Temporary stoma

[kelly1]

Hi all i need some help and advice :sign0085:

I wont go into to much detail but since june 2013 ive had 13 surgeries for what was a perianal abscess which created a fistula that goes through both the bowel muscles and is deep. I currently have a draining seton in which was replaced last thursday and this one is coming apart so have to see my crs on tuesday.
Last week my crs sugessted a temporary stoma to give me a break and for things to try and heal. I am really swaying towards this as i would have a better quality of life as at the moment i am struggling with day to day things, at the same time i am feeling scared. Has anyone out there any advice they could give please.

 

[Grotbags]

I have a permanent stoma which I just got last December, I love it, it's given me my life back, my only regret is I didn't get it sooner.

 

[kelly1]

Sounds very positive thankyou! Was the op a long procedure? I know ive been put under 13 times but still hate the thought of it xx

 

[DJW]

Mine is permanent. My fistulas finally healed once I got my stoma.

 

[Grotbags]

I've been lucky in that mine was my first operation, in 26 years of having Crohn's, I'd never needed any.
I honestly don't know how long it was, I have a feeling it was quite long despite everything going well.
They did most of mine keyhole, I believe this is the preferred method, unfortunately the surgeon still needed to open me up to get a tricky bit of intestine out.
I was out of hospital after six days, it would have been sooner, but I missed the stoma nurse on Friday, so I didn't pass my pouch exam until the Monday when she came round again.

 

[kelly1]

Hi djw
was it perianal fistulas that you had?

 

[DJW]

Yes

 

[UnXmas]

My reasons for getting a stoma were not the same as your own, mine wasn't for the purpose of allowing healing, so I don't know how much help I can be regarding whether a stoma sounds like a good option for you regarding the fistula, but in general I think it really depends on you and how you feel about it: some people hate stomas, some love them, and some come to terms with having a stoma over time. I think people are more likely to love them if their bowel problems are seriously affecting their quality of life beforehand. And some stomas are easier to manage than others; if you end up dealing with lots of leaks or skin problems or whatever, it can make living with a stoma harder than it should be, however there often are solutions to these problems, so if you ever do find yourself struggling, don't think it's going to stay that way; contact your stoma nurses, ask online, make having a stoma as good an experience as it can be. And a temporary stoma has the obvious advantage: it's not a case of there being no going back.

How does the idea of a stoma make you feel? Are there any particular concerns you have about it?

I'm one of those whose stoma meant an end to years of horrendous bowel problems. I have a permanent ileostomy and I would never go back to how things were for me before.

 

[DJW]

I should clarify my stoma wasn't to allow healing. My intestines were a diseased mess.
My fistulas healing were a major benefit.