Bowel Cancer and bowel removed and now have a permanent stoma

Hi Neal

I had the same operation on march 16 and it took a lot out of me and I still feel tired now it's a new way of life that we have to get used to I'm also on chemo for liver cancer but fighting all the way hope you find your energy again and all the best for you x

Hi Neal

I had a LAR August and my surgeon told me before that it was a long invasive op and I would take at least six months to feel anywhere near as I good before the operation 

I thought well once the cancers out I will be fine. 

I was wrong I learned the hard way. So my best advice is potter about doing things then sleep. I went shopping and pushed the trolley afterwards I slept and felt frustrated. 

Slowly I found little power naps really helped me recover. I followed the exercises that I was given and it wasn’t long before I was eating out and enjoying life allowing for my power naps between 

You are doing well and remind.

Slow a steady wins the race.
Like the tortoise and the hare. We are tortoises but still win the race

Hope this gives you some encouragement.

Take care 

Hi Artsie Ann,

Thank you for your note and your explanation does give me more encouragement than I was given by the hospital but that is not criticising the hospital because they were magnificent and unbelievably brilliant in looking after my initial recovery.

The detail you have noted is similar to what I am going through. I worked on the garden over the weekend and felt tired but it was through lack of fitness and not all about the operation.

I appreciate your feedback.

Many thanks

Neal  

Hi Neal

I had the lower half of my bowel removed and a permanent stoma (I call him Eddie Stomart) in feb 21. I felt tired a lot of the timebfor many weeks, especially after doing anything remotely strenuous. I drove after 6 weeks but the first short journey of 7 miles round trip knocked me for six so I left it another couple of weeks and then increased gradually. If you take things easy and build slowly, youll be fine. A positive mindset helps and learnungvto live a new way of life can be easier than we first think. Im back to full strength and feeling fitter andbstringer than i have for years and have welcomed Eddie into my (Very normal) life.

Good luck, keep positive and thanks for amazing NHS!!!!!!

Richard 

Agreed Richard 

To be honest my life with my stoma is so much better than when I had Cancer. It drained the life out of me. 
Enjoy this lovely weather. 

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your feedback which is very encouraging and a lot of what you have described I have experienced. I aim to start playing golf at the end of July which I will take it steadily at first but it would be great to see my friends again after such a long time.

Best regards

Neal 

Thanks Artsie (im guessing you're a creative one ?) Im enjoying my up-cycling and selling stuff at antique and collectible fairs, and of course my caravan on the Norfolk Coast, which is the silver lining to the cancer cloud and was bought with the proceeds of an insurance policy  

Keep strong and smiling 

Good luck with the golf Neal and yes it will be great for you to get back to your friends and the 19th hole for many tales of missed (and holed) putts etc (I used to play but stopped some time ago) 

A poem that has just come to me (i did others in the recovery period last year)

I watch
As a mole emerges from a hole in my tummy
I examine the pooh
For signs of blood
Or goo
Theres none
Does this mean that I've won
Does this mean that the dread
In my head
Can be put to bed
Can be ostracised
No longer my body despised
The sense of relief
From the grief
I'll survive
Feel alive
I'll have a future without pain
So much to gain
A brutal op
Put a stop
To a terminal diagnosis
A hopeless prognosis
And now a sunny dawn, a life worth living
And many more days without misgiving

Inspiration comes at the strangest times!! ️