Hello all
Has anyone had any other major surgeries with an ostomy? How was it handled by the nursing staff? I can't get any definite answers from anyone. I get "I'm sure they will have someone to help." Unfortunately, that answer is worse than "I don't know."
As you can see in my profile pic, I have back issues. I am going to have a revision. It will take at least 5 hours (the first took 14 hours; that was before the colostomy). I don't know how long recuperation time will be.
Usually, no one knows anything about colostomies unless there is a wound care nurse on staff. Bring your own supplies. Call your hospital and find out if there is a wound care nurse on staff when you have surgery.
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Hi gang,
I was thinking what a great resource this site has been for me since I found it. It would have been really helpful, but maybe a bit scary, to have found it before my ostomy, but that's water under the bridge. But I got thinking about it, and now I'm questioning why doctors and hospitals don't provide this site's contact info to any patient even considering an ostomy today. And how can we change that so potential ostomates can learn about the road ahead for them by getting on here and asking questions before the docs go chop-chop. How exactly do you get all hospitals to provide their patients specific information, like this website?
I just happened to find this site something like 4 years after my ostomy when I Googled "ostomy forum" or something like that. But I never found it during previous searches.....so I found this site pretty much by pure luck. We need to find a way to make this site available to new or soon-to-be ostomates......as that's when we really need to commiserate with fellow ostomates. Anybody have any thoughts on how we do this?
Thanks,
Bob
Thank you, Maried. I have called them a few times. I just needed to know little things like "wound care." I will ask for them tomorrow. Thank you again.
No worries, just ask or tell them your situation if they don't seem to know. You are more responsible than the nursing staff since it comes down to the surgeon and his orders to the hospital staff. I had a bad infection because the best care didn't take place. Thanks, Doc or Hospital. Now I know to talk and ask questions to prevent a bad experience. Good luck!