Colostomy Advice Please

I haven't one, ZG.
I do know that people with chronic bowel problems often find them life-enhancing compared to their quality of life before.
& there are 205,000 people in the UK living with a stoma, so you will be joining a big group.
Hope someone with personal experience will be along soon.

I’ve had one, DH has had three in last 3 years.

It’s a very easy procedure, if you’re offered sedation and you have someone dropping you off and collecting it, please accept it.

DH declined then more polyps were discovered, as they were small, they were chopped off immediately - ouchy.

You’ll be talked through everything and it’s normally a fairly quick and painless process, unless they plan on biopsy or removal of anything, hence my suggestion of sedation.

Good luck

I had a colostomy after surgery for bowel cancer. I had it for six months, but after some research, I learned a reversal was possible.
I spoke to my consultant about this and he said it was possible but a large number failed and had to return to the colostomy.
I found the whole thing upsetting and difficult, I tried many types and adaptations with the colostomy set up but I had several mishaps with it.
I decided to push ahead with the reversal. I was home within a week, and while it took some time to get near a normal toileting, I was happy to persevere and am still very happy ten years later and pretty much back to normal.
I hope this is helpful or at least another option for you.
Also, I have to say my treatment after the cancer diagnosis, I had the very best treatment from nurses several times a week to check on me, cat scan and MRI within two weeks and surgery within the month.

No personal experience but friends who’ve had them have found the colostomy nurses really kind and helpful.

Oh, did you mean a Colonoscopy?
A thin, flexible tube with a camera examines the entire large bowel, very different and much quicker than what I described

Good luck any way

I’m so sorry, I misread your original post and thought it said, colonoscopy.

Many apologies and good luck x

saymyname

Oh, did you mean a Colonoscopy?
A thin, flexible tube with a camera examines the entire large bowel, very different and much quicker than what I described

Good luck any way

No I think I misread x

My mum did decades ago, and it was life changing. She was virtually housebound due to ulcerative colitis before the operation, and was able to live a normal life afterwards.

The operation wasn’t easy, but she never regretted it.
I would hope there has been huge progress too in technology, pain relief and the systems used since she had hers.

Good luck ZACSGRANNY

My .other had an ileostomy- she was so relieved to not have her previous problems.

There is a young woman with one who talks about it and campaigns so I'll see if I can find her info.
I think she's an inspiration.

I had a colostomy operation after a bowel cancer diagnosis twenty-five years ago. I have a permanent stoma, due to the fact that the cancer was in my rectum. It was life saving for me and given me another 25 years of life. You will have great support from specialist stoma nurses before and after the operation and like most people with a stoma, it'll become part of your life. I think nowadays some operations can be done with keyhole surgery.

I know a couple of people who I only knew had a colostomy after it being mentioned in passing .
They live perfectly full lives and no-one would suspect that they had them.
I understand how difficult it is at first to come to terms with , emotionally it is so hard but they have both said it has been life changing for the better.
I wish you the best of luck for your future.

I can't find her now but here are some others sites where people talk about living with a stoma. The third one has several people talking.

www.stocare.co.uk/
thecolostomyqueen.com/
stoma4life.com

I hope your surgery and recovery is straightforward and that soon, like my mum, you adjust to this new way of living.
She was truly grateful - and so was I.