New member - just saying HI and Thanks!

Hello all,

I am an unwilling member of the ostomates.  I say that because I thought I was having a relatively routine hysterectomy (June 09) to eradicate a tiny spot of cervical cancer and instead ended up with a temp ileostomy.  Why?  I ended up with an absess and massive infection due to either a nicked bowel or an inevitable cut due to the removal of adhesions.  I'll never know which.  I spent a month in the hospital all in all.  With the infection things were getting serious so the ileo was the only way to shut down the infection.   I'll tell you my ileo learning curve has been steep and frustrating.  It's the only thing that has had me so frustrated I've thrown things at the wall !! That has not happened since a few teenage tantrums !! (I'm 46).

At this point I have been told I will have reversal surgery in a few months.  I'll be convinced when it's actually done. 

I will be posting questions, adding some of what I have learned if I think it may help someone, and will be grateful for the forum for the odd venting session and pity party plea.   I am stepping up from trolling all your posts and advice to contributing and joining you.  You have been more help so far than any of my doctors or nurses.  No disrespect to the medical community; it's one of the things you have to experience to be able to really speak to... agree?

cheers

Connie (Toronto)

Ditto to what Judy said so beautifully. I haven't been able to spend a lot of time on here lately but will try to do better. You have a venting place to come. We may not have experienced your "exact" circumstances but for one thing we have experienced the outcome, an ostomy. So, let me just say welcome and thank you for lurking and reading this forum. It has helped me as well in the past and I have made some wonderful friends.

Connie,

Welcome to our little corner of the world where we vent, share advice (and a few poop stories), and best of all... make new friends. I'm also a member of the not-so-elite Ostomate Club (due to Crohn's Disease) and mine is permanent. So, hey, at least yours is reversible!!

Actually, for me, having an ileostomy has been a real blessing, because I'm not sick anymore. I'm just happy that there was a solution to my problem.

However, I can only imagine how shocked you were to wake up with one when you weren't even sick! I'm so sorry. Please feel free to vent to us anytime. We are here to listen and help, if we can.

Cecilia (in Florida)