Christine

HI Heather! Yep..I am still around...old goat that I am...can't kill me off that quick..lol.

I am getting a bit better day by day. I have a good appetite but can only eat small portions at a time and chew, chew, chew as to not clog that stoma. I had a great surgeon and would recommend him to anyone. His team is wonderful too. Very caring group of residents.

I went to my family doctor today as one of my stitches popped while I was in Atlantic City...probably due to carrying all that loot around...and it started to ooze. I went to the nurse at the Borgata and he (yep just my luck to have a male nurse at the casino) put some gauze over it and taped it up. My family doctor said it must have been a weak stitch but it will be ok. I have a bit of a rash around the stoma and I am glad the ostomy nurse is coming tomorrow because I only have some cream that they gave me in the hospital. It's taking awhile to get my strength back, but that is to be expected. In the long run I have no regrets. The surgeon said my rectum was very badly diseased. Guess it was only a matter of time before I developed cancer there. I am only on Prevacid and 10 mgm of prednisone tapering 5 mgm per week but the last week the doctor said to go to 2.5 and then OFF that darn stuff. This is heaven after taking 17 - 25 pills daily for the last several years. Not to mention those enemas! UGH!

Hah, I just thought since you're all cured and stuff, you might not need us anymore =P

Anyway, glad you're doing well despite a popped stitch. Hopefully your recovery continutes to go well.