See original post and pics at: http://benbbrave.blogspot.com/2011/06/short-term-bum.html I learnt something in high-school biology that has shaped all my subsequent thinking about the human body. It was this: the body can be thought of, quite simply, as a series of bags and tunnels. The biggest of the tunnels runs right through your body, it starts at your mouth and ends at your bot-bot. When things go wrong with this tunnel new openings are sometimes needed. Just like roadworks taking place in a city, major thoroughfares in the body can be blocked, bypassed, detoured or closed down for service. My upcoming surgery goes by the acronym ULAR, but I prefer the term Ooh-la The Ooh-la will remove parts of the colon and rectum affected by the tumour and then re-attach healthy bits (colon, it seems, is quite stretchy and can be pulled down to meet what will be left of my rectum). As any good surgeon or plumber will tell you – where you have cracks and joins, you have leaks. To help the new join between my colon and rectum heal as quickly as possible after surgery, the whole area will need a break from the stress of handling poo. Diversion + Ostomy = Diverting ostomy In addition to the Ooh-la then, I need an ileostomy. The 'ostomy' means that some of my insides will actually end up outside. The 'ile' comes from the name of the inside bit that will end up outside, the ileum. The ileum is small intestine and connects to the large intestine. During my surgery, the ileum will be (1) pulled through a tailor- made hole in my abdomen, (2) partially cut (like a fat sausage) and then (3) sewn to my skin. Ta-da, new place for poo to come out! Ben, meet Abdo-Bum The ileum + hole in abdomen + place for poo to come out is called a stoma. You can also have stomas that are made from colon (colostomy) or that allow urine to leave your body (urostomy). The idea is to keep Abdo-Bum for 4 to 12 weeks, just long enough to let my newly joined colon-rectum heal and handle poo. Then this hole thing will be reversed. Final fact I will still get to use my original bum while Abdo-Bum is around because the colon will be collecting cells and producing mucous that will need to leave my body.
13 Comments
kj
Super Contributor
Best of luck with upcoming surgery kj
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Deb1960
Occasional Contributor
Hi Ben, Good luck with the surgery, I call my colostomy my Belly Bum, I get to keep mine forever but it does have some good points, esp when I get the chemo runs, bags give u a bit more time to find a place to change them over :) Deb
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harker
Frequent Contributor
From anyone else I would have said too much information. H
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exhausted
Contributor
WOW that is the most impressive description of a surgery I have ever read. You were clearly listening very well when that was explained to you. 10 out of 10.
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exhausted
Contributor
WOW that is the most impressive description of a surgery I have ever read. You were clearly listening very well when that was explained to you. 10 out of 10.
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Braveb
Occasional Contributor
Haha. Not sure how to take that comment, but it is a funny one.
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Braveb
Occasional Contributor
Thanks kj!
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Braveb
Occasional Contributor
Well Exhausted, I have much more where that came from. My next post will be about the actual ULAR and not the fancy bits around the side 🙂
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exhausted
Contributor
I wait with bated breath!!! Stupid saying that one. But seriously best wishes with it all. xox
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BJS
Not applicable
Think that's the first time I've smiled while reading a cancer blog - well done! I hope everything goes well with your surgery Ben, good luck!
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craftyone
Occasional Contributor
Hi Ben, Yes, I agree a very good description of a surgery that I know all about. yes, I have "stomach-bum" and it is permanent. Just know that if the reversal doesn't come off (boy that was an impromptu pun) that a permanent one does have its good points. One person I have spoken to was actually told that she could have a reversal done if what was left inside caused her to have too much "liquid poo", mine has made my life a lot easier, especially when travelling. Why? everyone is asking. Because when we used to go on a trip in the car, I would have to say - toilet stop next town please- and hope that it occurred before I got too uncomfortable. How about a roux-n-y (not quite the spelling, but is spoken as written) for the name of an operation? that was for a removal of some small bowel which then formed a y. Anyway good luck for your op. craftyone
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Sailor
Deceased
Hi Everyone My Mum had a bag - after all colon cancer is our family cancer, I just happen to have prostate cancer! Always was the odd one out. Anyway, my M
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samex
Regular Contributor
Been busy and not keeping up, so just found this. I am so delighted that those of us with "bummish" cancers are out in the world and speaking loud and proud. Makes a 4 year survivor glow with pride. I fortunately didn't need any type of "omy" other than the hemi-colectomy but Ben I did giggle at the description of your surgery. Good luck with it all and as I have said before - bring on brown ribbon day! Samex
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