Surgery in my future

• By Chriswife
• Reply 3501132
• October 30, 2012 at 10:16 am
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When I had my surgery, I did not order anything. The ostomy nurse will come and see you after surgery and will have some supplies to get you started. My nurse also gave me contacts to call to order supplies and told me the ones that are easiest to start with. i hope your surgery goes well and healing is swift:)

Kerri

• By Darlene (Inactive)
• Reply 3501161
• October 30, 2012 at 10:36 am
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I'm having my surgery in 2 days and I was going to order supplies too things like a stealth belt. After thinking about it, I decided that it was best to wait as after surgery there will be weight loss and the body shape may change.

• By fufuswl
• Reply 3501538
• October 30, 2012 at 12:58 pm
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Glad I asked the question. Thank you!!

• By alan41241
• Reply 3501639
• October 30, 2012 at 1:34 pm
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fufuswl, wait! I had no idea what supplies to order had I wanted to. The ostomy nurse at the hospital will be in to see you probably the day after your surgery, perhaps the same day. She/he will begin to teach you many things about your pouch, which will have been attached at the end of your surgery. At first, it will seem overwhelming but is truly isn't. You'll want to watch closely as she changes your pouch so you can begin to understand what to do.
You should have an ostomy nurse who will come to your residence to help you for a few weeks. She/he will be different than the one who helped you at the hospital. This one will teach you how to empty your pouch. Also, how to change your pouch. She/he is the one who will help you order your supplies. She/he will be invaluable to you because of their knowledge and experience.
Even this post might seem overwhelming but it really isn't. I am almost nine months post-op. I had to learn everything, too, as did everybody else. It's really simple. Mostly common sense.
You're going to be fine. I promise. Looking ahead to this surgery can be daunting but the fear is a lot worse than the surgery itself.
We are all here pulling and praying for you. Keep us posted.
Blessings,
Alan

• By Chriswife
• Reply 3501718
• October 30, 2012 at 1:53 pm
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One more thing to keep in mind is you dont know what size your stoma will be until after the surgery.

• By fufuswl
• Reply 3502022
• October 30, 2012 at 3:17 pm
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Thank you for replying.

• By amt52
• Reply 3502034
• October 30, 2012 at 3:20 pm
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All great answers! Your body shape may change with surgery, as well as weight loss, etc. Your doctor will need to order consult for ostomy nurse to come to your home (so insurance will pay for it). Try to keep her/him visitng until you are completely confident on your own!

• By fufuswl
• Reply 3502054
• October 30, 2012 at 3:26 pm
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Yes I knew that doctor had to order nurse. I cared for my husband who had ALS and my mother so had experience with nurse situations. It is different when you have to think about all of this for yourself.

• By alan41241
• Reply 3502149
• October 30, 2012 at 3:59 pm
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Yes, it is, fufuswl, but you'll be fine. Many times we discover we are much stronger than we think we are.
Blessings,
Alan

• By Pmw
• Reply 3504022
• October 31, 2012 at 10:45 am
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I will chime in and say wait. They sent us home (my husband had the surgery) with enough for several weeks and the home health nurse also brought supplies. As time goes on, my husband's requirements have changed and we will be changing what we use. There is so many styles that you really won't know what you prefer until you have used the "standard stuff" the hosp sends you home with. We also got a Starter sample pack from Hollister. It contained various styles that we could try. Check different brand's websites for other sample starter packs.

• By Balloonatic
• Reply 3505630
• November 1, 2012 at 3:59 am
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After the surgery, you will wake with a wafer and pouch in place. AT this point you have no idea of what size stoma you will have and that it will change after you have begun to heal. So the chances of anything you might order now, being what you need in a couple of weeks is very poor. This is one of those time when trying to plan the outcome will get you nowhere. The surgery and your recovery is enough for you to deal with right now, Let the nurses worry about your supply needs at first. Good luck and I hope you get all the benefits from the surgery you are hoping for.

• By fufuswl
• Reply 3505832
• November 1, 2012 at 8:14 am
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Thank you

• By Shirl18
• Reply 3507021
• November 1, 2012 at 3:37 pm
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Fufuswl,
I had a friend go purchase a few new pair of underware for me before I came home from the hospital. The high rise style that come to my waist. They are very nice to help keep you bag in place. I even wear them at night to keep my bag from flip flopping. Good luck with everything and you will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Shirley

• By Lin545
• Reply 3511584
• November 3, 2012 at 10:15 am
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I agree with my friend Shirley about the comfortable hign rise underwear. I am 9 months from my surgery and I have tried many kinds. My all time favorite is from SOMA online with the soft pretty lace at the top. I ordered a size up so I would even be more comfortable. I love them! They are less expensive then Ostomy Secrets and where my Stoma was placed works much better for me. Soma run specials every once in a while...have a special sale now I think, sometimes have them for 5.00 when you buy several pairs they normally 15.00 each! The lace top is really nice!!!
When I came home from the hospital they gave me all the supplies I needed. Then when my home health care nurse started coming she helped me also.
I had purchased larger underwear before I went but ended up cutting them in waist because i could not wear anything tight...wish I had found lace tops at Soma before surgery, I think I would of felt prettier too! :] Best of luck to you. You will be in my thoughts also!

• By fufuswl
• Reply 3511673
• November 3, 2012 at 10:45 am
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Thank you so much will get some.

• By Cookielin
• Reply 3537488
• November 12, 2012 at 4:14 pm
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I too suffered for 40 years with uC. I went willingly into the surgery after just throwing in the towel on ever leaving the house again without this surgery. Best decision I ever made. I had the rectum closed off at the same time. The stoma was on the abdomen and the rectal cut was done while I was in stirrups. This was 10 years ago and maybe it is done differently now. The suregery took about 7 hours total. I woke up with the pouching g system in place and on an iV Morphine drip. Cathetirized and bagged. The stoma (for me anyway) started working within 12 hours, but everyone is different. You will have a stoma nurse check on you and explain everything. Plus give you products to take home. Despite all of what i went through, nothing compares to being FREE of cramps and bleeding caused by UC. It is a cure and we are fortunate in that way. Crohns can be so much more complicated. Try to look at the bright side of this. YOU will be cured. You will also be very weak which was very frightening to me. I was also very dehydrated when I got home. My fingers were spasming. I was hooked up at home for fluids and potassium to use 12 hours a day.I was still jsut happy to be home. (I had to insist on this and my doctor THEN ordered it) Within days of proper fluids I started to gain strength. If you are going to prepare ahead of time, perhaps buy some cases of ensure. I needed to drink several a day to keep weight or in my case gain weight since I was undernourshed. Plus bottles of Gatorade helped. But I gained strength little by little and was so happy to be free of cramps. I would do it again in a minute. I probably waited too long actually. MY colon fell apart during removal. I am glad you are preparing. I did that too and we are very fortunate to have that time to prepare. Most of all prepare mentally, be very positive, and don,t expect miracles immediately. It takes time. You may never need the xtra IV,s but be aware of your fingers and toes spasming. I was also not drinking enough so drink drink drink. By the 10th day home I went to the doc to remove the rectal stitches. OUCH! The stomach staples dissolved by themselves. I was doign pretty well by then though. I recall wearing hi heel boots. BUT walking real slow.LOL So I hope I did not scare you in any way. I just t want you to be prepared. As I said, I would do it again in a minute, compared with the suffering I went through for so long with the uC. The prednisones, 6MP (like k humira now) rectal foams, prednasone enemas. And FEAR. As much as the bag is a bit of a bother it beats the suffering I had with uC. Best of luck to you and keep us posted.

• By alan41241
• Reply 3537823
• November 12, 2012 at 6:36 pm
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Cookielin, as my nurse told me: I used to be tied to the bathroom. Now it's tied to me. A much better arrangement. Would I rather not have the pouch? Of course, I would. But I'll take it any day compared to what I had to live through every day before the surgery.
Blessings,
Alan

• By fufuswl
• Reply 3538165
• November 12, 2012 at 8:50 pm
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Thanks everyone for your great stories and suggestions.

• By Cookielin
• Reply 3538828
• November 13, 2012 at 5:57 am
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Alan, that is a good little saying ! And so true. At least we have more control. Not perfect, but far better then UC.