Colostomy. In April 2008, I went into hospital for a Gynaecological operation. It was to help reduce constant pain I was suffering. I had had a Laparoscopy the September before and a number of things were found that needed surgery to rectify. My Fallopean Tubes were blocked and one had adhered to my Sigmoid Colon (Bowel). I also had a number of cysts which needed to be removed. All in all a very positive operation I hoped. To cut a very long story short, after a short stay in hospital I was discharged, even though I was in immense pain and my stomach had swollen so large I looked 6 months pregnant and I had 'sloshing' noises coming from my tummy every time I moved. I lasted at home for some 4 days without eating or drinking or sleeping as the pain was so severe. I had to call for an ambulance who arrived and worked on me for some 20 minutes outside my home and in front of my mother and partner. I had very low blood pressure and the ambulance crew called through to the hospital for a crash team to be waiting for me. My mother was told that had we been much longer in calling for the ambulance then I may have died! I was examined and then sent into theatre for emergency surgery. I woke in the High Dependancy Unit. I had suffered a perforated Bowel and had peritinitus and septicemia. I also had a Stoma (Colostomy). I was very poorly and lucky to be alive. There is much more detail to my terrible experience, I even caught MRSA whilst recovering in hospital and I will write more detail as and when I can.
I am writing this Blog in the hope that other people who have suffered such trauma can contact me, tell me their stories and hopefully we can help each other along the way with advise and tips or just some soothing positive words when needed.
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Hi Rachel, I had no idea your wounds were as they were, my heart goes out to you and your family, you were so brave in hospital, you put me to shame,I was truly shocked when I saw you a couple of months ago as to how much weight you had lost, and to find out you had MRSA too, however it was wonderful seeing you on the other hand, as I had often thought of you and how you were doing, I am glad we are in touch now as you are an inspiration, keep adding to the blog my little ray of sunshine, I will be following your progress, take care sweety and see you soon, I will pass on the link if you dont mind so people I know can see what can result from a hospital blunder Wendy xx
Bless you Wendy. Thankyou so much for your kind words. I am back in for my reversal very soon, I will let you know when so you can help me to hatch an escape plan....hee hee. I will stay in touch Wendy and keep you up to date with my progress. I am hoping that this time my experience will be a little less horrific as I will be going into hospital fit and well. Just hope I come out fitter and weller (if there is such a word!)
Rachel...this is so hard looking and reading your blog. You have been through so much and yet you remain so strong and positive. This has changed all our lives and certainly made me think how precious life is. I love you with all my heart and I wish I could take away your worries for the up and coming operation. Remain strong Rach, and never forget how special you are, because you are so very very special. I love you xx Emily xx
Gosh, Emily, I do love you so much. I couldnt have got through what I have without you. To know just how much I am loved by you, Mum and my family makes giving up or giving in simply not an option. I promise you that I will sail throught the next few operations. I will make you even more proud and then when I am better again we will have to go on a big adventure. I am already planning to run the London Marathon....bring it on! xxx My love to you always Emily.....Big Sis Rach xx
This is one journey that I didnt expect to go on with my daughter. However being there with you from day one I can confirm that you have been a fighter and now nothing fazes you. You have another operation looming and already you are fighting those apprehension fears. Your determination to get back to a "normal existance" is an inspriation to us all and I am so proud of you. I will continue to be there for you at every step of your onward journey. Your scars will be a constant reminder of your unplanned journey - but remember Rachel - in time they will fade; your natural and inner beauty wont. All my Love Mum xxxx
I am what and who I am because of you Mum. I love you more than words can say. I will get through this and be stronger for it. You have no need to worry. This has been a testing time for us all but we are all here to tell the tale. Hopefully very soon we can put all this behind us and move on. You are my inspiration! Thankyou for all your continuous love and support. As I said to Emily, I couldn't have done this without you. xxx
Jason at www.ostomyland.com has kindly added a link to my website from his website. This is what he has written.
w w w . o s t o m y l a n d . c o m
October 19, 2008
New site content
Author: Jason - Owner/Webmaster, Ostomyland.com
New Site Content: Just added link/feature for a new Colostomate-blog.
Colostomy - My Journey is a personal blog featuring many photographs which follows a colostomate’s journey from unexpected stoma and colostomy, to a reversal in the very near future. The site features what some may feel are “graphic” images, and the commentary pulls no punches in the description of personal states of mind and feelings etc. Sometimes life with a colostomy is not easy, the manufacturers literature can often make you feel like an outcast if you are also suffering problems with your stoma, be it physical or emotional, and it is nice to see a site that dares to face up to facts of life with a Colostomy when you were never expecting it in the first place so had no time to adjust to the changes of lifestyle.
For lots more Ostomy related website, in varying catergories, please visit the Ostomyland website links page
Hi Rachel, with pride, love and total respect for what you have achieved through the worst of adversity.
Keep up the stunning work and recovery...you are an ispiration to all of us...
god bless..luv n respekpa !
Chris
You slipped into my bloodstream through a severed vein
Anaesthetised the pain in a heart of lead
I know that your not heaven sent
maybe what you said wasnt what you meant
but it went straight to my head
and in your room the streetlight
was shimmering like a magic lantern
and I thought I must be there
with your lips like ether
leaving me blind
you take me to a higher place
leave me behind
I feel I'm on hollowed ground
I'd never let anyone shelter me
I chewed the words till they sounded just like lies
but then you came knocked down my door
and I saw you standing like a lighthouse on the shore
the sunrise in your smile
And somewhere in the silence
I rise above the fear of violence
you let me be rich for a while
With your lips like ether
leaving me blind
You take me to a higher place
leave me behind
I feel I'm on hollowed ground
though yours is not the air that I breathe
though I'm lost in all the beauty I see...
You ..C X
As I started prepping for my pre-reversal procedure I found your article. I am a bit scared of the unknown.
I also had emergency surgery April 25, 2008. My colon perfed 5 days before I was admitted. I went to our local emergency room and they told me it was diverticulitis. They gave me antibiotics and pain medicine. 3 days later I almost died.I am thankful I am alive, but it has been one of the biggest challenges in my life. I am a 5 year breast cancer survivor. I was in the hospital for 25 days with all of what you mentioned. The care was not that caring, and the bed was awful.They used a wound vacuum to open my wound daily, and it was very painful. I have a scar very much like yours and very rough and raggedy.
When I was sent home they told me a Home Health nurse was assigned to me and would be calling me early evening. No phone calls came in and I was starting to get scared. I did not know how to cut the wafer, and everything was SOOOOOOOO emotional.
She finally showed up unannounced around 11 AM. She had a very thick accent and was hard to understand. She told me I had to get somebody over to change my dressings for the next 2 days. She would be out of town. Needless to say I burst into tears and she started screaming at me to pull myself together. She told me to call my dr. and get prozac. I did not. I just got another nurse and it was a male. I had to swallow more dignity.
I will write more later. Most of all what is MRSA? And have you had to give yourself an enema rectually? I just don't understand how that fluid is going to come back out with nothing attached.
I hope I have news that I am ready for the reversal tomorrow. I hope you have yours scheduled soon as well.
You are very strong and I commend you for starting this site. God Bless and Good Luck.
I am off to the Lu Sue
Hello Sue, Thankyou for visiting my site and leaving your comment. Please let me know when your reversal will be. You are a very brave lady indeed especially with having to go through the stresses of cancer, my goodness, you are stronger than me! I am sorry to hear you have also had a terrible experience, it seems this kind of 'care' or lack of is unfortunately pretty common. If you type MRSA into Google search, you will be able to read up on MRSA. It is a superbug that thrives in hospitals.
I havent had to do the enema yet....I have had to use Glycerine suppositories from time to time as you still produce 'mucus' which can be pretty painful so these help to combat that.
Please let me know how you get on and contact me again if you need any advice.
Wow you keep amazing me every day with your strengh and determination..I am so proud to call you my sister. xx
Hi darling!
When I read your blog, I realised what a brave soul you were. I would have never gone through that journey without thinking so negatively. You inspire to take care of myself better and be more vigilant towards my health. I hope you will get better soon and those ugly scars will disappear slowly so there will be absolutely nothing to remind you of this painful ordeal that you dont derserve. May God and his endless blessings be with you on your journey to recovery. amen! (:
Dear Rachel,
I would love to contact you more privately as reading your story was like reading my own its so freakishly similar. I felt so strange reading it that I actually feel very dizzy and red-faced.
I am currenty at home recovering from my 4th major op in under a year (ileostomy reversal this time) slowly coming to terms (kind of) with what has happened to me.
I am feling a little odd, so perhaps I am not sounding very coherant, if so I apologise. I am just so blown away by the similarities between us - didn't you just love the hair loss bit - wasn't that just awsome, like a little gift from the bowel fairy!! ho-hum .. I remember thinking if someone else says to me 'it'll grow back' I will scream.. hehehe
Anyway if it would be ok for me to email you I will leave my email address here on follow-up for you.
I really hope you are feeling like your self again, and I wish you a healthy happy life.
Best Wishes
Chloe
Hello Cloe, Please feel more than free to contact me on: rachelebruce@btopenworld.com
I am here to help in anyway and share experiences my darling. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as you feel up to it.
Rachel xx
Hi Rachel
I can relate to your story 110% as apart from being male have exactly the same story with the addition of a heart attack due to the weight loss and condition I was in
I am seeing my surgeon on 1st Oct to arrange my reversal will let you know how I get on
Keep your head up its got to be worth fighting for your story has helped me so much tonight as you tend to feel you are alone but both our stories are so alike its uncanny.
Regards
John
Hello Jon, Lovely to hear from you and my heart goes out to you for what you have had to endure. Please feel free to communicate with me and I will be there for you to help in any way I can. I am very interested to hear your experiences. My personal email address is rachelebruce@btopenworld.com and I am also on Facebook Rachel Bruce if you would like to contact me through that. I look forward to hearing from you and wish you all the very best with your appointment on Thursday darling. xxx
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