Getting ready for the surgery.

lp1964
lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
in Anal Cancer #1

I was doing so good so far. As I'm getting closer to the 8th, I'm looking more and more into what the surgery is gonna be like And what it is going to involve. This is a mix of natural curiosity and mental preparation. First I got myself familiar with the colostomy and it feels like I'm comfortable with that now. Then today I looked up the abdominal flap surgery they are gonna do to fill up the rectal space and help to close the wound down there. Now that freaked me out a little. I'm gonna be cut up pretty bad. Major scars on the stomach and down below. This and the bag are gonna take some time to live with.

I tend to get over stuff pretty fast and I hope this skill is not gonna let me down during this big trial either.

Thanks for listening and bless you all.

Laz

Comments

  • qv62
    qv62 Member Posts: 434 Member
    #2
    Laz

    Hoping your road to recovery is paved smoothly ! Wishing you all the best next week and in the weeks to come

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #3
    Laz
    I think it is good to be mentally prepared. You are very strong and brave and I do hope that you recover well. Yes, it will take some time to recover. I did not have that particular surgery, but had abdominal surgery and it took me about 8 weeks to feel better. I hope you can give yourself plenty of time to get well. I am sure that your wife will be a great support for you. You are blessed! It will be a great feeling for you to have this in the past and on the road to recovery! I hope you can enjoy this weekend and relax a bit before your surgery. Stay strong! You are very much in my prayers!
  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    #4
    Marynb said:

    Laz
    I think it is good to be mentally prepared. You are very strong and brave and I do hope that you recover well. Yes, it will take some time to recover. I did not have that particular surgery, but had abdominal surgery and it took me about 8 weeks to feel better. I hope you can give yourself plenty of time to get well. I am sure that your wife will be a great support for you. You are blessed! It will be a great feeling for you to have this in the past and on the road to recovery! I hope you can enjoy this weekend and relax a bit before your surgery. Stay strong! You are very much in my prayers!

    Laz

    There are some who would investigate, do their research to know what is ahead. Then there are others who just put themselves in the hands of their surgeons and say'over to you doc'.

    You are the proactive type, needing to be a part of the procedure, & in doing your research you are at least part way in control. This is what will help you adjust & deal with what is planned. And adjust you will. 

    Saying that, it must have taken your breath away when you first realised what was involved. But Laz, if anyone can do this, you can. Psycholgically you are in a strong place at the moment, with the recent commitment of marriage. You & your beautiful wife will handle this.

    Best wishes

    Liz

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #5
    Laz

    I don't know you personally, but I would have to say, based on what I do know about you from your participation on this board, that you are going to handle this with strength and determination to not let it have a negative impact on your life.  You know how to embrace the things that are important.  That's not to say there won't be some challenges in the beginning and a period of adjustment, but you have educated yourself and have prepared yourself for no surprises.  Like you, anymore I don't believe in going into anything blindly if I can help it.  I wish I had done more homework on anal cancer when I was first diagnosed about the treatment, etc.  I would have been more prepared for all of those side effects. 

    You have your loving wife to help you through this and I am so glad for that.  I hope you two will do something fun or special over the next few days.  Know that all of us here are in your corner cheering you on.  I know you can do this!  We will look forward to hearing from you as you recover, but we will understand if it's not for awhile.  Taking care of yourself will be priority #1.  May God bless you and your wife. 

  • babe12
    babe12 Member Posts: 103
    #6
    Hi Laz, I am from the gyno

    Hi Laz, I am from the gyno board & I tend to check out the anal & colorectal boards as well. I had the same surgery (with hysterectomy, too) in Feb. 2012. This was after concurrent chemo & radiation. It took me a bit to get back on my feet, but I made it. I was dx stage IVa vaginal cancer that had spread to the rectal area in Sept 2011. The good news is the scars fade & you get used to having the bag. It just becomes your new normal. Good luck!!

    Babe

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    #7

    I'm sitting here at a beautiful spa in Korea town in Los Angeles. Ever since I met my wife we come here at least once a month. You can stay here all day for $15 and enjoy the jacuzzi, steam, sauna, heated rooms covered with jade, salt, clay. I can't use any of these wonderful things, because I'm doing the pre-op cleansing and need to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes. 

    As I'm sitting here the night before my surgery can't help but reflect on my life since my diagnosis. The first suspicions that I have cancer, seeing it on the monitor the first time, trying to stop the blood in the bathroom, the surgeon telling me what I need, the intense pain, the fear of chemo and radiation, no more pain, the fear of having metastases, the side effect of Folfox, the disappearance of the possibility of limited surgery, finalizing the plan.

    At this spa there is mirrors everywhere and as I'm walking around I can't help to look at my body and thinking that this is gonna look very different tomorrow. Managing to stear my thoughts back to the advantage of it: getting rid of the cancer that's been sitting there for possibly years now. Hard to think, but I try that some times from now ill be all right. 

    Well, one thing at a time.

    Laz

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #8
    lp1964 said:

    I'm sitting here at a beautiful spa in Korea town in Los Angeles. Ever since I met my wife we come here at least once a month. You can stay here all day for $15 and enjoy the jacuzzi, steam, sauna, heated rooms covered with jade, salt, clay. I can't use any of these wonderful things, because I'm doing the pre-op cleansing and need to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes. 

    As I'm sitting here the night before my surgery can't help but reflect on my life since my diagnosis. The first suspicions that I have cancer, seeing it on the monitor the first time, trying to stop the blood in the bathroom, the surgeon telling me what I need, the intense pain, the fear of chemo and radiation, no more pain, the fear of having metastases, the side effect of Folfox, the disappearance of the possibility of limited surgery, finalizing the plan.

    At this spa there is mirrors everywhere and as I'm walking around I can't help to look at my body and thinking that this is gonna look very different tomorrow. Managing to stear my thoughts back to the advantage of it: getting rid of the cancer that's been sitting there for possibly years now. Hard to think, but I try that some times from now ill be all right. 

    Well, one thing at a time.

    Laz

    Laz

    While your body may look different after tomorrow's surgery, your heart, mind and soul still remain the same.  You are a good man and you will get through this.  I send you loving thoughts tonight and will keep you in my prayers. 

  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #9
    lp1964 said:

    I'm sitting here at a beautiful spa in Korea town in Los Angeles. Ever since I met my wife we come here at least once a month. You can stay here all day for $15 and enjoy the jacuzzi, steam, sauna, heated rooms covered with jade, salt, clay. I can't use any of these wonderful things, because I'm doing the pre-op cleansing and need to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes. 

    As I'm sitting here the night before my surgery can't help but reflect on my life since my diagnosis. The first suspicions that I have cancer, seeing it on the monitor the first time, trying to stop the blood in the bathroom, the surgeon telling me what I need, the intense pain, the fear of chemo and radiation, no more pain, the fear of having metastases, the side effect of Folfox, the disappearance of the possibility of limited surgery, finalizing the plan.

    At this spa there is mirrors everywhere and as I'm walking around I can't help to look at my body and thinking that this is gonna look very different tomorrow. Managing to stear my thoughts back to the advantage of it: getting rid of the cancer that's been sitting there for possibly years now. Hard to think, but I try that some times from now ill be all right. 

    Well, one thing at a time.

    Laz

    Laz
    Yes, one thing at a time. Give yourself time to get well and adjust to a new normal and then you will have many wonderful years ahead with your wife. It sure is a long journey to wellness, but you will get there!

    Sleep well and stay strong. All will be well. You can do this!

    May God keep you in the palm of his hands tonight and tomorrow!
  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #10
    lp1964 said:

    I'm sitting here at a beautiful spa in Korea town in Los Angeles. Ever since I met my wife we come here at least once a month. You can stay here all day for $15 and enjoy the jacuzzi, steam, sauna, heated rooms covered with jade, salt, clay. I can't use any of these wonderful things, because I'm doing the pre-op cleansing and need to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes. 

    As I'm sitting here the night before my surgery can't help but reflect on my life since my diagnosis. The first suspicions that I have cancer, seeing it on the monitor the first time, trying to stop the blood in the bathroom, the surgeon telling me what I need, the intense pain, the fear of chemo and radiation, no more pain, the fear of having metastases, the side effect of Folfox, the disappearance of the possibility of limited surgery, finalizing the plan.

    At this spa there is mirrors everywhere and as I'm walking around I can't help to look at my body and thinking that this is gonna look very different tomorrow. Managing to stear my thoughts back to the advantage of it: getting rid of the cancer that's been sitting there for possibly years now. Hard to think, but I try that some times from now ill be all right. 

    Well, one thing at a time.

    Laz

    Laz.....

    As Marynb said, the journey is long, but know that we will walk it with you, and as Martha said, your body may look different, but personally I have found an unbelievable change that I never anticipated on the inside.......a change so much for the better that at times I have claimed cancer to be a blessing in my life. Mirrors will often slap me in the face with reality, but that thing on the inside makes it all ok.......you'll get there too, in time!

    As always, you're in my prayers.

  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #11
    lp1964 said:

    I'm sitting here at a beautiful spa in Korea town in Los Angeles. Ever since I met my wife we come here at least once a month. You can stay here all day for $15 and enjoy the jacuzzi, steam, sauna, heated rooms covered with jade, salt, clay. I can't use any of these wonderful things, because I'm doing the pre-op cleansing and need to go to the bathroom every 5 minutes. 

    As I'm sitting here the night before my surgery can't help but reflect on my life since my diagnosis. The first suspicions that I have cancer, seeing it on the monitor the first time, trying to stop the blood in the bathroom, the surgeon telling me what I need, the intense pain, the fear of chemo and radiation, no more pain, the fear of having metastases, the side effect of Folfox, the disappearance of the possibility of limited surgery, finalizing the plan.

    At this spa there is mirrors everywhere and as I'm walking around I can't help to look at my body and thinking that this is gonna look very different tomorrow. Managing to stear my thoughts back to the advantage of it: getting rid of the cancer that's been sitting there for possibly years now. Hard to think, but I try that some times from now ill be all right. 

    Well, one thing at a time.

    Laz

    prayers

    laz,   thinking of you ......   sephie

  • Tracy figg
    Tracy figg Member Posts: 36
    #12
    Surgery

    I know how you feel my surgery is june 10 and it scares the **** out of me. And the part where they close up the bumb hole freaks me out . but it has to be done  let me no how it goes. My prayers are with you. Oh and im staying in hospital for up to days what about you and it take like 6 week to start feeling better. And i have nurse coming to house what about you the same. Good luck and take care

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