Hi all I'm having a stoma bag on Thursday because I've got anal cancer and I'm in alot of pain in my arse literally so could anyone tell me will there be much pain involved after the operation I've got to gave chemoradiation as well.im so sick of being uncomfortable an feeling pain I'm really hoping the stoma bag will fix things.
Hi again Sootybrad1
I don’t know whether you’ll have a permanent or temporary stoma or which type it will be-an ileostomy or colostomy? Advice which people can give will depend on the type, and whether it will be required only on a short term basis or will be permanent.
I think it’s important to understand how the stoma is formed, rather than thinking having a stoma as “fitting a bag”. Whichever type of stoma it is, it is made from your bowel itself, so is formed rather than fitted. Have you been told by your surgeon how it is done?
Basically, whichever type of stoma you have, you will have a hole made in your tummy where the end of the bowel is pulled through and sewn onto the skin. Speaking from my own experience with an end colostomy, I had no pain at all from the stoma. It has no nerve endings, so it doesn’t send out pain signals. Same was true of my urostomy after my bladder removal.
I had a different surgery when I had my bladder and rectum removed, resulting in my two stomas, but it was a much larger surgery overall than you will face, so our experiences will be different, What I can say is that pain relief was very well managed after my surgery-on a button I could press to deliver a dose of pain relief, and then I was on paracetamol and oramorph when required when I was back on the ward.
You should notice that the having the stoma makes things much easier for you in terms of the pain you are dealing with from your cancer since your bum will be getting a rest!
Sarah xx
