Oh Tina I so completely understand. It is such a huge thing to get your head around.
I was so anxious that I ended up putting off my first surgery. Your head and heart really have to be in the same space but that can take a bit of processing.
In terms of the surgery. It is major but I actually found being young helped as I got over both operations relatively easily. As for the bag, I honestly found it a lot easier to handle than I thought. It can be confronting at times, but there are lots of options for different types of bags and the stoma therapy nurses are brilliant.
Please feel free to drop me a line with any specific questions you have.
My heart goes out to you.
Kim
X
Hi Tina
I too completely understand where you are coming from it is very scary!
I had a bowel resection done in October 2010 at 30 years of age, i was told i would wake with a colostomy bag they werent sure if it would be a permenant one or a temporary one, i was marked for both before surgery.
I wasnt actually nervous about the surgery or the recovery as i wanted that cancerous tumour out of my body, to me that was getting rid of the nasty invasive thing, i had already undergone six continuous weeks of chemo & radiotherapy prior to this op.
The colostomy bag did worry me however i am a mum of two young children one was only just over 1 years old at the moment so i should of been used to dealing with poo. It actually wasnt the poo that worried me it was the actual stoma as i tend to see things like this and faint, however the stoma nurse at the hospital was fantastic, she dealt with it for me right up until i had to leave the hospital basically
I had to learn to change my bag etc so i could go home, it honestly wasnt as bad as what i thought it would be, you will be fine, its amazing how we deal with things when we have to!
Tina, feel free like Kim said to drop me a line if you have any questions, just need to chat or whatever as this can be a hard thing for someone to go through.
I wish you all the very best for your surgery, my thoughts are with you.
Kind regards
Stacey
To Kim, It really is a hard thing to get your head around. I have always been anxious of surgeries and hospitals so it's hard for me to think about it.
When I hear from people like yourself, however it makes me feel more confident about the surgery and different procedures that I will have to go through.
For myself I know that I will have to have a permanent colostomy bag, I'm not so worried about having the bag it's just the process to get to that stage that's the most stressful. I have read that the stoma nurses are good and it comforts me to hear it from other people like yourself who have already experienced it.
Thank you so much for the advice and comforting words and thoughts and I would love to keep in contact. Big hugs and best wishes to you and once again thank you. 🙂 x
To Stace, It can be very scary and the whole process can be very confronting at times. I am a big chicken when it comes to medical procedures, so I admire your strength and determination to get through the surgery and treatment.
I am lucky enough to be a mum of three girls who are all actually old enough to help me. 🙂 Although I think the thoughts of poo isn't something they look forward to having to help mum with. So that might be a disadvantage to me, as they haven't had any experience as they don't have children themselves yet.
Thank you for your kind words and advice, they made me laugh. It's nice to know that we can get through things when we have to. Love to drop a line or keep in contact, thanks again. Hugs and best wishes. x
Hi Kim can I ask you if you had treatment after your colostomy operation as I nearly choked when the oncologist told me that I would need 6 months chemo after the surgery.I hope you are doing okay and that you dont find this to forward its just nice to know that someone has been through what you are about to go through,and I must confess that it scares the ---- out of me.Huge hugs and wishes X
Hi Stacey, I hope that you are well and I hope I am not being to forward in asking if you had to have treatment after your operation as I have only just found out that I will need 6 months chemo after the op which totally stunned me.It is the most scary time of my life up till now and it is nice to know there are people out there who care enough to share their own experiences no matter how painful to support others.Hugs and wishes X
Hi Tina
Sorry for taking a while to reply. I didn't actually have chemo after surgery but my father-in-law has Stage 4 Bowel cancer and he has been on chemo for nearly 2 years. As I understand it, chemo for bowel cancer is not as bad as for something like breast cancer but the best person to talk to is your oncologist. I would also strongly recommend seeing a counsellor or joining a local cancer support group. I went to a Quest for Life retreat which was brilliant. Wishing you all the best. kim x
Hi Kim good to hear from you thanks for getting back to me Im sure you are busy and I really appreciate the advice.Not really sure which way this cancer is going am currently on 6 weeks chemo through a picc line as well as radio 5 days a week for 6 weeks.I then meet again with the colorectal surgeon for a permanent colostomy bag operation,and have found out via the oncologist that I will have 1 day a week chemo 2 weeks after the op for 6 months.All sounds pretty scary to me but I am no expert and am completely in their hands.Will take your advice about support groups and am currently seeing psychologist from long term depression so she has been very supportive.Again thanks for the advice and kind words huge hugs and wishes Tina X
