Living with Long-Term Effects After APR Surgery

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4
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949
canyon home
Nov 29, 2022 6:58 pm

I had surgery almost 13 years ago for colorectal cancer. My colostomy has been mostly easy to live with and for that I'm very grateful. The last couple of years I've had more and more lower back pain as well as in the area of the perineum. I'm told the “settling” of organs - bladder, uterus, etc., can be uncomfortable. Has anyone experienced any of these long-term issues? Yoga helps, but I still find myself reaching for the heating pad a lot!

AlexT
Nov 29, 2022 7:13 pm

Interesting. I've wondered what happens inside when stuff is taken out and there's an empty area 🤔

canyon home
Nov 30, 2022 2:00 am

Yes, that's it exactly. Does anyone else sense this internal shift? And does it cause pain? Like I said, yoga helps.

Justbreathe

MeetAnOstoMate website turned out to be a lifesaver for me. I say this because, for me, this ostomy journey was a devastating event both physically and mentally.
Here, I found folks who understood my feelings even better than my family or friends could. Only a fellow ostomate can understand how you really feel.

Information sharing is key, as well as support and understanding, to ultimately bring more harmony into our ostomy life journey. I found here, virtually no ostomy questions that are not touched upon. Questions which some might feel, may be too trivial to contact a doctor about or even too shy or embarrassed to ask their own doctor about. They are all addressed here.

For me, anonymity was very helpful in seeking answers to each phase of this life changing medical and mental event. Sharing initial trauma feelings, ongoing support and finally acceptance was what I found with my membership here. I am not sure what my mental and physical attitude would be today without having found this site.

Additional benefits included: finding products and ideas to help with daily maintenance, innovative ideas and as a bonus - some great humor.
After all “laughter IS the best medicine”.

I have been a member for 3 years, an ostomate for 4 years - yes, I certainly wish I would have found it immediately after surgery but so very thankful I finally found it when I did as I truly believe it turned my troubled depression and situation into a more positive attitude and acceptance.

Sincerely,
An Ileostomate nicknamed Justbreathe 🫶🏼

AlexT
Nov 30, 2022 5:14 am

I'm not quite 2 years into my surgery; guess my "stuff" hasn't settled yet. 😬😳

Past Member
Dec 01, 2022 11:19 am

I'm almost 3 years old but haven't really had any issues yet. I am curious as well. 🌻

 

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