Posted 4/19/2014 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,
I have been reading your posts for the last 2 weeks, my husband thinks that I have an obsession! And I do! Here is my story.
In October 2010 I went to see my family doctor with some troublesome symptoms: a bit of blood in my stool, incomplete BM's, smaller diameters of BM's - all classic signs of Colon Cancer. I was 60 years old at the time. My doctor said - it's probably haemorrhoids but I will put you on the list for colonoscopy, it will take 2-3 years.
Three years later I get a colonoscopy and surprise!!! COLON CANCER! I had an amazing GI doing my colonoscopy and after I told her how my doctor ignored my concerns - she was speechless. Then I said: "He is no longer my doctor" and she said: "I hope not". My new family doctor was blown away that I waited this long. He said that I would have had an emergency colonoscopy if I came to him with these symptoms.
After all the tests were done - could not find any cancer anywhere else!
I had my surgery on January the 27th. Excellent surgeon! The damage was extensive and pretty low in the rectum. He felt that it was necessary to give it a chance to heal so I ended up with temporary loop ileostomy. Had one issue after surgery, my stoma stopped working the day after I was released (too soon,because they needed the bed) from the hospital. Was rushed back by the ambulance. They did not know what to do with me. I started throwing up and did that for 5 hours. Eventually another surgeon came in and stuck a finger into my stoma and 20 minutes later things started moving. According to my surgeon, my bowels just shut down after going through so much trauma. Nobody in the emergency knew how to deal with the bag, where to find one.... My husband went to the unit where my surgery was done and they gave him all the supplies. And while he was away, my surgeon came to let me know that my pathology came back clean. No cancer anywhere! When I told my husband, he had tears in his eyes, I have never seen him cry before!
My surgery is scheduled for May 14th. Very excited!
Ileostomy has been a struggle for me. My stoma is turned down and the little sweat glad is right at the skin level. Impossible to keep dry. Skin around the stoma is red and weeping. Used up all the tricks that other helpful people posted, still struggling. I figure, it's not that long till May 14th - I will survive.
There is one great thing that came out of this. This is my second marriage and I never really allowed my husband close to me a100%. He always felt that I kept him at arm's length. And I did. We have been married for 9 years and together for 12. This surgery broke down all the walls that build after my divorce. I am so lucky to have him!