Hi all, new member here. I am 55 and suffer from bowel urgency after the sacral nerve implant didn't work. I have been told a colostomy is the only thing that will help or wearing pads for the rest of life. I would have no doubts if it was for a life-threatening reason but it's not. Has anyone else in here had the same issue?
Hcbaggie
Jun 04, 2023 3:24 pm
Bill
Jun 04, 2023 5:37 pm
I decided on a stoma after the sacral nerve implant failed for me too.
However, there were other factors to be considered as I also had an anal prolapse, which resulted in a lot of pain and discomfort with incontinence. For many years the management of my stoma has been much more efficient than the conditions I had previously.
I would not have said that my previous conditions were life-threatening, so in that sense I can identify with your situation
Everyone is different, but my own experience has been one where , although I did not 'want' a stoma, the decision to have one has made life a lot more bearable.
Best wishes with your own decision making
Bill
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Posted by: Puppyluv56
Hi Deb,
As you can see, the outpouring of love and support from this website will help you to find the strength to lift yourself up and out of your current emotional situation. I am lucky to have my husband by my side through all of this, so I will not even pretend to know how you feel and what you're going through alone. I do know that I have great friends on this site and in my life that have been by my side, and hopefully you have many by your side as well. You do have a lot of new friends here. Please feel free to talk through anything that is on your mind. We all go through a confidence deficit when we go through an ostomy surgery. Our body has been marred and your mind feels that way sometimes too. It is tough to move on, but you will. You will be stronger once you realize that you are still the beautiful woman you were prior to your surgery. Hopefully, you can reach out to a local support group and find some additional friends in your same situation. It always helps to have a sounding board wherever you find it!
Puppyluv
Hcbaggie
Jun 04, 2023 9:27 pm
Thank you, that is a real help. I am leaning towards getting one as I can't go anywhere without panicking, and my nearest supermarket is 30 miles away. Not ideal.
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CrappyColon
Jun 05, 2023 11:14 am
It sounds like you'd have more freedom with the colostomy than with how things are now. I had all my abdominal colon removed and an ileostomy so not the same, but mine wasn't at emergency timing yet. The doctors felt I would do better recovery-wise if I was able to decide on the time myself. I did ask how long my window was of deciding myself, it was under a year. But I was only eating maybe every 3 days at that point which sometimes meant a real meal, sometimes it meant a pack of goldfish crackers. Once I said okay let's do this, I found out the surgeon had already made a surgery plan after my first appointment with her because she knew my colon wasn't going to get better.
There's a learning curve to having an ostomy, but you'll become an expert at it before you know it if you choose to go that route. Wishing you the best for whatever you choose
How to Adjust to Life with an Ostomy with Bruce | Hollister
