HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

bag

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/11/2012 5:50 AM (GMT 0)
hello everyone..my name is eduardo..i been living with diverticulitis for at least 18 years...i had been hospitilize 6 times and had numerous diverticulitis attacks..last december 2011 i 3 attacks ...im now 51 years old and tired getting sick...im finally having surgery  and fear that im going to end up with a colonoscopy bag...all i read are negative things about the surgery and the bag...my questions are ,if i end up with a bag, will i get the urge to go poop? or do it just come out by itself?..will i have problems peeing? how about sleeping? i like sleeping on my stomach ,will that be a problem? work? my job requires lifting 50 lb bags,and  driving a forklift ..also will my insurance  cover the materials that come from having a bag?....please advice...sincerly eddie....from chicago.
Posted 1/11/2012 6:49 AM (GMT 0)
Eddie,
The materials are considered medical supplies and are covered by most insurance policies. Call your insurance company to be sure. Body waste just eases into the bag by itself. You cannot feel it passing.After awhile you will forget you even have an ostomy. I can do everything now that I did before an ostomy. Being ready for sex took a little longer than I thought it would but I am also dealing with cancer. Peeing will be just the same as always.
I suspect that you will be amazed at how quickly your quality of life improves. Best of luck!
Posted 1/11/2012 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
Eddie, welcome!

I second everything subzeromambo said. I think she answered everything except sleeping on your stomach. I don't do that, but I've read here that after healing from surgery, people can do that (sometimes with a strategically placed pillow).

Here's the thing that you're leaving out because you've been sick so long ... you are going to feel SO much better with the bag (if you have one). I was sick for years, and I lost perspective on how sick I was, but after recovering from surgery, I felt better than I had in years -- more energy, no running to the bathroom, gaining weight, can eat almost whatever I want etc.

There is a learning curve w/the bag, but if you have one, you'll catch on. I am grateful for mine because it gave me my life back.
Posted 1/11/2012 8:45 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Eddie:

I could repeat almost exactly what blueglass said as her case and mine are very similar.  I didn't realize how sick I was, either.  Fortunately for me, it was only 5 years of bad health.   I feel wonderful since my surgery.

I am not a tummy sleeper, but I know others have posted about it with success.

This board has been a wonderful help to me.  I began coming here a few months before my surgery.  At that time I was about 95% sure of my decision.   I checked in daily and reserched the archives and found so much information on E V E R T H I N G imaginable.   It wasn't long until I was 100% sure of my decision.

My worst hurdle was leaking, but the nice folks here who have ''been there, done that'' had all kinds of helpful information and products.  I am happy to report that I am now getting 7+ days wear with my appliance.

Good luck to you.  You have come to the right place :-)

Posted 1/12/2012 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Eddie,

I'm so sorry to hear about your attacks. I too had diverticulosis. I was diagnosed at 32, diverticulitis in my ascending colon. They wanted to immediately do a resection. I refused hoping I could control it. I suffered with constipation all my life. 3 years I was in remission, then following 6 infections, 5 in my ascending and 1 in my descending. Gosh, I wouldn't wish that pain on my worst enemy!!!!! :-( Every infection was different, some after 2 days of antibiotics I felt better, one infection took 4 weeks. Had colectomy 10 months later...would've been sooner but my father was dying and I was trying to find a surgeon that was receptive to my feelings. I wanted a total colectomy. I had diverticula throughout. Other surgeons just wanted to just do a resection.

Initially my surgery went well, I was connected, small intestine to rectum. But unfortunately it didn't stay and had an ileostomy. It was just too much trauma on my body: colectomy, manipulation of the small intestine, I had lots of scar tissue due to all the infections and 2 prior surgeries.

Afterwards and throughout my recovery, I have never been happier. Despite the lengthy hospitalization and complications. Having my darn colon out gave me a life. FINALLY! Having an ostomy isn't as hard as I thought.

I just woke up with an ileostomy. I did NO research prior, I was so confident that it wouldn't happen. My suggestion is, just to educate yourself in the event it does. On the appliances, the manufactures, read some of the posts here, knowledge is key. I have the 'always be prepared' attitude and waking up with one and not knowing what to do or what my future tolled really depressed and angered me.

Your results will be just fine. You might have an ostomy if they feel that your colon is just too inflammed to make a connection at that time. It will be OK.

I'm in Chicago too, if you'd like to chat, feel free to email me!!!

Post Edited (windy city) : 1/11/2012 7:11:17 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/12/2012 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Eduardo
All good information. One thing left out....the 50 pound bags you lift. My surgeon said that 30% of poeple with an ostomy come back with a hernia. Told me not to lift more than 30 pounds. Forklift should not be a problem.

Dan
Posted 1/12/2012 2:46 AM (GMT 0)

polishdan said...
Eduardo
All good information. One thing left out....the 50 pound bags you lift. My surgeon said that 30% of poeple with an ostomy come back with a hernia. Told me not to lift more than 30 pounds. Forklift should not be a problem.

Dan


Not sure if your doctor's info is accurate.

Take a look at this guy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDoujZ1K8ww
Posted 1/12/2012 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Impressive guy, but he doesn't have a stoma anymore, he has a j pouch. The stoma is going to be more vulnerable with an intestine sticking out of your belly and all....

My surgeons said it was good for me to lift weights (and do sit ups), that the muscles will help prevent a hernia.... but to go slow and not overdo it (and only after all the way healed from surgery). She said that they don't see many hernias in people who lift.

Dan, was the 30lb recommendation tailored to you or was it one your surgeon tells to everyone?
Posted 1/12/2012 5:19 PM (GMT 0)

blueglass said...
Impressive guy, but he doesn't have a stoma anymore, he has a j pouch. The stoma is going to be more vulnerable with an intestine sticking out of your belly and all....

My surgeons said it was good for me to lift weights (and do sit ups), that the muscles will help prevent a hernia.... but to go slow and not overdo it (and only after all the way healed from surgery). She said that they don't see many hernias in people who lift.

Dan, was the 30lb recommendation tailored to you or was it one your surgeon tells to everyone?

 

Bluegrass, you should do deadlifts of 600+ pounds like the guy in youtube lol

Posted 1/12/2012 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Somedude, well, I guess it's something to aspire to..... I'll start w/5 lb dumbbells and see if I get there....
Posted 1/12/2012 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Eduardo, welcome to the site. This is a great place to get answers to your questions. When I had my surgery, I didn't know all that much about the bag. All i knew is that no medicines were working for me anymore and I was in so much pain all of the time. Surgery was pretty much the only option. I was pretty scared to do it, not knowing what was to come. I had a consult with my surgeon and asked a few questions, but figured he would explain everything to me. Well he didn't really explain anything except the exact answers to the questions I asked. He did an excellent job on the surgery though.
Sure I keep my shirt on all the time now because of course I don't want my bag hanging out. I also don't rest things against my stomach anymore like I used to. You can sleep on it for periods of time, but I probably wouldn't at night if you had a late dinner, because it can fill up.
I don't think 50lbs should be a problem once you are fully recovered from surgery, meaning more than 6 weeks. You may have to adjust the way you lift as not to use your stomach muscles as much. My line of work I was climbing cell phone towers and then my last job was commercial garage doors. Everything is 150lbs or more. I used my stomach for everything. Now I will need to find a new line of work once I can actually work.
Your actual quality of life will be a lot better. You just need to make some adjustments here and there. If you have any other specific questions just let us know.
I am also from the Chicago area and had my surgery done at University of Chicago.
Posted 1/12/2012 8:05 PM (GMT 0)

Brian84 said...
Eduardo, welcome to the site. This is a great place to get answers to your questions. When I had my surgery, I didn't know all that much about the bag. All i knew is that no medicines were working for me anymore and I was in so much pain all of the time. Surgery was pretty much the only option. I was pretty scared to do it, not knowing what was to come. I had a consult with my surgeon and asked a few questions, but figured he would explain everything to me. Well he didn't really explain anything except the exact answers to the questions I asked. He did an excellent job on the surgery though.
Sure I keep my shirt on all the time now because of course I don't want my bag hanging out. I also don't rest things against my stomach anymore like I used to. You can sleep on it for periods of time, but I probably wouldn't at night if you had a late dinner, because it can fill up.
I don't think 50lbs should be a problem once you are fully recovered from surgery, meaning more than 6 weeks. You may have to adjust the way you lift as not to use your stomach muscles as much. My line of work I was climbing cell phone towers and then my last job was commercial garage doors. Everything is 150lbs or more. I used my stomach for everything. Now I will need to find a new line of work once I can actually work.
Your actual quality of life will be a lot better. You just need to make some adjustments here and there. If you have any other specific questions just let us know.
I am also from the Chicago area and had my surgery done at University of Chicago.

 

I would assume that when you have J poiuch surgery you can revert back to doing what you were doing back again. I mean, as a human, I use stomach muscles all the time for anything. Sports, work, making dinner. You can't walk around scared of lifiting 50-50 pounds.

Posted 1/12/2012 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Somedude, a lot of us who have Crohn's (and other issues too) are not candidates for j pouch surgery, sometimes j pouch surgery doesn't work, and some people choose to have a bag instead for a variety of reasons. It sounds like you're assuming that everyone is going to have a j pouch. A lot of us on this site have permanent ileos.

And, yes you can walk around being afraid of lifting 50 lbs, if lifting 50 lbs is could cause you major damage.... glad that doesn't seem to be the case for you, but different people have different situations.
Posted 1/12/2012 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
blueglass
I assume that his 30# limit was a general limit. I don't know for sure. Naturally I don't always follow recommendations. I do exercise with 8# dumbells.

Dan
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply