APR on Monday

Hi OldRhodie

You are only human and it is a very reasonable response to feel scared . I am going to leave it to people who have experienced this to answer as they will do a much better job than I could and hopefully they will be along soon but I just wanted to welcome you and wish you all the best !

I will tag a few people in it others don’t answer soon !

take care ,

Court 

Thank you Court.  I do appreciate your swift reply.  I was originally posting on the anal cancer group but then it became obvious that this was in fact rectal cancer.  The support on this site is wonderful.

Oh I understand . Sometimes it happens the other way round and they pop over to the anal cancer forum ! 
It is good to have some insight into things and chat through with people who understand. 
Court 

I'm sorry to read that you ar having such a rotten time.  I had to look up APR - I see it leaves you with a stoma.  I'd always dreaded that, but last March I was admitted to hospital on a Sunday and operated on first thing Monday to relieve a blocked bowel.  It turned out that I had a large tumour - much higher up than yours but not too high.  The operation and recovery was painless, (though I had some complications unrelated to the surgery specifically).  I had the good fortune not to have time to dwell on things before the event,  though I think I suffered from shock.  The Macmillan stoma nurses were on the scene as soon as it was practical from my point of view, showing me how to manage the stoma and generally giving support and advice.  I hope you are as lucky as me - being so low down the whole digestive system apart from the 'tap' is uncompromised and I was immediatly reassured that I could eat and drink what I liked once things had settled down.  The stoma started working quickly and has given no trouble.  I dress normally - include night wear - and we haven't had to make any special arrangements re: bedding etc.  I have cancers which have been metastasized from the bowel tumour so my outlook isn't good, but that's by-the-by, everyone is different.  For now I have chosen to have no treatment, rather I'm making the most of things without being an invalid or being on any medication at all.  We eat out often, tomorrow we plan to have a belated post-lockdown birthday gastro-pub lunch with the whole family (good beer there, too.).  On Thursday I was up in the loft with our plumber sorting out the water supply to some new radiators I'd installed round the place a few weeks ago - I needed his craft skills to commission them.   I managed to give myself a hernia doing too much too soon (gardening mostly - lopping bushes, that sort of thing) so beware that.  As I type this I have to remind myself the 'pouch ' (or bag - hence bagpuss) is there.  I'm 77 by the way.

All the best for tomorrow, I hope all goes well for you as it did for me.   

Hi OldRhodie, I just wanted to wish you, as yet another septuagenarian, all the best for Monday. It does seem a large operation to remove a small tumour but if that is what it has to be...  You say you have one more day of feeling fine, yes but fine with a nasty little tumour still in place.  I felt really well before my LAR.  Hopefully in a couple of months time, or less, you will feel fine again but this time with the little so and so gone and a future. It wont be easy and it wont be quite the same again but the little monster will have gone.

I wish you well for a speedy and successful procedure, John

Hi Old Rhodie. I had an APR I  July 2019. I was really worried about it when I was told I had to have a permanent stoma but I have had no problem with it. I work full-time at Wilko, and since my return to work a year ago, I have only had a problem once, where I had to go home. I won't lie, I was in a good bit of pain when I came home from hospital, but the stoma was saving my life! Positive mental attitude got me through. Good luck with your surgery.

Love Kim xx

Hi OldRhodie. Just wanted to wish you all the very best for tomorrow. Yes it’s a big op and yes there’s no going back but there is a going forward. The first few months may be uncomfortable but you will have got rid of the tumour and will begin to be able to get on with your life again. You will soon get used to the bag and there is lots of support from the nurses.

I became friends with 2 ladies who went through treatment at the same time as me and one of them has a permanent bag. She still dresses the same, has been on a cruise, flown to New York and is able to do all the things she did before.

Please keep posting - sometimes you just need to offload to people who don’t know you but know what you have been through and the board is here for you to do that

Take care

Karen x

Hello again Old Rhodie,

First my apologies for getting in a muddle with days - all the best for tomorrow.

Second, and I'm sure Kareno62 and blackstuff would agree, when we list what we or others can do while using a stoma bag we're not being boastful or challenging you to 'fight' it or saying you 'ought' to do this or that, we're trying to reassure you that despite our misgivings the experience is less challenging and disruptive than we (and my famiy) feared.  I have found that people are surprised at how active I am - a cousin thought I would be sat all day in a dressing gown watching 'Talking Pictures'.

Although I don't know you I'll be thinking of you tomorrow - please keep posting when you feel up to it.

p.s.  When you wake you may find that you have been fitted in a way that helps care rather than the way you might expect - don't be alarmed; the nurses will explain if you ask and your stoma nurse will advise you even more.

Hi OldRhodie

Wishing you all the best for tomorrow and for a speedy recovery from surgery !

Cancer free and we are here to help you to adjust slowly but surely.

Take care ,

Court 

Hi OldRhodie.  Wishing all the best for tomorrow.

Take Care

Net77