It has been a little over a month now since I had my hernia surgery. I am doing better every day. I can finally ride my exercise bike for 21 to 22 minutes at a time. I can walk for 30 minutes at a time. I get pain at the end of the day; mostly, that is when it hits me after being busy all day. I am going to be doing some volunteer work next month, so that will keep me busy too. The pain during the day is getting less and less, except that I have back pain now that I didn't have before my surgery. It might be the chair I sit in, but it might be something else; I am not sure. But all in all, I am doing much better. And my stoma is working again, which is definitely a bonus. I did not like having an ileus. That is what they called it when my intestines and stoma fell asleep after surgery and did not wake up, and so did not do their job. I ended up throwing up a lot. I am so happy that now I can swallow my pills without vomiting, and I can eat. So I call that doing good. I just wanted to write a follow-up and say that I am doing better. I even took my mom out to lunch last Friday. It was the first time I had been out to eat since my surgery.
Lee, I am so happy to hear this great news. Thanks for the update. I am so glad you are staying busy and enjoying life once again.
MeetAnOstoMate is a remarkable community of 41,451 members.
“I mostly read and still feel like I belong.”
“Doctors took notes; they want others to find this website.”
“From midnight blowouts to big wins, there’s always a hand to hold.”
This site has been a blessing for me in learning how to cope with and navigate this journey as an ostomate. I have a colostomy as a result of a perforation in my colon since May of this year. I don't know yet if it will be permanent or reversible. The people on here have provided me with so much advice and information about living with an ostomy that I don't think I could get anywhere else. You all have given me hope and a place to come to for support. I still struggle with acceptance, but know that it will come if I am patient. Patience has never been my strong suit! Also, I love all the humor, although it really pissed me off when I first came on here. Thanks to all of you.
Thanks for the update, Lee - keep up the good work.
BW
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jayne ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Learn more about ostomy accessories, and when to use them.
G-Day Lee,
Everything you have said is 100% positive, and I am so glad you're on the mend. You have such a big heart, Lee, looking for voluntary work and also taking your mother out for the day.
Regards, IGGIE
My Ostomy Journey: Ryan | Hollister
Hey Lee, that sounds really tough. It looks like I have a couple of hernias developing (I have an ileostoma and a mucus fistula since January). All I can do is wear my support belts and try to lose weight. Your story helps me understand why surgery is only for very bad hernias here.
Best
T
Hi Lee, that's some good news on a Monday. Pace yourself to not overdo it.
I'm looking forward to the volunteer work next month. Getting back into the swing of things is great. I am glad I am feeling like I am able to do more.
I wanted to thank my mom for all she has done for me lately. She did a lot by coming to see me in the hospital every day, driving an hour to do so. She also took me back to the hospital when I had to go back in. She stayed with me until after midnight until I got settled in a room. She has helped me around the house since I have been home and encouraged me to exercise to get better. She is just a wonderful mom.
Learn about convexity and 4 myths surrounding it.
Yeah, I was a little worried about how that would go, but it went okay. I enjoyed my meal, and my mom enjoyed hers too. She was surprised when I said I was paying. She was like, "Are you sure? I don't mind paying." I was like, "No problem, I want to pay."
Yeah, I had no choice but to have my hernias fixed because one of my incisional hernias had a loop of intestine in it, and that apparently is dangerous. And while they were already going in to do that, they decided to do the parastomal hernia as well. It was that they had to have room to put the mesh in, and if they didn't fix the parastomal hernia, the mesh wouldn't have fit in right. I have lost over 90 pounds in the last year. I want to lose 5 more pounds, but it is getting hard to lose weight now. I am more apt to stay between a few pounds of up and down. But not down 5 pounds. Losing weight was a prerequisite to getting my surgery. I had to have a certain BMI to have the surgery. And I made it to that BMI and then some. I was so proud of myself. You can do it too. Lose weight, I mean. Keep wearing your support belts, and hopefully, you can delay the need for surgery.
I'm trying to pace myself. I get a little bit, well, I get intense about exercise. I want to do more and more. I will try not to overdo it because when I do, I hurt more at night.
I hope you keep seeing improvement every day. Just be kind to yourself and take it little by little. 💕
Yep, that is how I am going along. Little bits at a time. I am trying to do more and more each day. I did 33 minutes on my bike today. That was really pushing myself. But I am glad I was able to do it...
Glad to hear you are doing better every day. I am 14 days out from hernia surgery, and it took 8 days for my intestines to wake up, so I just got home from the hospital 2 days ago. I am amazed that I feel as good as I do today, planning on going to church this morning. Hopefully, the gas that has been sounding like a charging elephant trumpeting will not decide to get too loud during the quiet parts of the service. Keep on getting better, and thanks for the encouraging post.