Staying Positive

[BowelMeOver]

Husband finally had his surgery this past Friday, and one of the first things the surgeon said to me in the waiting room was that the surgery went extremely well....BUT, they didn't get to place the ostomy bag where the Stoma nurse suggested, but not to worry! We can send him home with some iv.

I put these comments on hold and focused on the fact that his obnoxious colon was finally gone, and we can begin our road to recovery. Husband did quite well the first night, albeit in a good amount of pain.

Day 2, one of the other surgeons from this Colorectal group, who also assisted in the surgery, came to see how things were going, lifted husbands hospital gown, checked on his drain (which had been leaking quite a bit), and also stated that the ostomy bag wasn't in a great location and that it will cause problems. But don't worry, we can send him home with a picc line and some iv fluids! Weeeeeee!

Day 3, and the main surgeon visits, states husband is making great progress, as he had been up walking the halls a few times, his lab work was fine, and that the pathologist said his colon showed no indications for Crohns. He also said the bag isn't in such a bad place after all, as it allows for a greater amount of small intestine to be involved with his digestion, etc. See? Size really DOES matter! :dance:

My husband and I did alot of research prior to this surgery. We know that things aren't always going to be easy, and that bag placement could make a difference in how one copes with the ostomy. But we also know that nothing can compare to the pain and misery he suffered with that colon of his.

His stoma is just below his normal belt line, instead of just off to the side and slightly below his belly button. Whoooptie doo! So we address that issue by adjusting his wardrobe and making good use of all the accessories and products out there that aid in creating and maintaining a good seal. He is in very good shape with no scars or creases in his belly, and I can help with using the stoma size chart and guiding him with the placement of the wafer if need be. We can do this!

The way the surgeons were commenting on his stoma location made it sound worse than having Ulcerative Colitis in the first place. Darn them for trying to rain on our parade!

Ps. I also took the time to research stoma placement in the threads here, and didn't find a single negative consequence of having the stoma placed below the belt line.

 

[2thFairy]

You and your husband sound like a good team. Stomas for the win!! wooHOO!!

 

[BowelMeOver]

Thank you for your response, 2thFairy. I'm feeling as though I'm flying solo today, as he isn't "in the mood" to eat just yet, and I know it's very important that he do so, in order to gain strength back. He did manage to drink an Ensure, but I swear, he acts as though I am torturing him. It seems the not so easy moments have already arrived. Pfffft!

Some of the issues we are dealing with in relation to the stoma are the fact that it's more oval than round, so sizing and cutting the wafer takes a little more precision. We are also dealing with a stoma bridge for another 2 weeks, which means we have to lift the stoma up a bit to slide the wafer underneath those 2 areas. Interestingly enough, the search feature doesn't bring up anything regarding stoma bridges. Perhaps they are called something else?

Thanks to this board, I also warned him ahead of time that he may have some mucus discharge from his bum. Unfortunately for him, some equals a really uncomfortable and embarrassing amount, and it's really affecting his spirits.

We also have home health coming every day for the next 10, to inject him with Lovamox, which is to help prevent deep vein thrombosis. The nurse asked if either one of us were capable of doing this injection, and we just looked at each other like she were crazy. We can deal with poopiness and mucus drips and dirty linens and disposable diapers if needed, but there is no way I can hurt him with a needle, and it's preposterous to ask him to hurt himself after all he has gone through. Hence the reason she will be coming for the next ten days. Weeeeeeeeee!

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Glad things went well! I have to say that I've never heard of a stoma bridge! What is it? Also for reference, hollister do some oval shaped rings if you ever need them.

I hope things continue to go well!

 

[2thFairy]

I think most loops are done without the bridge remaining after the stoma is sutured in place, but I do know that in some cases they will remain up to 2 weeks. I did not have one remain.

Edit: Oh, duh! I just re-read your post and you did say it will be there for 2 more weeks.

 

[2thFairy]

I pass mucus nearly every time I go to urinate, but it is totally controlled and not something I think twice about. Some people only pass mucus once a week or once a month. The Lovenox injections in the hospital sucked, but only because I knew it was going to happen every day.

Big hugs to both of you! Hang in there!!!

 

[2thFairy]

Misty, I got this from:

http://www.securicaremedical.co.uk/Portals/38/docs/Stoma-Care-for-HCAs.pdf

Bridges
The purpose of a bridge or rod is to support a loop
colostomy or loop ileostomy following surgery. The
rod or bridge is usually external and prevents the loop
of bowel which forms the stoma from retracting into
the abdomen. Bridges can be made of plastic, rubber
or glass. Sometimes they are sutured at each end to
the skin surface which may make fi tting a pouch more
diffi cult. A bridge usually remains in place for 5-8 days
after which time it is gently removed by the stoma
nurse, once medical permission has been obtained.

 

[BowelMeOver]

Thanks for the hugs and the well wishes. :hug:

Ouchies at that picture. I have to admit, ours doesn't look quite as painful, but it doesn't lessen the frustration with trying to get the flange under it. Luckily, we are going to try and go 4 days between changing, so it won't be too too often that we have to face this.

Thanks for the heads up on the oval rings by Hollister, Misty. We ordered and played around with so many samples way ahead of surgery time, and as the surgery date approached, we decided to try out the Coloplast Sensura Xpro as our main set up of choice, and modify as needed. What we've done in the 2 changes we've had so far was to use one of those thin rings that Coloplast sent us, and once the flange is cut, mold it to the back of it before applying. So far so good (knock on wood times 1000!). I will ask for a sample from Hollister though, just to see if it will save us some time in molding a circle to an oval.

It's kind of odd that stoma bridges don't seem to be the norm with ostomates on this forum. Our surgeon states it is a common procedure in his practice, and he is a much sought after surgeon here. I'll make a point of asking him for his reasoning on this. In the meantime, we can't wait for it to be taken out!

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Oohhh well I know what that is! Although with mine being a terminal end ileostomy I obviously never had one! It looks painful to remove though!

And you are welcome! Mine is perfectly around so it's no big deal, but I think it's probably usual to have an oval one with a temp?

 

[annawato]

Yes mine is oval. Well sort of - one side is smaller than the other so yes it is awkward trying to get a good fit. I eventually got there but it would have been a lot easier if someone had helped! Your husband is very lucky.
Its great you have such a positive outlook. Just about all stoma problems can be fixed with trial and error, although it can be frustrating when the errors mount up!
My husband gives himself injections twice a day of a blood thinner. In the beginning I did them for him but he soon got hte hang. The needles are so fine that they dont hurt if you know the secret and that is not to jab the needle in but to place it on the skin and gently push it in then inject the fluid. Voila. Pain free injection. Just need to teach all the nurses in the hospital to do this now. haha.
I've had two ileostomys, the first a loop and the second abcarian. Neither used a bridge thank god. It looks very hard to put a wafer on. Thankfully you only have it for two weeks.
My stoma is just below/on my belt line and it does n't cause any problems. You can get stoma guards if it is a problem - may be cheaper than a whole new wardrobe. Though not nearly as fun!