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Posted 7/3/2011 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
More bad news. My stoma has not been working. It can release some gas, but not liquid. My doctor is going to come back later today and put in a foley catheter to try to get it to drain which in turn should help me with the distension of my adomen. rolleyes  

What he thinks happened is that when the plastic surgeon pulled the skin on my adomen down, that this caused the stoma to be pulled downward and which has now left me with a skinny, stoma opening.

So, tomorrow he plans to take me to the operating room cry  and make the opening larger. I will post more about the procedure later because I simply can not recall exactly how he is going to do it. I think he said something about taking off the top of my stoma, but I was so shocked by the news that I think my brain quit processing information.

I am so disappointed by the news and just want this over with. I can't even imagine how much all of this is going to cost. WOE

 

Posted 7/3/2011 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
This sounds like it could really help! Hope so. I'm sure it's disappointing to have to deal with yet another thing. I hope this does the trick and that's it.

This is not a good time to be thinking about the money.... you'll have plenty of time to deal w/that later, when you've had sleep and feel better etc (and it will be enough of a hassle then).


Hang in.
Posted 7/3/2011 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Tracy how are you today? Rosemary
Posted 7/3/2011 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, Tracy, I am sorry I missed your post at the top. I was posting from my Blackberry and the screen is VERY tiny AND often does not scroll all the way in either direction. I guess my computer is the best way to access the HW forum. Call you right back. I am so sorry to hear all this. Talk to you in a minute. Rosemary
Posted 7/3/2011 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
     Hugs Tracy!!!!  I am so sorry you are going through all this.  Try to stay calm and think..."This too shall pass".  I know, easier said than done when you are in pain.  I keep praying things will get better for you!!!
Posted 7/3/2011 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Tracy,

Great to talk with you. You actually sounded pretty good for all you have been through. SOooooo sorry that you are needing yet more procedures. Hope the foley catheter buys you some comfort until the surgery in the a.m. Skin and muscle and all the pulling and redoing of facia levels in the tummy tuck, I think all might have contributed. BUT if the only procedure your doc does in the a.m. is to make the stoma opening bigger, then that should hopefully do it as there will be no more plastic surgery to change tension on skin and muscle after the stoma opening is made bigger. WOW, such a lesson in "less is more". BUT, who knew? I just hope it all works out for you. Feel free to call again if you want to talk. I'm going to stay in and in bed all day resting but I will leave the phone on and be glad to talk. I just can't seem to put one foot in front of the other worrying about how I'm going to pay $8,000 per year for insurance. Why the H---- would soc. sec. discontiniue insurance for someone with an ileostomy who is dizzy all the time like me? oh, well, my worry. I just hope your situation gets sorted for good. You have had more than your share many times over. Rosemary
Posted 7/3/2011 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
hope it works out soon Tracy. always thinking of you!
Posted 7/3/2011 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Tracy, let us know how the catheter works. RJ
Posted 7/3/2011 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Tracy, I really hope everything works out for you!  I keep thinking of you, and keeping you in my prayers! 
Posted 7/3/2011 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Tracy, HOw is the catheter into the stoma working out? Hope all the effluent came out. Good luck in the morning. Hope the procedure works. Rosemary
Posted 7/4/2011 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
The catheter has not helped with the output, but it seems to have decompressed my abdomen a little from the distension. Basically, the catheter has only produced 10cc or so of output! YIKES

I do not like my nurse tonight because she thinks that if I walk, that the stoma will produce. I have walked, but I am very uncomfortable and it makes me nauseas. I didn't like my nurse from today either. I have come to the conclusion that it is not good to be in the hospital on a hoilday weekend.
Posted 7/4/2011 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
hey Tracy,still thinking about you!
Posted 7/4/2011 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Tracy,

I know weekends in the hosp and especially holiday weekends, not a good time as the regular staff are usually off. Unbelievable that that cath did not bring output out, I thought it would come pouring out. Maybe gas came out and that is what decompressed your abdomen a little. I really feel for you. I would not be holding up as well as you are.

Best of luck with the surgery tomorrow. Now that I think about it, if the stoma is only narrowed at the skin level (due to the tummy tuck), skin level strictures are the easy-fix kind as opposed to the fascia level strictures. So with the tummy tuck presumably having been done only with the skin, hopefully the surgery will be the easy kind. I HOPE SO. I will pray for you as we all are. Good to hear your voice today. Glad you called.

Rosemary
Posted 7/4/2011 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Tracy,

SO sorry to hear that you're having so many problems. I'll be praying for you:)

Janie
Posted 7/4/2011 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Tracy,
I'm new here, but I've been thinking about you and praying for you this weekend as I follow this thread. I pray you find some relief soon.

J
Posted 7/4/2011 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
gosh Tracy...... i can't believe it's getting so complicated. praying for you.
Posted 7/4/2011 8:24 AM (GMT 0)
I've been following your story and thinking of you.. goodness you POOR thing.. can't believe what you're going through. I had a post op ileus after my stoma reversal and felt like putting a gun to my head.. how you must feel I have no idea. Hang on in there and stay strong. Thinking of you and hoping things improve for you soon... Sarah x
Posted 7/4/2011 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
My surgery will be today at 1pm. The doctor will take down my stoma and then do a stoma revision. I am very upset about this, but I understand that it has to be done because this stoma does not work.

Please pray that I don't have any complications, that the surgery is uneventful, and that I heal quickly so that I can eat soon.

Thanks, Tracy
Posted 7/4/2011 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
Prayers and thoughts are with you!! you've been through enough now. Praying that this works. Sarah x
Posted 7/4/2011 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I hope the surgery is totally uneventful and that you can eat soon and start putting this nightmare behind you. Sending good thoughts to you and your surgeon. Hope all goes well today.
Posted 7/4/2011 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Oh tracy I feel so bad for you but hopefully the surgery will work for you...you have been thru so much God Bless and still praying for you ....Trixiemom
Posted 7/4/2011 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Tracy - I have been following this as well and definitely praying for you too. I hope today's surgery is the end of it and produces the results you need to heal.

Looking forward to a positive report from you later.

Prayers and Hugs.
Posted 7/4/2011 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
you're in my thoughts and prayers Tracy!!
Posted 7/4/2011 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Praying so hard for you Tracy, if prayer works, all of us collectively can make this happen for you! Bless your doc for being the kind of doc who knows what he is doing and knows what to do and is into medicine for the reason docs should be, to save people's lives and is not all into that "all in your mind" crap. This man gets my vote even though things have gone awry. Bless him for being honest with you and doing all in his power to see that you end up well. God will give this man with the skill he needs to heel you. Love you with all my soul. Your friend, Rosemary
Posted 7/5/2011 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
UPDATE ON TRACY FROM ROSEMARY

11:00 p.m. and Tracy is just coming to from her surgery where he doc took down the stoma she had made June 21 and he had to totally redo it like she said in her post of this morning.

He said there was a lot of swelling but he was able to make her the new stoma. Her mom just called me to update me and I could hear Tracy in the background. Her mom said she asked that I update the group, so here it is.

Tracy is lucky to have her mom and her family. If I ever have to go through anything like this, I will be solo, scary thought! Her mom sounds just like her on the phone. At first I was thinking it was Tracy and was thinking, WHOO you sound good for being operated on for the 3rd time in 13 days. Her mom laughed and said everyone says they sound the same on the phone. So, that is the update. Keep sending those prayers. More surgery, likely more ileus, she needs our thoughts and prayers to keep pouring in. God Bless her. Rosemary
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