Looking for fellow ostomates for support
PeaceCorpsKat
Posts: 335 Member
I am joining the group, even though I don’t have IBS. I thought I did but it turned out that all that pain and digestive issues was diverticulitis. I had been having symptoms for about 10 years and it went misdiagnosed.
For the past six months I have been working on getting fit and dropped 100 pounds. Thank gods I did because last month I had a rupture and ended up almost going into septic shock. A surgeon did an emergency hartmann’s procedure to remove a large portion of my colon and gave me a colostomy.
I am trying to get used to this new lifestyle and I am feeling insanely weak and tired all the time. I would love the support of anyone who has gone through this.
Thanks!
For the past six months I have been working on getting fit and dropped 100 pounds. Thank gods I did because last month I had a rupture and ended up almost going into septic shock. A surgeon did an emergency hartmann’s procedure to remove a large portion of my colon and gave me a colostomy.
I am trying to get used to this new lifestyle and I am feeling insanely weak and tired all the time. I would love the support of anyone who has gone through this.
Thanks!
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Replies
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I've been dealing with Crohn's for 25 years. I had a rupture, peritonitis, and an emergency colostomy in 1995. The recovery for that took a good bit of time, and my family was awesome in coming to my aid. If you are still recovering at this point, I'm not really surprised. It took me several months to get back to feeling normal.
The colostomy was reversed a year later, and the recovery for that was much quicker as I wasn't sick when I went into surgery.
In 2006 I had a complete colectomy and ileostomy, and again the recovery was not bad as I wasn't ill when I was operated on. (Problems had been found during my regular colonoscopy.) My health is much better now that my colon is gone. The bag doesn't bother me. The pain and multiple trips to the restroom were much more bothersome. I have a life now.
I wish you well with your ostomy and your health. God bless!
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If I had to give advice (not being a health professional) I'd say to be sure that you are getting the vitamins that you need. Your doctor would be a good source of information for that. Also, you might consider asking for a temporary handicap sticker while you recover, if you have not already done so. It can help you get out and about while you are feeling short on strength. I did quite a bit of riding around in the motorized carts that the grocery stores provide. I found it a bit embarrassing, but it made shopping doable.
Hang in there!0 -
What do you need to do to get a temporary handicap sticker?
I put in a call to surgeon today asking for a letter for my employer recommending I drive to work. My work is more than happy to give me a parking space if they get that letter... If I don't have that it's a 1.6 mile walk to the train station, 20 minutes, standing, on the train in crowded cars.
They day before I got sick my friend who was 7.5 months pregnant was with me on the metro and they wouldn't give her a seat, so I think I would have no luck.0 -
It has been a while since I applied for one. The rules may have be different now, and may be different in your state. I obtained a form through the DMV and took it to my doctor to be signed. I took it back to the DMV.
This site may have the info you need:
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/disability/plates_assist.asp0
