Steps to recovery #4 – Stoma care

Here’s a challenging one. How to update on the not just the physical but mental challenges of knowing I will have a stoma for life. I guess this is probably the biggest change for me that goes beyond recovery – it is about acceptance

I will start with the physical. That’s the easy bit. Not planning to share much detail on the what one is – Google can tell you so much more – other than to say it derives from Greek and means opening. Go figure …. 💩

The day to day management has been fine. There is an amazing team out of the Lister in Stevenage that have so much knowledge and care. I will get used to ordering supplies

For physical recovery the challenge is managing to avoid a hernia. The muscles around the colon need to be rebuilt so managing against a hernia means building up the core muscles again. Difficult when you can’t lie flat to do those leg raisers and alike. Another one where I need to “take it slowly”! Duh 🙄Eventually I can get a belt to support that I will use when I run again. I also need to avoid straining the area. So careful when getting up. Coughing is a another one to be careful with. Need to avoid heavy lifting so this is where having the family around helps! 🙄

The mental side is all about acceptance. It helps that the quid pro quo is no cancer (as long as future scans stay positive). When I was first diagnosed I would have taken that.

And it helped that from the first time I met my surgeon it was clear that a bag for life would be the outcome. (Btw – still feels weird saying “my surgeon”).

Ultimately it will come down to impact. I will be able to run. I will be able to swim. I will live a normal life. So acceptance is living with different. And different is fine. Different is good. So as I said earlier – it is just about “taking is slowly”, adapting and above all, keep smiling. 😀❤️❤️