surgery again..

• By RiotGrl82
• Reply 3456759
• October 14, 2012 at 7:02 am
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I haven't had this type of surgery but I just wanted to say good luck! I hope everything goes without any complications for you!

• By alan41241
• Reply 3456850
• October 14, 2012 at 8:22 am
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Same here. I haven't had this kind of surgery either. I just wanted to wish you well.
Blessings,
Alan

• By herbsgal70
• Reply 3456859
• October 14, 2012 at 8:25 am
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msmikkle - I am a candidate for that surgery, but have declined the surgery at age 80. It would take about six hours, and involve a plastic surgeon to re-attach the muscles, while the colorectal surgeon took care of the diverticulitis and extensive scar tissue that caused my colon to perforate back in December - can't believe it is almost a year! I did not have to deal with cancer, or other illness, and have (with my surgeon's blessing) to live with what I have, especially since I would wind up with a colostomy, and still retain the ileostomy I have now. I barely escaped with my life in December, this surgery would also be risky, and I just bought a large wrap from a medical supply store to give the support to my back and legs that is missing because of the abdominal hernia. I still look like I am about to deliver a good-sized baby, and get some laughts about that - especially since my husband of 10 years tells everyone that he only married me because I told him I was pregnant - at age 70! LOL The two best things we have going for us is our love and our sense of humor. If I were your age I would definitely go for the surgery, but I will face up to the fact that I will never wear a bikini again (do they even sell them for 80 year olds? LOL), and just be happy waking up every morning, and still be able to play a little golf.

Hugs and prayers for a speedy recovery from your surgery - please keep us posted - Marge

• By tjane
• Reply 3457084
• October 14, 2012 at 10:11 am
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Just wanted to wish you good luck. There are several people on this site that have hernias and a few going to have surgery. Maybe one of them will chime in and tell there experience. xox terri

• By ModBod
• Reply 3457198
• October 14, 2012 at 10:49 am
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Hi there...I am 8 months out of colostomy--had three surgeries within 25 days--first a colectomy to take out 18" of colon with diverticulitis; then an emergency surgery 5 days later because of an ileus and a perforation resulting in a colostomy; then a third surgery to debride four open wounds left by drain tubes; then a month of a wound vac to heal the open wounds and then home health care for 3 months while the wounds healed on their own...so a lot of cutting and not so good healing on my abdomen. I now have two hernias...one midline incision hernia and a hernia right by the stoma...Right now, I am wearing two belts trying to stave off surgery...I also have to decide whether I want a reversal...I have Celiac Disease, diabetes, and possible Ehlers Danlos...all three of which make me kind of a bad risk candidate....

I wish you such good luck...in my family we say "break a leg!" Please let us all know how you get along...my hernias are kind of painful...

Again..."break a leg!"

• By ModBod
• Reply 3457200
• October 14, 2012 at 10:50 am
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Hi there...I am 8 months out of colostomy--had three surgeries within 25 days--first a colectomy to take out 18" of colon with diverticulitis; then an emergency surgery 5 days later because of an ileus and a perforation resulting in a colostomy; then a third surgery to debride four open wounds left by drain tubes; then a month of a wound vac to heal the open wounds and then home health care for 3 months while the wounds healed on their own...so a lot of cutting and not so good healing on my abdomen. I now have two hernias...one midline incision hernia and a hernia right by the stoma...Right now, I am wearing two belts trying to stave off surgery...I also have to decide whether I want a reversal...I have Celiac Disease, diabetes, and possible Ehlers Danlos...all three of which make me kind of a bad risk candidate....

I wish you such good luck...in my family we say "break a leg!" Please let us all know how you get along...my hernias are kind of painful...

Again..."break a leg!"

• By herbsgal70
• Reply 3457295
• October 14, 2012 at 11:31 am
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ModBod - we don't say "break a leg" in our house. That happened to me a year ago last February when my husband accidentally threw me out of a golf cart - really my fault for perching on the end of the seat and not holding on to anything, but he took a lot of razzing for it. Our son actually asked me if I had a handprint or a footprint on my back - and my husband said it had to be a handprint because he couldn't get his leg up that high! LOL Later, last October, I had a rod and 10 pins removed from my tibial plateau and the leg is 100% now. I thought that was the end of my surgical career, but then came the colon perforation in December - celebrated Christmas and New Years in the hospital. The ileostomy is really a blessing as I am free from the crippling abdominal pain I had for hours at a time for the last couple of years.

Hugs from Marge

• By msmikkle
• Reply 3457707
• October 14, 2012 at 2:26 pm
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I have to say that I have been very fortunate this last year since my colostomy surgery. Reading all of the complications from surgeries you have all experienced has reminded me of that.

I really appreciate the kind words and hopefully I will have a successful surgery and a boring recovery :)

I will be in the hospital overnight at least but will check in with you all as soon as I am home.

• By ModBod
• Reply 3457713
• October 14, 2012 at 2:29 pm
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Marge...good to have a sense of humor. But a broken bone on top of a perf...the pain of all that. Living is not for wimps as my mom always said. Take care and stay seated!
Jerri

• By Rosebud69
• Reply 3458037
• October 14, 2012 at 5:04 pm
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Please do post and let us know how your surgery went. I am going to be speaking with my surgeon this week about the possibility of surgery. I am so tired of looking like I am about 5 months pregnant. I really don't find the belt to be all that effective and am discouraged trying to find clothes that will fit.

Good luck to you. I'll say a prayer for you on the 16th. :)

Debbie

• By herbsgal70
• Reply 3458098
• October 14, 2012 at 5:42 pm
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Hi Rosebud - I look more like I am 8 months pregnant - but wear a surgical wrap for support and am not going to have any surgery to correct it as I would wind up with a colostomy, and probably still keep my ileostomy. That would be just too much to handle, with the possibility of bowel problems, etc. With my surgeon's blessing I will live with what I have now. Fortunately, I was not dealing with UC or cancer, so at 80 I have no problem - glad to be rid of the crippling pain I had for several hours at a time for the last couple of years. I have resorted to maternity tops and long pants and they work very well. Wouldn't work for a male, though! LOL

Love and hugs - Marge