck! The unknown is always worse!

    I had a temporary ileostomy loop for 11 months and it was not bad at all.  I was a little freaked by it all until I changed it myself for the first time which was before I left the hospital.  The ostomy nurses changed it the first two times to show me how and I changed it the 3rd time.  I went home in five days and the day I left I changed it myself. 

    I had a open LAR, removed my whole rectum and the temp ostomy put in and recovery time was not that bad. It still amazes me that after losing my rectum I can have a normal BM. Of course, I always joke and say my rectum has been replaced by my colon and a teaspoon of psyllium.  LOVE my psyllium!  I was able to go back to work 5 weeks after the surgery.  Don't worry about the pain....I did not have any pain with my ostomy.  I named mine OSCAR.  I do have to say I enjoyed saying goodbye to OSCAR just because I hated carrying around all of the ostomy change supplies.  You never know when he may misbehave.  Mine only did a couple times at first because of my inexperience but after one accident the bag of supplies was a nice security blanket. You will do just great! I think most people make it a bigger deal than it really is to take care of.  I always changed mine in the morning and it took a couple of minutes.  They are really pretty maintenance free.

    I love you right now!  That's

    I love you right now!  That's exactly how I felt about my last surgery.  I found it extremely easy and I was back on my feet in a matter of days.  Slow but on my feet.  The words are different this time so I'm a little more on edge, pulling, staples, turning inside parts out.  Have you ever accidentally stapled your finger?  And now you want to put staples where?  Someone was kind enough to tell me that the staples are not like metal staples but I just have this awful idea in my head that I can't shake about how rought this is going to be and then I have to do the reversal?  I hope the first one is easy because getting me to do the second won't be easy if it's not.  And you had it 11 months?  So maybe I can go to work in between which is what I was hoping to do.  I'm desperately trying to keep my job.   

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #11
    Coppercent said:

    Good Luck! The unknown is always worse!

    I had a temporary ileostomy loop for 11 months and it was not bad at all.  I was a little freaked by it all until I changed it myself for the first time which was before I left the hospital.  The ostomy nurses changed it the first two times to show me how and I changed it the 3rd time.  I went home in five days and the day I left I changed it myself. 

    I had a open LAR, removed my whole rectum and the temp ostomy put in and recovery time was not that bad. It still amazes me that after losing my rectum I can have a normal BM. Of course, I always joke and say my rectum has been replaced by my colon and a teaspoon of psyllium.  LOVE my psyllium!  I was able to go back to work 5 weeks after the surgery.  Don't worry about the pain....I did not have any pain with my ostomy.  I named mine OSCAR.  I do have to say I enjoyed saying goodbye to OSCAR just because I hated carrying around all of the ostomy change supplies.  You never know when he may misbehave.  Mine only did a couple times at first because of my inexperience but after one accident the bag of supplies was a nice security blanket. You will do just great! I think most people make it a bigger deal than it really is to take care of.  I always changed mine in the morning and it took a couple of minutes.  They are really pretty maintenance free.

    I love you right now!  That's

    I love you right now!  That's exactly how I felt about my last surgery.  I found it extremely easy and I was back on my feet in a matter of days.  Slow but on my feet.  The words are different this time so I'm a little more on edge, pulling, staples, turning inside parts out.  Have you ever accidentally stapled your finger?  And now you want to put staples where?  Someone was kind enough to tell me that the staples are not like metal staples but I just have this awful idea in my head that I can't shake about how rought this is going to be and then I have to do the reversal?  I hope the first one is easy because getting me to do the second won't be easy if it's not.  And you had it 11 months?  So maybe I can go to work in between which is what I was hoping to do.  I'm desperately trying to keep my job.   

  • steveandnat
    steveandnat Member Posts: 886
    #12
    Wishing you the best

    What a strange dream!  I pray everything goes perfect for you.  Jeff

  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #13
    Hi, Wishing you success with

    Hi, Wishing you success with your up coming surgery.  I'll be thinking abou you.

    Take care,

    Cyn

  • hippiechicks
    hippiechicks Member Posts: 509 Member
    #14
    Good luck with your upcoming

    Good luck with your upcoming scan and surgery.  I have had my ostomy for over a year now and have never had one issue with it.  I have never had any pain, leakage, skin issues or reason to want it reversed.  I was going to have the operation several months ago because I was scheduled to have a hysterectomy due to a new tumor found on my ovary, however, things did not go so well there and the reversal was not the best option to complete at that time.  

    I have decided for me it is best to keep my ostomy...there are actually lots of benefits to keeping it!

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #15
    Stoma

    You won't be wearing your intestines on the outside, but you will have to adapt to a temporary way of life.  It will be a change but something that you can get used to.  Yes, placement is very important and don't let them put it above the navel or waistline.  Wishing you the best for your surgery and know you are probably scared but you can get through this.  Keep us informed.

    Kim

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #16
    Helen321 said:

    Thanks!  I think having my

    Thanks!  I think having my teeth sawed in half last night was probably worse than the surgery!  lol   I can't believe the way things come out in dreams.  I am always very nervous about the unknown.  I made myself a promise that like the last surgery, if I get through this without the awful pain that I am imagining that I'd stop doing this to myself.  Just go along with things as they come.  Time goes so fast that it's over before you know it anyway.  I have to remind myself of that also.

    Good luck with your upcoming
    Good luck with your upcoming surgery. Will be thinking of you. Please keep us posted. I admire your sense of humor and positive outlook. It will be an asset to you as move forward in you battle with cancer. It would be so tempting to succumb to the self pity thoughts like, "Why me?". Especially with the pain of those hemorrhoids wearing you down. You seem to stay strong and make the best of your situation. That's commendable. Hoping that you will soon be able to all this unpleasantness behind you and get on with your life.

    Chelsea
  • richls
    richls Member Posts: 54
    #17
    I just want to say good luck.

    I just want to say good luck. I admire your bravery, and it is ok to be a little nervous. I am sure everything will work out fine for you. I sure know how you ferl about how your mind can make you think worse than it is. Good luck, I will keep you in my prayers.

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