Rectal cancer

Hi  and welcome to the board. It can be tricky getting a good fit with a hernia and your stoma nurses should be able to help you with this as there are different types of bags and also belts and sticky strips that can all help with getting a close fit. I found that looking in a little mirror helped me ‘see’ what I was doing. Something that also helps with the stickiness of the bag is warming it slightly before applying it - you can pop it on the radiator for a few seconds or under your arm - then apply it, run your fingers all around the wafer (the sticky bit where the hole is) then hold your hand over it for a minute. I’m going to see if crankshaft and Artsie have any advice and you might like to have a look on the stoma board too?

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/ileostomy-and-colostomy-discussions-forum

You are still very early in the recovery period although fainting in the shower doesn’t sound too good. Was it on very hot? I would expect to feel tired and weak after just being discharged - you don’t sleep well in hospital and the food isn’t great. I struggled eating when I got home for a few weeks and was eventually readmitted with an infection. I’m not suggesting this is what you have but might be worth having a chat with the ward you were discharged from or your stoma nurses?

Please let us know how you get on?

Take care

Karen x

Hi Streetcar 

Thanks Karen  

I’m sorry to hear that you are having issues. I had similar problem at two weeks post op. I had leaks , no sleep, messed bed and thought I needed help. I insisted that my stoma saw me They said my stoma had changed so they made a new template, gave me Eakin slims as I was very sore, changed my pouch to a convex with a belt. It just changed my approach to it. I still had problems seeing my stoma to line up the pouch so I joined the stoma support here and had so many tips. 
Once  I put my big pants on I felt secure and stopped wearing the belt. 
It’s so early for you to deal with this steep learning curve whilst you’re recovering from your operation. 
I didn’t feel faint afterwards however I was wobbly as I was on Tramadol as my operation was incision and keyhole I took a while to recover 
Maybe phone your team or GP for advice.

I hope that you manage to see your stoma nurses as they will fit the right product for your needs 

When I apply my pouch I hold my warm hand over it for thirty seconds that’s what I was told and it works  

Also your stoma nurses can give you extra strips to go around the edge which I use for security when away from home  

It takes a while for you to find the right foods for your stoma  some thicken some loosen  

Funnily enough when I came home I ate wotsits  I can’t stand them normally but they were great for thickening my very loose output early days most advice jelly babies or marshmallows  

Hope you have found all this info helpful

Ask away if there’s anything else I can help with  

Take care 

Hi Karen thank you so much for responding I have been in contact with my stoma nurse who will visit next week but has given me a few tips hopefully once we get the right fit I will feel a lot less distressed  As regards fainting she thought I might be a little dehydrated.   So glad I have found this forum heips so much not being so alone. 

Hi Streetcar, sorry to hear you are having problems. I had a reasonable sized hernia but that didn't cause a leak it was the irregular skin around the stoma that caused me problems. I did find that a pouch with the flange that wasn't 'solid', ie it was like a flower with petals which meant that it wrapped around the bump better. Mine were Salts Confidence.

Other than that you must make sure the area around the stoma is completely dry and, as Karen said, try warming up the bag first and hold it pressed against you for a minute after sticking it on. Flange extenders can help and also seals that you can put on first between skin and pouch. I used a spray called Protect that helped protect the skin but also gave a little extra adhesion.

Please ask if you have any specific question.

Thank you so much and the tip about warming the bag is very helpful!   My stoma nurse will  visit  next week so hopefully  I will get sorted. I feel sure as soon as I begin to feel well I will cope so much better!

Thanks it is so nice to get so much support on this site!

You are doing really well. I was all over the place to begin with. 
I was a long while in recovery but I was warned before my op. 
Take it slowly, lots of  rest and feet up, 

Thank  you I think I am just

Very  impatient thought  once home I would be up and about instead of  which I just want my bed!

Hi Angiebaby, a warm welcome to the group. I am on chemoradiotherapy for 5 weeks and just completed a week trestment today. So far so good , the only side effect was feeling nauseous after taking the first dose of capecitabine but on the next dose i took metochlopramide (anti-sickness pills) and i am fine now.  Hope this post will help you. Take care

Hello….

I was diagnosed the same as you after my colonoscopy and had chemo radiation 5 days a week for 5 weeks. It was very manageable… I took the advice not to work during my treatment which was probably the right thing to do esp during covid but had I been able to work from home I could have managed. My symptoms were fairly mild during treatment however once my treatment finished the radiotherapy side effects  kicked for about 3-4 weeks after so I was glad I was at home. The chemo/Radio nurses gave me plenty support and medication to help.  I dreaded it initially when I saw the list of side effects however hardly had any on the list and the ones I did were the milder ones. 

Tips… keep hands and feet well moisturised daily to prevent dryness and cracking, plenty fresh air light exercise will help you mentally and physically,   don’t delay - contact your support team as soon as you have any side effects to deal with them straight away. Here … you will get a lot of support too. Most importantly… BE KIND TO YOURSELF  and don’t put yourself under any pressure, take offered help. 

I am 6/7 weeks post robotic surgery for rectal cancer with a temporary ileostomy and back at work 2 weeks and life is good.  

I hope you have a good weekend.

best wishes 

Catz