In September 2009 I had my 6 monthly visit with my surgeon.
This time I saw someone different. He had obviously had a discussion with the
team and they had decided that they had 'failed' me. He said that I needed surgery to repair my hernia - in order to facilitate a successful repair they would need to relocate my stoma to the other side, terminate the ileum so that it can no longer malfunction and do another repair to the fistula. I was horrified - I had decided I wanted no more of it as I just didn't think my body could take any more. He said that I needed to do this as my abdominal symptoms would get worse due to the size of my hernia and to stop any further incontinence. He said he would give me 8 weeks to consider it, but had listed me anyway! He also stated that I should be looking to decide whether or not I would prefer a permanent ileostomy or a colostomy and what I would like done with my rectum should the repair be unsuccessful again (which from that I suspect they have their doubts!). Two weeks after that consultation, I ended up in hospital - the stoma was once again malfunctioning, I was in serious agony, incontinent again and they thought that there might be a blockage. Fortunately there wasn't and things settled overnight. I needed the surgery, and I was listed for January 2010.
This time I saw someone different. He had obviously had a discussion with the
team and they had decided that they had 'failed' me. He said that I needed surgery to repair my hernia - in order to facilitate a successful repair they would need to relocate my stoma to the other side, terminate the ileum so that it can no longer malfunction and do another repair to the fistula. I was horrified - I had decided I wanted no more of it as I just didn't think my body could take any more. He said that I needed to do this as my abdominal symptoms would get worse due to the size of my hernia and to stop any further incontinence. He said he would give me 8 weeks to consider it, but had listed me anyway! He also stated that I should be looking to decide whether or not I would prefer a permanent ileostomy or a colostomy and what I would like done with my rectum should the repair be unsuccessful again (which from that I suspect they have their doubts!). Two weeks after that consultation, I ended up in hospital - the stoma was once again malfunctioning, I was in serious agony, incontinent again and they thought that there might be a blockage. Fortunately there wasn't and things settled overnight. I needed the surgery, and I was listed for January 2010.