New here today

Hi, AJ32A, you've found the right place! I too have some LARS and can also totally understand you being strong for everyone else, I think we all do it, I know I do. So please message me if you wish. It would help others if you could fill in some of your profile so you don't have to keep repeating it.

Just ask anything, or just vent, usually someone around!! Take care xx

Hi Gemmary, thank you for the reply, I'll take your advice and fill in the profile info x

Hi AJ32A

Im sorry that you are having such a horrible time. 
I found by joining here it released a lot of the grey cloud over my head so it saved my family worrying quite as much as they had. It’s knowing others are going through similar helps like you say not that we’d wish it on anyone  

Although my cancer was stage two my LAR op with an Ileostomy has changed my outlook completely on what’s important in my life. I too have lost friends and social groups that I was part of. I used to love Art but can’t even look at my brushes now. It seems a waste of time. I think Covid and Cancer is really tough. 
The friends and family that I thought I was close to now I realise that the ones that care keep in touch so those that don’t aren’t important to me. 
It’s hard to stay positive all of the time and this is a good place to be with others that know how you feel 

Do you have help with the LARS I was told that there’s a clinic to support patients that suffer from it? 

I hope you have a better day today  take care 

Just thought, AJ32A, there is  LARS subgroup you may want to look at. Can't bookmark it so will try and describe how to find it!!

Go to the main  "Bowel (colon and rectal) cancer" page by clicking on the heading above.

Once there, scroll down a little and on the right,  under useful group links there should be

Stoma reversal and Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) support forum

Click on this link! It may help! It is in the stoma group as it seems to be more prevalent for them, than those who haven't had a stoma, like me, but made sense to only have one forum.

Take care

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../stoma-reversal-and-lars

Now whenever I try and do a link it never works!!! Grr to myself!

Thanks Artsie!

No problem.
Just hold your finger on the link and options will open. Select copy. Then paste  Ha ha 

That's what I did! But it didn't come up as a link......grr (to myself again!)

Hi AJ32A

Welcome to the forum .

Just wondered if you might want to consider getting some support . Macmillan has teamed up with Bupa to offer six free counselling sessions . Some people have found it very beneficial to get some structure around finding a way forward .

If you ever want to know more or just to speak about the emotional impact of having cancer our helpline staff are available. 0808 808 0000.

So glad you joined in the chat . Reaching out and connecting with people who understand is so important .

Take care ,

Court 

Hi Artsie Ann, Thank you for the reply.

I understand people deal with things differently and some need time to get their head around it, but I found it didn't take long to work out who's there when you need them. I don't hold ill feeling towards those that dropped away but I was surprised by some that did.

Thank you , I looked up the LARs support group and joined; I also get help from the hospital dietitian who have been amazing.

I hope that something can inspire you to create art in some form again, even if it's not with a brush. It's such an amazing gift to have and gives pleasure to the people you share it with too.

Thank you once again ;-)