Coping With Health Challenges And Staying Positive

newbyinDakota

Dec 17, 2009 1:29 pm

Well, lools like I go in tomorrow for bladder repair due to fistula caused from the post op infection that led to my ostomy....all of a sudden the ostomy doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore, you know. ANother 4-5 day hospital stay and I am just healing my incision from the last surgery. Really tough to get any Christmas spirit. My son just came home from college and my other son is deep into his basketball season. My daughter is very clingy and anxious. Any advise as to how to get through this. I am a very faithful person but am really struggling right now to stay positive when every phone call is bad news. A month ago I was healthy, worked out every day, worked as a critical care nurse....I just wanted to have a sling surgery so I could run and not pee. Now I want to just NOT pee!
Sorry to be a Debbie Downer--just need some advise.

lottagelady

Dec 17, 2009 1:56 pm

I know how difficult it can be to stay positive when faced with fistula problems! I am having the same difficulty with it - we are quite alike in a couple of ways, I too am a nurse, though haven't now worked for over 2 years and before fistulae I was fit(ish) and healthy my story has now lasted 11 years and 21 anaesthetics... HOWEVER, my fistula is recto-vaginal. The United Nations have a campaign to end fistula in 3rd World Countries which occur often as a result of childbirth.

http://www.endfistula.org/fistula_brief.htm

These are generally bladder fistulas like yours, and it appears that these are much easier to deal with - think I posted elsewhere that my 86yr old aunt has just had a repair to one that worked at first attempt and she is now back to running around like she did before. I am going next week to see one of these UN doctors, to get a 3rd and final opinion on mine as I have now had enough surgery, we will see what happens, will keep you posted. Not much hope for mine I suspect, but I hope that has made you feel a little more confident about the outcome of your surgery.
Take care and let us know how you got on, good luck,

Rachel xx

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Posted by: freedancer

In both of my cases, I had no choice. It was surgery or be put 6 feet under! I thank God that He has been with me all these times. Without Him, I never would have known what to do and might not have gone to the hospital when I did. I don't know if you have had your surgery or not yet but I hope you will hang out on this website when you are done. I have learned a great deal through the people here and it is so great having others who have had the same thing done and been through what you are about to or have gone through. The only thing I have turned down is a reversal of the ileostomy. When the doctors did the emergency rebuilding of my original ileostomy this last February, I told them I did not want to go through this again. My doctor told me at that time that I was no longer a candidate for the reversal. In a way, I was very relieved. The last three years of my life have been a nightmare for me. I do not want to go through any of it again. If you wish to be rehooked up and they say you are a good choice for that, research it carefully. Every surgery I have ever had except for Old and New Maxine and the emergency surgery on my broken foot, I have spent weeks researching. I recently had my C5 C6 disk in my neck replaced with an artificial one. I went to my pre-op with 2 pages of questions for the doctor. I knew everything that they were going to do and could talk intelligently with them. I always try to research my adversaries! Don't cancel your surgery. It is nice not to have to suffer any longer with horrible pain. We all had to change a few things around when we had our surgeries but in the long run, most of us are glad we did it. I know I am. Good luck to you!

Past Member

Dec 17, 2009 2:09 pm

well its hard to be positive under such conditions...take comfort that many here have been thru simular trials. i am sure things will go well for you, my prayers for a quick and complete recovery. as a cancer survivor i can tell you that victory over hard circumstance is sweet....every day "after its over".... is a good day...no matter lifes small trials. god bless you thru these "dark days"... but the sun shines again tommorrow....
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Hollister

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Past Member

Dec 17, 2009 5:21 pm

I just had the sling done in August of this year as well as a vaginal prolapse repair. Compared to everything else you have been through, this is an easy surgery. I know times seem dark and dreary right now. But rest assure, you will be able to run without peeing again - really soon. I had to do 8 weeks of physical therapy. And glad I did. Seemed right after the surgery, I was leaking more than before and got really frustrated. But get yourself a pelvic floor physical therapist - you won't like it - but do it. It helped within a couple of weeks. And start doing your Kegel as soon as you can post-op. Helps tremendously.

Hope this helps some. Sorry for your troubles.

junopete

Dec 17, 2009 8:49 pm

NEWBE

It's OK to be a Debbydowner.

It's not OK to loose the good attitude. You have it in you, use it. This will not beat you and you know that. Lots of us are out there pulling the others. You may feel alone, I assure you, you are not.
Don't take it one day at a time, that is to long. Take it minute by minute. Starting this minute, you will have more ups than downs.

We are at our best during great adversity(sp)

Rick.....

Coping with Health Challenges and Staying Positive

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister