The good news is I survived the colostomy reversal with hernia repair surgery. The bad news is my doctor performed an ileostomy so that the waste can drain and allow the stoma and hernia to heal. I'm still wearing a bag, but he says that he'll do another surgery in four weeks to reverse that, and then I can heal and get truly well again. It's such a long road, and I've had so many detours along the way, but I must keep on truckin' and get past this inconvenience in my life. I'm feeling pretty groggy now as I just got home from the hospital last night and am on strong painkillers. My doctor said he was throwing around F words during my surgery because he too was frustrated that when he connected my colon, it still showed leakage. He says that with more healing, he'll do everything to get this reversal over and done with. Has anyone experienced this during the reversal of a colostomy? I thought I was going to be done, but I guess not. Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. MJ
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About seven years ago, just about every aspect of my life was ostomy related. From the moment I was told an ostomy might be needed until some months down the road I existed as a person afflicted with a colostomy. I feared someone other than my immediate family might find out I had a bag. Ugh! What could be worse? Suppose it filled real fast when I was out with no place to hide and take care of myself. God forbid should it leak in church! Suppose I roll over on it in bed. I was a lesser creature, destined to a life of emotional anguish and physical routines different from most of the rest of the world. I felt like a freak. Then I found folks like you guys here, read your stuff, really “listened” to what you had to say and I began looking at things differently. We know perception is everything and I began to understand how good things were relative to what they could’ve been. So many folks had it so much worse than I did. That didn’t make my discomfort go away but it exposed how fortunate I was to be dealing with my stuff and not their’s. I felt a little guilt, maybe selfishness but quickly forgave myself by understanding I just wasn’t smart enough to fix my feelings. Then, I wonder what smarts have to do with feelings. My perception was warped so my perspective toward my existence was warped.
I learned over the last few years with the help of lots of folks right here at MAO that I could be better at living just by accepting some facts. It is what it is and so what? It’s not the worst thing to happen to a person.
I think everything is, in some way, related to everything else. I just put the ostomy thing in the back seat and drive forward.
Respectfully,
Mike
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I only saw this today, sorry MJ! I see Fable 3 had a similar procedure as you but took a little longer than you. Thank heavens you had a patient doctor who saw you through the surgery. It's only a few more weeks and you'll be saying goodbye to your ileostomy bag and can get back on the road to recovery. As PB wisely points out, do not rush as you've got a lifetime ahead! Take care, Colm
Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister
