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Hi Mike and all. I am not sure how panoramic my perspective really is as my peripheral vision shrinks with each passing year. I can tell you that when I came to this website six years ago I was truly ;impressed by the positive attitudes of so many members, especially the younger folks who refused to let their ostomies define who they were or what they would become. I also came to appreciate that having an ostomy is not the same thing as having a disease. Pardon ;my pun now, but ostomies and cancer don't belong in the same bag. One is a solution, the other is a problem. Celebrating National Ostomy Day ;is also well outside my comfort zone. That's like celebrating National Wheel Chair Day. Come on!
I think there is a ;need for improved ;public awareness of ostomies, but I am not sure how that's best done. There ;remains ;some social stigma attached to our situation, and it's acutely felt among our young. We need to get out of the dark ages on this issue, but not by going 'in your face' to everyone else. I think Bill and NDY are 'spot-on' when it comes to telegraphing the right message to friends and family. People will know how to react when they ;see ;how we accept the cards we were dealt. I also appreciate the contribution some people here are making to this effort through their publications.
On a personal note, my son has been suffering from ulcerative colitis for years just like I did. I am very concerned because people with UC are at a higher risk for colon cancer. Years ago my GI told me to get annual colonoscopies to be on the safe side. I am glad I did because he eventually found pre-cancerous cells which led to several surgeries and my becoming an ostomate. Since then I have always ;conveyed a positive attitude to ;my son about wearing a bag because it has kept me alive to enjoy many more years with my loved ones. I think he got the message. We both go to the same gastroenterologist in NYC and get scoped on the same day. Father and Son moments!
Someone once wrote that our children are the letters we write to the future.
PB
I have 18 inches of mesh behind the stomal area. It is causing irritation and this is the result. The surgeon saw the last one, which was up against the stoma, and did nothing. So I'm doing nothing, just suffering, and they call it a weeping sinus.
Bloody hell Gus - are you managing to keep a bag over those 3, and did you say it was a reaction to the mesh.....?
I am rapidly going off the thought of having 'anything' done regarding my hernia - was this stoma a resited one too, or did they just repair the hernia around the original stoma? I have also read where they leave the mesh area open in order for the skin tissue to grow over and mix with the mesh over several months - not sure I could handle that either...
Um, decisions, decisions.... presumably, as your skin is so wet, the damn bags aren't sticking too well either?
Big hugs mate xoxoxoxox
They are sticking OK, Rach. I was in the shower when that was taken. Bloody hurts like hell though, a stinging burning pain that leaves you feeling really farked. Never mind, I'll hang out for Chrissy Day then think about going to the hospital and see what they can do. Needless to say, I'm fairly pissed off with it all.
Janice is right, dear brother, those are fistulas
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. I had those next to my stoma as well when I was a teen, and my doctors in two hospitals told me they were fistulas due to Crohn's disease... different ways to get them to heal and remedy the situation... oh bro, I am so sorry you are dealing with this
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Man Gus, that looks sore. You sound like me; I would be hanging out for Christmas Day too.
It's sore as hell, but pain relief from the chemist is taking the bite out of it. I am working tomorrow and Christmas Day ($40 p/h), so I will have to stay strong. I'm going to get a second opinion when the new year starts and try to get them fixed.
Without being poofy, Gus—my heart really goes out to you, mate—I shall certainly be thinking of you at Christmas and raising my glass to you for an early recovery.
Just you take care, Big Guy!!!..........................Pete.
I had no idea something like this could happen, Gus. I'll be praying for you, man, and for all of us mates also. I'd like to say thank you for sharing this to open our eyes to things that might be down the road for some of us. Hang in there, you will get better!!!
Merry Christmas
Dan
Thanks, everyone. I'm trying an iodine powder to try and dry them up a little. I have 8 wafers left to last me until the 10th of January, so I have to make them last if I can. Have a merry Christmas, everyone. I'll hang in there only because the alternative isn't worth thinking about.
Thanks Mooza, I think I can't get through. I filled them with paste, so hopefully I'll get a couple of days' wear out of the ones I have.