All,
So sorry I've been out of pocket lately. I've been on an emotional roller coaster since Thanksgiving (was in the middle of Folfox chemo treatments).
...but I believe the darkest days are behind me and I'm finally beginning to see relief from this cancer journey.
Spooky... exactly 1 year ago, to the day, is when my OB/GYN 'discovered' a 'mass'... during a routine annual exam! The darkest day of my life.
Here we are, a year later, and I just received a clean bill of health from my surgeon. I had my reversal on February 11, 2010, right in the middle of the Mid-Atlantic blizzards! Right before my surgery, I lost power in my home from one of the snowstorms, so I spent the whole night changing my ileostomy 'pouch' in the dark, with no heat, in the middle of one of the coldest winters in history. On top of that, my neuropathy side effects (extreme sensitivity to cold) from chemo were at a peak.
My reversal surgery went well YEA! The caveat being that the 'discharge' nurse failed to warn me of the potential issues I would have, after having not used my lower 'organs' for 7 months
🔒 Login to see image
Long story short, I was incontinent for 2.5 weeks after surgery! YIKES!! I was horrified and afraid to call the hospital for fear that they would tell me 'oh no, something went wrong... gonna have to give you the bag again!' YIKES again! So I suffered those weeks and finally had my post-op visit yesterday with my surgeon. She explained that, because of the location of my tumor (low), the stitching was close to the nerve centers that manage bowel control. Thus, it just takes a little longer for that area to heal and resume normal function. She was extremely confident that I would be just fine (and I trust her implicitly). She was right. Each day shows improvement, I'm pain-free, and the 'control' is about 95%. She told me to be patient for the remaining 5% (it WILL come), gave me a hug, and told me to get on with my life... I feel so blessed! (crying as I write this)
Such an emotional visit—she gave me hope where the first surgeon stripped me of all hope (he misdiagnosed my cancer and told me there was no chance of reversal).
And oh, I sent all of my unused ostomy supplies to Haiti! Thanks, Sweene!
I'm so grateful to this website and to all those who open their hearts to heal others! All of you kept me from going insane during my darkest chemo hours.
Thank you!!!!!!! Sharon/facingmyfears
So sorry I've been out of pocket lately. I've been on an emotional roller coaster since Thanksgiving (was in the middle of Folfox chemo treatments).
...but I believe the darkest days are behind me and I'm finally beginning to see relief from this cancer journey.
Spooky... exactly 1 year ago, to the day, is when my OB/GYN 'discovered' a 'mass'... during a routine annual exam! The darkest day of my life.
Here we are, a year later, and I just received a clean bill of health from my surgeon. I had my reversal on February 11, 2010, right in the middle of the Mid-Atlantic blizzards! Right before my surgery, I lost power in my home from one of the snowstorms, so I spent the whole night changing my ileostomy 'pouch' in the dark, with no heat, in the middle of one of the coldest winters in history. On top of that, my neuropathy side effects (extreme sensitivity to cold) from chemo were at a peak.
My reversal surgery went well YEA! The caveat being that the 'discharge' nurse failed to warn me of the potential issues I would have, after having not used my lower 'organs' for 7 months
🔒 Login to see image
Long story short, I was incontinent for 2.5 weeks after surgery! YIKES!! I was horrified and afraid to call the hospital for fear that they would tell me 'oh no, something went wrong... gonna have to give you the bag again!' YIKES again! So I suffered those weeks and finally had my post-op visit yesterday with my surgeon. She explained that, because of the location of my tumor (low), the stitching was close to the nerve centers that manage bowel control. Thus, it just takes a little longer for that area to heal and resume normal function. She was extremely confident that I would be just fine (and I trust her implicitly). She was right. Each day shows improvement, I'm pain-free, and the 'control' is about 95%. She told me to be patient for the remaining 5% (it WILL come), gave me a hug, and told me to get on with my life... I feel so blessed! (crying as I write this)
Such an emotional visit—she gave me hope where the first surgeon stripped me of all hope (he misdiagnosed my cancer and told me there was no chance of reversal).
And oh, I sent all of my unused ostomy supplies to Haiti! Thanks, Sweene!
I'm so grateful to this website and to all those who open their hearts to heal others! All of you kept me from going insane during my darkest chemo hours.
Thank you!!!!!!! Sharon/facingmyfears
