So I got the phone call and my surgery is 15th September, my pre-op is on the 4th.
Honestly, I'm terrified.
I've had my stoma for 20 months; it has been such a complex journey.
I found out I was getting a stoma less than an hour before I was being rushed to surgery, and I was expecting to have a temporary stoma. I came to several weeks later finding out it was actually permanent.
I spent 12 weeks in the hospital in total, where a lot happened. In that time, I had 11 surgeries, and I was in intensive care for 2 periods of time, one in which I was in a coma and ventilated.
I was in a very critical condition; I had gangrene and sepsis.
I ended up needing a vac therapy machine for 4-5 months and had to learn how to walk again.
I've been left living my life as a very different person, and I've been left with nerve damage, bladder problems, and chronic pain alongside my stoma.
I'm terrified of going back to the hospital and going through it again, but I need my stoma sorting.
Soon into my stoma journey, my stoma retracted, which has meant I leak very often, and my skin is always breaking down and burning. They are also looking at improving the midline scar; basically, I have a 20-25cm hole that healed in a weird way because of the vac machine, so the plan is to improve the way it looks at the same time.
As I said, I'm so nervous.
I wondered if anyone has had this surgery?
If so, how long were you in the hospital? How long was your recovery? And how soon after were you driving.
Thank you!
