Living with a stoma bag.

I did the stick test to screen for bowel cancer that came in the post after my 60th birthday. I was called for colonoscopy on Monday and told afterwards that I will need surgery and have to have a colostomy bag for up to a year and possibly longer if the bowel doesn't heal. Anybody's worst nightmare.

Apart from a bit of blood in my poo I have no symptoms and am facing possibly life with a bag.

How does anyone cope with living with it?

I wish I had never sent the test back. I am seriously considering pretending I hadn't and just get on with life.

What can I expect to happen if I ignore it.

Parents
  • Hi Linda,

    Sorry you have had this news, I can't speak from personal experince, But there was a woman who was working in my place of work who had a bag, and I never knew in all the four years I was working there until someone told me (the woman was rasing cash for cancer charity and let it be known she had it). There are many people online who live normal lives doing normal things and write about it. I think this is the sort of thing that is a problem only if you allow it to get to you.

    The worst thing you can do is ignore it, The outcome could be far worse. I think anyone who gets cancer has the thought of wishing they had never had the test, or they think of just ignoring it and getting on with live, but that is not the solution.

    Please try and talk to someone about it, most times things are far less worse than you think they are going to be, you just have to get used to it.

     

     

  • Thanks for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it.

Reply Children
No Data