Bidets and thought on reversal.

Today Butch installed my new add on bidet.

Holy hell!  That thing will shoot you off the toilet at the lowest setting! I have to say, I was worried about the cold water would be a bit much, however it was refreshing even without butt burn!  All set for coming home from the hospital next week!

As embarrassing as it is I also have adult diapers as well as pads and creams...
This is my reality.

There are a few studies that indicate that my recovery is going to be a doozie. I have no retention capacity. Well, I have 1 inch. Possibly two counting the tiny “end” past the attachment point. Uh, yeah, that’s nothing compared to the well designed 6” of rectum that is now missing. Add to this that the portion I need to “retain” as a rectum will have peristalsis going on. Something the rectum does not do.  So active “pushing” will be going on at all times. So, if I’m lucky I’ll go less than 30 times a day and more like 5 times a day.  Even that sounds excessive to me, but if it’s controlled, I will be OK with that.

The harsh reality is that the surgeons concentrate on removal of cancer, they are not concentrating on quality of life AFTER the surgery. They  cut out the cancer with little discussion of what life can really be like after.

Part of the discussion on one of my reversal boards was around this lack of possible outcomes being  supplied to their patients. That surgeons are shocked to find out after surgery when things do not miraculously resolve 6 weeks post op for a majority of individuals who have had all of their rectum removed. Shoot I wasn’t even given a choice on how I was reassembled. I may have been able to ask for a j-pouch for more retention power!

Another train of thought on that is that the only individuals you hear from are those with issues seeking out solutions, not those who have merrily gone on their way with happy outcomes. So maybe we only see the bad outcomes on the boards and not the good outcomes.

So, although I’m looking forward to the reversal and going more towards a “normal” I’m not looking forward to the unknown nor the possibility of a horrible outcome BUT I’m going to give this a solid 12 months to see results, find my food triggers (if I have any), find what works and what doesn’t. At 6 months if things aren’t going well, I’ll seek out a GI person to go for more invasive pelvic floor intervention and training. If, after 12 months I’m not better and miserable, then I will seriously consider going to a permanent colostomy. The bags doable and I haven’t had issues with the one I have now. The only major issue I had was initial adjustment to putting it on without making angry skin :) I’ve figured that out. I don’t  consider the bleeding after surgery as MY issue in that it wasn’t something I did to cause that one and I handled it well and got it to heal without issue. So a bag isn’t the end of the world. At least not mine :) I can travel with a bag easy enough!

Sol not going into this blind and know there is going to be one hell of an adjustment period on this one!

Well, hell.

I have started to get a sore throat. Yep a week from surgery and I’m coming down with a blasted cold.

I sent the Mayo team a message and told them I would keep them informed.

I took Zicam as soon as this started in hopes of heading it off. Took it for two and a half days as I don’t know if I can take it within a week of surgery... had to discontinue all other supplements so quit that one too - did ask if I could resume if it’s not harmful and they think it may help. Ugh!!!

Here’s hoping it doesn’t develop into a full blown cold after all!!!

Lizzie came home from Boston hacking and coughing. We have been diligently wiping everything with Clorox wipes.... I really can’t blame her as I started feeling this right as she came home... so I caught it at Mayo. Drat it!!

Hopefully this doesn’t delay me again!!

Bag decorating

Bag decorating to say “bye!!”



1st attempt I drew Audrey too large!


2nd attempt there is. Message to the docs!