For years, I suffered with a crooked stoma. At first, I thought it was just me not being able to apply my wafer. However, over the years, my stoma hasn't changed and my leakage problems still persist. A few years ago, I went to my original surgeon to see if he would help by fixing my stoma. He flatly refused!!! He told me that he gave me a "perfect stoma" and he wasn't going to do anything about it. So I continued to live with the leakage problems and my skin breaking down until I couldn't take it anymore. I found a new surgeon and asked him to help. He agreed that I shouldn't have to live with a crooked stoma and so my surgery is set. My problem now is, I'm getting really nervous about the upcoming surgery. This will be my 5th surgery in 6 years and for some reason, I'm really nervous about this surgery. Is this normal? Has anyone else had the same thing done? I know this will solve my problems but I just don't understand why I'm nervous about this particular surgery. Can anyone shed some light on this for me? I think I need someone to talk to about it... Thanks for any help on this matter.
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Good luck!
PJT
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Hi there - I am coming up to my 20th anaesthetic since 2001, so I know exactly where you are at!
I had decided 2 years ago that I was finished with surgery, didn't want any more, and that I would accept my lot - then my surgeon sprung upon me that I needed to have some more, to repair my massive hernia and relocate my stoma to the other side before I needed it in an emergency situation. I am due to have a fistula repair on 15th September, the result of which will determine my next surgery - a hernia repair and either a reversal or a relocation of a permanent stoma. Until now, it just hasn't bothered me going in for surgery, but this time I am sh****g bricks for some reason! The full story is in my blog, but it is pretty long! I think it is probably because I am at the end of my particular road, dunno???
Take care, Rach xxx
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It would be abnormal not to be nervous. I have had 8 surgeries, and I was scared for every one of them. I have also had my stoma moved to the other side and a repair to get a better stoma. I wasn't having problems, but I wanted to use a flat pouch, not a shallow convex. Maybe you should give that a go if you need to. Good luck! Oh, I just read in our ostomy magazine and have heard of a K-pouch for Crohn's patients. It's done more in the U.S. than in Australia. If I could go through more surgery, I maybe would give it a try. Good luck, darl. Mooza
I feel like these "elective" type surgeries are more nerve-wracking than the emergency or life-threatening condition ones. I remember having my most severe anxiety attack just the days and weeks prior to the takedown I had with my temporary colostomy in 2003!
We'll all be thinking about you and sending good vibes your way, ostomygirl!
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