Anyone with two stomas

Hi.i have 2 stoma not doing very good had the opr in London last Nov.the one is close in have to go again in September for the same opr 

Hi,

Sorry your having trouble with the both of them. I don't really think about my urine stoma but nearly two years on I am still coming to grips with the poo stoma. I wish I could tell you it gets easier but it doesn't really, I guess you get just better at coping with it. I take Loperimide and morphine to help with. I haven't seen a stoma nurse only when I was in hospital and they aren't any use anyway. We just really have to try and work it out for ourselves.

I hope your walking is good. I can't walk very good as.I have a fistula and I leak constantly down below.  If I want it fixed, they have to redo my stomas again and I don't want to go through all that again.

Kind regards,

Hi Lisa, sorry you're having a bad time.

I've had two stomas  for 18 months now (and will have for life following bowel cancer) 

Managing gets easier quite quickly over time and just becomes part of the daily routine.

I'm back swimming 3 times a week (with a triathlon suit to cover the bags), do a couple of exercise classes, play football and cycle and they don't get in the way of any of these activities.

I'm also working full time (which involves a lot of travel) so in the end they haven't stopped me getting back to normal...

Hope things improve.

Cheers

Ian.

Hi Ian,

Thank you for your reply. You have done wonders and well done.

My two stomas are for life but I have been told I won't work again and walking is hard. I find everything hard and I have had my stomas for 2 years. 

T

Hi Ian,

I am very impressed to read that you are so active despite your two stomas. How do you do it, especially the travelling ??

Am I correct to assume that you have a colostomy and not an ileostomy?

I have an ileostomy and it is restricting my ability to travel considerably, to the point where I am considering stopping work.

May I ask what type of work you do?

John

Hi John,

I'm an architect so I sit down a lot but do have to walk and cycle around the cities in which I work.

I find travelling by plane and train very easier as the toilet is always close by.

I have a colostomy so it's reasonably inactive for large parts of the day. The urine bags needs emptying every 2-3 hours so that isn't to onerous either.

I guess I've been quite lucky so far...

Cheers

Ian

Thanks Ian. A colostomy does sound easier than an ileostomy!

cheers

Hi there - I am 41 years old and have two stomas formed during a total pelvic exenteration in Nov 17, following a stage 4 cancer diagnosis in Sept 17. Been back at work since end of January, although I am based at home (travelling as required although haven't travelled abroad yet since op) Been away on a number ok UK long weekend breaks, going to the Algarve in a couple of weeks on holiday and to Mexico in November,

meant to say it was stage 4 bladder cancer.

Hi,

I have just logged back in, sorry I have taken a while to reply.

I would love to work with two stomas but because I have a fistula, I am no longer able to work. Well done you going back to work after such an awful time.

I hope you enjoy your holidays, they all sound lovely.

I hope you are managing well having two stomas and you are very brave. Keep up the good work.

Kind regards,