Chicago Area Newbie Sharing Ileostomy Experience

Hello everybody.  I am from the Chicago area and I recently had an ileostomy due to colon cancer.  It will be nice to share information.

Hello Lady Jane, welcome to Mao! You definitely came to a good place where there's support and good people! Have a great weekend! Amgelicamarie

Hello lady Jane welcome. I received my colostomy bag in December 2016 . It's nice to meet you. Have a wonderful weekend.

Hello ladyjane and welcome to Meetanostomate.

I love your name as it happens to be the main character in my latest novels and I hope you are getting as much out of life as she seems to enjoying hers. 

One of the noticeable things about people on here who have adversity in their lives is how well the cope and maximise their potential, despite the setbacks. It is also pertinent that those who manage to maintain a postive attitude throughout what is often a negative experience, seem to adjust quicker and more effectively than those who are overwhelmed by negativity.

I hope you get what you are looking for in joining us and I also hope to hear from you in the posts in future.

Best wishes

Bill   

Hi ladyjane,

Nice to meet you and welcome from me as well. This is a great forum with a great group of folks with many different ideas and experiences. I hope we can assist you with any concerns or questions you may have.

There are plenty of interesting threads and posts to look over. If you don't find an answer there, just ask!

Maybe you will even stop in the General Chat room where some of us get together and just talk about anything.

Best wishes.

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister

Hi ladyjane. You've come to a wonderful forum.

I also have an ostomy from cancer since December of 2015. Mine is permanent; is yours? My surgeon wanted to give me an ileostomy in hope of an anastomosis. However, there wasn't enough colon left from the first colectomy surgery in 2009 to do that, so now I have a permanent colostomy. My husband calls it my whoopie cushion. :)

I'd love to hear more about you...

--Holly

Thank you for all of the warm welcomes. I have not been on the forum because I have not been feeling too well lately. I had a complete hysterectomy because of a fibroid tumor that was about the size of a cantaloupe and was found to have colon cancer cells in it this past May. So I had an ileocolostomy also. They took out 2/3 of the colon and gave me 2 stomas. I have Stage 4 Metastatic Left and Right Side Colon Cancer. I now have 2 parastomal hernias and a huge prolapse which is very difficult to manage and very stressful. If anyone is dealing with a huge prolapse and/or hernia, it would be great to share tips, etc.

I have decided not to do chemo at the moment because I cannot even handle my bags/prolapse now and frequently feel sick. I have done research and have started consuming natural supplements, etc., that are effective against colon cancer. The doctor told me that people in my stage usually only last 6 months without chemo. I had my surgery this last May and so far, I am still here, 6-12 months.