Hi JSD. I'm in the same boat and share your fear. Back in September, I was recovering from TNBC breast cancer (one of the worst types), double mastectomy and undergoing chemotherapy.
Five days after my third round of chemo, I had been having terrible belly pain which I and my doctors thought was "chemo belly." In fact, it was discovered that I had several diverticulitis perforated pockets filling my abdominal cavity with crap.
I went septic, was in critical condition, underwent emergency surgery at 3 am in the morning and woke up in the intensive care unit with a stoma. In December, I developed a large parastomal hernia which surgeons said needed surgery, but I wasn't healthy enough to undergo a repair.
I have an appointment with a gastro surgeon in March to see if I'm a candidate for a reversal and parastomal hernia repair. I've been told that since all this happened 5 days after a chemotherapy session, my bowel resection might never be trustworthy. Chemo attacks all fast-growing cells... cancer cells, hair cells, and yes, even cells trying to mend the resected bowel.
It's a frightening thought to even contemplate the possible complications of a reversal. But at the very least, I need this painful pia parastomal hernia fixed, which would mean creating a new stoma on the other side of my belly and repairing the old stoma and parastomal hernia site.
Glad I found this website. Wish I had the finances to become a full osteomate member but still trying to dig my way out of all the bills. I take comfort reading the various posts because I realize I'm not alone on this journey. My husband has been a great source of comfort and help. I would be overwhelmed by all this without him... so I also feel for those osteomates who are single. It's not an easy row to hoe under any circumstances.