Hi Rose

1. Before you make a life changing decision on whether to have your operation or not it might be useful if you could talk with others who have stoma bags and their quality of life and practicalities of having one. Your surgeon will be able to give you answers on Wednesday on the likelyhood of needing a stoma bag. Dont rule anything out till then. Best of luck.

   Ed

Thank you for your reply  feeling a bit better after going for a walk yes I’m going to hear what the surgeon has to say also try and find other people to chat to 

HI Rose

I only replied to your post as my wife has Crohns disease and after surgery has had a bag for over 30 years. She leads a normal active life  enjoys belly dancing has had 3 children. Worked a full time job and loves travelling. It is entirely possible you will not need one at all but if you do you will get lots of help to learn how to manage a bag from the stoma nurse and it will just become part of your everyday routine. The alternative to her bag would have been to miss out on 30 years of great life. Im glad you are feeling a bit more upbeat after your walk.

Ed

Hello Rose,

                   when l had my arm and leg shattered l got to co exist with a lot of metal and pins for a number of years, the result was that when they were removed and bone grafts had set,l was able to walk and use my hand again. Likewise when both hips gave out,metal and ceramic comnined to let me walk and run again. So when it was cancers turn to do its worst to my bowel and liver l had once again to play host to third party assistance in order to continue to have an enjoyable existence.

Dont get me wrong here, none of the above were welcomed with open arms, but had to be imposed in order for me to emerge out the other side.l lived with a stoma for eighteen months before it was reversed and my bowel had to relearn how to find its way in my world once again.Since then l have had a truly wonderful second life that l remain eternally grateful for, the struggles endured only making where l stand today truly worthwhile.

Yes l lost a number of years fighting back to health, yes this is the "new me" but ten years on this person has lived and achieved as much as in my pre cancer life, and l have more than regained the lost years of recuperation.l felt the same as you initially,l have yet to meet the person who did not feel the same, l have met some who sadly were denied this option but would have grabbed it in a heartbeat if it had been possible.

Remember,nothing is set in stone, stoma's can be reversed,but many choose to live with theirs rather than go through the bowel upset of having to function for itself all over again

62 at diagnosis,approaching 74 and working and living like a trojan, enjoying my every moment,the "new me" sees the world through enlightened eyes and mind and intends to do so for many years to come.Will you see the possibilities for a "new you" and give yourself every chance of achieving that? , l hope you can in the coming weeks.

There is light and warmth behind those cold dark clouds you only currently see,l hope they part for you in your future and the Sun breaks through to shine upon you,tread gently and walk surely on your journey,

David