New here

Hello 

You have received some excellent advice so far and yes welcome to the community no one chooses to join.

In addition to the below I found the following useful for hospital stay

Night shirts or nightie…I took pjs but couldn’t bear anything around waist area.

A hand mirror to help you see when changing your bag 

Build yourself up before the operation because unknown how your appetite will be following it.

Let your little one choose a name for your stoma so they’re involved since they will be inquisitive.

I had the option for a reversal in 2018 following checks to see that everything had healed…even without any rectum I decided to go for the reversal and for me this was successful and the correct decision which is very personal.

Good luck

Thank you so much for your reply Panda21 I really appreciate you taking the time

I️t took me a while to join this forum as I was so worried about anything negative being said but it's been great! 

And thank you for all the tips. I will get a mirror that's great. Didn't think about the waist band also thank you. With get a few night shirts.

My LG is very inquisitive. That's such a great idea! Thank you for that! 

And that's fantastic to hear about your reversal. I am so pleased that was the right decision for you!! And it really fills me.with hope. 

100% live for today ️️

Thank you!!!!! X

Have been reading this post and was wondering how you were getting on now. I was scared too…it’s only natural. At first the idea was horrifying to be honest but now we call my stoma Boris and think of him as a lifesaver. I’ve only had the stoma 4 months but it was easier to get used to than I expected. I really hope your experience is the same and you are coping well and your little girl too…children accept things more easily than adults sometimes. All the very best 

Hey Mals. Thank you for your message. 

I am doing really well. 

Had a loop Ileostomy on the 5th of December. 

Picc line on the 24th

And started (3 months of chemotherapy: Folfoxiri on the 26th of December. 

Last cycle was the 5th of March and I am happy to report I am feeling human and good. Despite it being the hardest 3 months of my life. 

Little one is so resilient and doing grand. 

MRI awaiting discussion at MDT this Monday. 

Latest CT shows shrinkage in tumour and lymph node so I am crossing everything that this is better on the MRI and I can go straight for an anterior resection. 

If margins are not enough then I need 5 weeks (5 days per week of radiotherapy and IV chemotherapy the 1st and last week. 

But for by all of this the sun is shining and it's good to be out of the chemo fog. 

I hope you are well!!! 

Stacey 

That’s great to hear! I’m fine as far as I know    Keep up the good work!