Hi Luke.   Good luck with the meeting tomorrow, mate.   Go with an open mind, be prepared for any outcome and just remember that these experts are working to find the most appropriate solution for you and in your best medical interests.   If not on your list of Qs, ask if you need any radio/chemo treatment.  We got mine early so I avoided any of that, pre and post-op.   I'll admit that the thought of having a bag horrified me at first.   However, here I am, almost a year after the op and I manage it, not the other way round.   Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Very best.

Hi Luke,

I just want to wish you all the best for tomorrow. Don't be afraid to ask any questions you may have.

Kind regards,

Jolamine

Jolamine Hi Sincere apologises for delayed response. Thanks for that. We made a list of questions as suggested by people on here. Most of which were answered prior to us asking which only left a few unanswered. The surgeon and team were brilliant and explained every thing in detail. Also received several calls offering support and counselling. Next step meeting the Nurses and my dedicted two support clinicians on Tuesday, prior to major surgery a few days later.

Once agian thankyou

Kind Regards

LukeB

Hi Badger sorry for late response. Heads in the clouds at the moment and so much to do and so little time, prior to long stay in hospital. We went armed with a list of questions as suggested by people on here, which we are finding extremely helpful. Question`s we had, were answered prior to us asking, only left a few unanswered. The surgeon and team were brilliant, explained everything in detail. Also received several calls offering support and counselling. Next step meeting the Nurses and my dedicted two support clinicians on Tuesday, prior to major surgery a few days later. Also an hour with a Stoma nurse as well with my wife as a second pair of ears. Explaining fitting and use as well as pit falls, which I`m sure there will be at first.

Again Thanks for response

LukeB

Hi Luke,

It sounds as if you've made the decision to go ahead - I can only say that it sounds like the right one to me.

It appears as if you are going to have a busy week. I'm glad that you get the chance to meet those involved in your care before your operation.

It is always a good idea to take a list of questions to all of your consultations as the consultant will answer most of them, but there will always be some on your list that he hasn't thought about.

I hope that all goes well with your surgery and look forward to having you back here once that is all behind you.

Thinking of you and praying for the best possible outcome.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Badger thanks for the response. Going to be a long road I`m afraid. The only thing the surgeon could not gaurantee would be the Stoma being temporary or permanent. Problem is the cancer is extremely low oin the bowel and little to join onto with resection, but he said he will give it is best shot and doesn`t like to be beaten. Unfortunately it will be what ever they can do on the day. Fingers crossed for a successful outcome

Hi Luke,

Then that sounds very similar to mine - it was was right at the bottom, so to speak.   That's why they had a closer examination (put me under for 20-30 mins) and concluded that either scrapping or a resection were (i) not really medically viable and (ii) would likely have resulted in complications like leakage.  Made the decision simpler and allowed me to commit to it before the op.   Whatever happens, I'm sure they'll make the appropriate decision on the day in your best interests.   Just be prepared for any eventuality.

Indeed, fingers crossed for a successful outcome - whatever the result.

Very best.

Hi Badger.

Thanks for that, as you say problematic due to the location. Will only know, when I come around after the operation. Like you have already signed for worse case senario, for Op. The consultant as said he will not go for the easy option unless unavoidable, during our lengthy meeting last week. 

Today we are spending 3-4 hours at the hospital meeting the team and our dedicated two clinician`s.

The one thing we are currently looking at, after several people who have had the Op and telling us about   "Stoma Leakage" particularly at nights wjhen laying in bed. They have advised us to get a mattress protector, covering eventualities like this.

     If you do not mind me asking have you experienced any problems?

Kind Regards

LukeB

Hey Luke,

Looks like this is settling down a bit now, which is good.   The discussons with the consultant and other members of your support team will, hopefully, have put some meat on the bones of uncertainty that you had earlier.   The consultant will, quite rightly, have to make the final best judgement call when he's unzipped you on the operating table - although I suspect he already knows what the most suitable answer is already.   

Must admit I looked at the bag option as 'worse case' at the time because of the physical (and psychological) impact that it would likely have on me.   However, here I am almost a year down the line, feeling absolutely fine, getting on with life with some adjustments and doing all the stuff I was doing before the op.  I can say it now but the decision to go this route was the right one.  It avoided potential complications with a very low resection and also had a far higher success rate - typically in excess of 95%.

As for stoma leakage ....   Do you actually mean bag leakage?   The stoma and the peristalsis in your gut have a mind of their own over which you have very little control, so your stoma will do its stuff at any time of the day and night!   What is not practical is trying to sleep on your stomach - on your back or sides is fine.   Any leakage from the bag comes down to how full it gets whilst you're asleep and how well sealed it is against your body when you stuck it on, which may be affected a bit by your, ahem, body profile if there are a lot fat folds!   These items are things you'll get used to in the first few months.  You'll soon get a sense of what you think you should do before going to bed.

I have only once, to date, suffered bag leakage during the night and that was in the first few months - nothing since then but it could happen.  Personally, I've always used a thin mattress protector anyway - they're just the common ones that many folks use and buy from John Lewis or wherever.  Nothing special or waterproof or anything like that.   Are you thinking of more along the lines of the latter?

Best regards.