Short course radiation rectal

Thx you for your replies. I guess I am a bit disappointed but in a way glad a decision has been made for me. I would of found it very difficult to choose. He said I could of waited another 3 months to see if the radiotherapy would work further. However I asked the question if it was your wife what would be your advice. He said definitely the surgery. 
Never had major surgery so scared! Not sure at all about the bag but everyone tells me I’ll get used to it. Apparently after 3 months it’s medically ok for the reversal but waiting lists in my trust means that you have to wait 18 months. 
How long were you in hospital? How long did it take for you to get used to bag?

Hi. I was in a week - I think 5 days is probably about average but there was no one in from the stoma team to sign me off as competent with the bag. The stoma nurses show you how to clean the stoma and change the bag and I quickly got into a routine at home knowing when it was least active and then setting my little stall out in the bathroom so it only took about 5 minutes to change the bag every other day x

You only had to Change it every other day? I was thinking several times per day? Did you have problems with infections, leaking etc? Could you only eat certain foods? 

You empty the bag once it gets about half full which can be every couple of hours. The bags I used fastened with little velcro tabs at the bottom which you undid, unrolled the bottom bit, emptied it, rolled it back up and fastened the tabs again. 
I had an infected fluid build up after my op so was readmitted after a couple of weeks but this is not the norm. I sometimes got sore skin around the stoma but the nurses will help you - it’s important to get a good fit around the stoma as the output can make it sore but there are creams and powders to help. The stoma shrinks over the first few weeks so it’s important to cut the hole to the right size in the bag - after that you can order them pre-cut from your supplier.

There are some foods that it’s recommended that you avoid like nuts, coconut, sweetcorn, mushrooms as these can clog together and block the stoma. The important thing is to chew your food really well. 
You honestly will get used to it and my stoma nurses were really supportive. There’s lots of tips on here too

 Ileostomy, colostomy, urostomy and any other stoma support

Happy to answer any questions x