We're Still Vibrant Despite Our Battles

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santabelle
Oct 22, 2011 12:58 am

Hello all my ostomates! How is everything???

I do post on a regular basis to see what everyone has written and how your lives are progressing, but I have been absent lately.

The 27th of this month will be my 3rd-year anniversary of my massive surgery, leaving behind an ileostomy which was a very traumatic day for me that I will never forget!

I find myself adjusting and coping with my ever-present "pouch". I believe all will go well because I have nerve and want to make my life a prosperous one!

I often find myself at the Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, MD when I take my bf there to get treatment (military).

Honestly, I have never seen so many young people with their arms, legs, ears blown off due to the course of action fighting for our country. Although we are all war veterans, I've seen it firsthand and it makes me sad to see our very young resourceful living beings being disfigured as such! We collectively have been to war and back, and that we cannot deny.

We do what we have to do to survive, we're still alive and incredible people that everyone should meet because we have soooo much to offer!!!!

Santabelle

It is very hard for me to walk into that hospital and see everything firsthand, but it makes me realize after all we are all heroes!

Santabelle

I was sliced and diced, my intestine was ripped from my body altering my "normal" life forever. However, seeing these warriors in the prime of their lives with so much adversity to follow, I believe they are my true heroes!

Primeboy
Oct 22, 2011 2:58 am

Though much is taken, much abides. (Tennyson)

Carolw
Oct 22, 2011 5:34 am

Very well said, we have a lot to be thankful for x

Gray Logo for MeetAnOstoMate

iMacG5

When I found this web site, I didn't think its name had anything to do with actually meeting an ostomate but I later learned there were some folks who did meet and develop relationships. How good is that? That wasn't my intention. I definitely didn't want anyone to meet me. I felt broken and wasn't prepared to express those feelings. I thought it was a place where ostomates wrote about themselves, posed questions, shared thoughts, told jokes and, sometimes, just vented. I thought of it as a community of folks with similar interests and various degrees of experience. Mostly I found some of the most caring, selfless, wise and understanding people I ever imagined. I was so impressed with some of the writings; not because of their literary value but the way in which they addressed such a very complex environment. I read hundreds of exchanges and admired the way folks cared for each other. I became hopeful with my own situation and looked forward to the next day's offerings. Certainly some contributors stood out with their experience or particular skills in addressing some things but it seemed like a total effort with synergistic results. I felt blessed to have found this site. I still do.
Mike

santabelle
Oct 22, 2011 7:09 am

We all have so much to be grateful for. After all, we're all still alive. Granted, we are still missing some body parts, but that's okay. We know how to deal with some issues, but we continue forward ever so present and in touch with ourselves and others! Signing off, my brave heroes!

tess45
Oct 22, 2011 3:23 pm

Amen to that - puts it all in perspective, doesn't it?

 

My Ostomy Journey: Kimberly | Hollister

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sherrybear
Oct 23, 2011 1:26 am

It is very sad to see someone missing parts. God loves all of them, and also all of us with our body parts, except for inside of us, but no one can see. So, we are lucky, I guess, in some ways.

Past Member
Oct 23, 2011 8:48 am

I have a question. I am new to this site and hope to find an answer. I have had a colostomy on the left of my belly button for ... 5 years. I was standing in line at a store and felt the need to flatulate, but not from the stoma - from the anus. Having the colostomy, I know this is very rare. It was an uncomfortable sensation with slight pain. Without having a moment to wonder what was going on, my drawers were completely wet and messed. What happened to me? There was no stool though. It was like wet diarrhea - like I peed myself but through my anus. Please advise as to why this happened?

santabelle
Oct 23, 2011 9:56 am

Hi Tinman,

My rectum (sphincter muscle) was removed during my surgery. I often have sensations in my rectum as if I need to go to the bathroom, these are called phantom pains because there are still a lot of nerve endings there.

My rectum has never healed since my ileostomy and I've had two perineal debridement surgeries performed since which were both unsuccessful. I still have an open and draining wound. I have the option of having a bone transplant and having part of my thigh removed to form a flap over the rectum but that's on the back burner for now (no pun intended). I take an antibiotic (Keflex) which clears up the drainage.

Best of luck to you,

tess45
Oct 23, 2011 2:08 pm

Hi Tinman, I have had the same thing - perm. ileo for almost a year now. I actually pass a foul-smelling mucus (yes, my rectum was removed). It only happens occasionally now, but in the beginning, it happened a fair bit and there was a lot of pain involved. Perhaps you should mention this to your doctor. Just because it was natural and no cause for concern to me does not mean that is the case for you. Better safe than sorry. Let us know what happens.

Primeboy
Oct 24, 2011 2:54 am

No disrespect intended, but here's a classic example of courage when things look hopeless: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEcj8KpuJw Warning: Not for the faint of heart!

mooza
Oct 24, 2011 6:38 am

Wondering if the USA government looks after these war vets? Mooza, they get a gold card here, so all and any medical, no matter, is free. Also, the USA is bringing soldiers home, troops out of Iraq. So from Australia, good luck. Hope to God they are respected in those hospitals. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

santabelle
Oct 24, 2011 6:45 am

Oh dear, I seem to be missing an arm. Oh no, my other arm seems to be gone along with both my legs! Oh deary, dear, at the very least I still have my innards intact (unlike us osteomates). Only Monty Python can piece us back together again. May I suggest some crazy glue? Got any reference? SOS so we can have a good laugh!

mooza
Oct 24, 2011 8:02 am

Yeah!! Shite lol my typing arghhhhhhhh :)))))