Hello. Surgery next week, radiotherapy wasn't enough

Hello Jump Jump

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through, you really have had more than your fair share of major problems.  Your reaction to the chemo was extreme and unpleasant (I have also had C. difficile after very strong antibiotics and was also very ill).  

It must be a very worrying time for you.  If the doctors are giving you this option of the surgery (which undoubtedly is life-changing) it must be possible to cure this and this is their plan.

I had an elective colostomy last year after suffering severe anal stenosis and associated problems which were only getting worse over time.  It was life-changing for me and I have never looked back.  I recovered remarkably quickly, even though I had to have antibiotics because of a wound infection.  But I am well aware that an ileostomy is quite different from a colostomy and can be more challenging.  There is a forum here

 Ileostomy, colostomy, urostomy and any other stoma support 

and I found the members on there very helpful when I had to make the decision whether to have it done or not.

I had a quick Google on anal excision as opposed to an abdominoperineal resection (APR) and excision seems to be much less invasive surgery.  But that said, there are forum members here who have also had an APR and although the recovery can be long, they are thriving.

It can't be easy when you have the worry of other health conditions affecting you but I think that your treating team will have taken your history into account and think your body can stand this surgery. 

Sorry, I seem to have waffled a lot and not said a lot to help.  I will be thinking of you next week, please let us know how you get on.

Big hug

Irene xx

Hi there,

I have no experience that will be able to help you, but I am sorry to hear you are going through all this.

Hopefully once you have the procedures you will be able to move forward again - there are several people on this forum who have had further surgery following chemoradiation and perhaps they will read your post and be able to offer you some more practical support and advice.

In the meantime I see Irene has pointed you towards the stoma support group, so I hope you can find some help there too.

All the best x

Hi Irene, 

Thanks so much for your support and hugs.  I actually went and looked up the name for my surgery and it is an APR.  
And yes, I'm told this treatment will be curative.  So that's something!  
An aunt of mine had a colostomy done back in the 1950's or 60's for ulcerative colitis, and lived a full life into a good old age, so in some respects I'm confident even though it's not quite the same thing.  

Thanks for the link to the stoma group and yes, I'll update here. 

Alison.

Thanks Mrs Vanilla, I appreciate your support. 

Hello Jump Jump,

Im really sorry that you are going on to have APR surgery next week. It sounds like you had a rough time last year with the chemo and the infection and I’m sure you wanted to put it all behind you.

I don’t have any direct experience so can’t  offer any practical advice or help but I know that there are others on the forum who have been through this and may be able to help. 

I really want to say that I’m so sorry you’re going through this on top of other health issues. It must be a very anxious time but I wish you every success for the surgery and recovery. 

Sending hugs x

Alison

Sometimes (although it is not the first line of treatment) an APR is carried out for extreme ulcerative colitis, so you may find that your op gives you great relief from that as well.  Now that you know it is an APR I am hoping that others on the forum who have been through it will pick up on your post and give you some hints.

My very best wishes for next week, I will be thinking of you.

Irene xx

Thanks PEB24, I appreciate it.