I have had my end ileostomy since emergency surgery on 10/29/11. I had my appendix removed after they found a polyp at the opening to my appendix. Emory University Hospital, Chief of General Surgery. I was very careful about where and whom I surrendered to cutting on my body, and I nearly died.
The doctor who I credit with figuring out that no, I in fact did not just have an ileus, had to tell my husband that he thought it would be a good idea to bring our daughters, (13 & 15), in to tell their mother goodbye as they did not think I was going to make it.
This Georgia heat is wicked and humid already. I am having a horrible time staying hydrated. I was seen by my regular gastroenterologist this past Tuesday as the skin under where I attach my bag was broken, weepy, and oozing, making it impossible to keep a bag on. I am not even going to mention the pain. I was given a prescription and some advice, (like don't sweat!) and tried to keep the bag off for an entire day, basically just sat in the recliner with multiple towels to catch the stool water running out of the stoma (which is constant with an ileostomy).
My gastro recommended that I go to Atlanta and see a colorectal surgeon that he says is phenomenal to see about reversal. The general surgeon who cut me open and washed out all of the contamination the Emory surgeon left behind said it would be a year before we talked about reversal.
I am at the 6-month and about two-week mark. I still cry every single day. I feel so broken. I am unsure of how to handle the summer without just staying in the house all of the time, which will take me out of my daughters' very athletic lives completely. They wanted me to go out to the pool with them today, and I had to tell them I couldn't because sweat just makes this shredded oozy skin worse. From the window, I watched them playing and frolicking in the pool today and laying out tanning, and had to slip into my bedroom and cry and dry my tears so they wouldn't see me.
I want this done, but who is right and how do I know who is right? How long should I wait? How many doctors did y'all talk to? General or colorectal surgeon? How did you know who to trust not to kill you.

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Hollister
If you've had a colostomy or ileostomy, you may experience some common food-related issues.
The good news is that you can avoid them with some small changes in your diet.
The good news is that you can avoid them with some small changes in your diet.