Shopping and poop talk.

For those that don’t want the poop talk, I will limit it to the BOTTOM (haha see what I did there?) of this post and you can skip it.

Sally and I went out to breakfast with Ina this morning. It was good to see her again. Wednesday night Sally and Ina had their girls dinner at Ruby Tuesday’s and they invited me along. There were 8 total including me. Most were in their 70s and 80s with the exception of one gal and me. I think she’s probably in her 50s as well...maybe younger I’m not a good judge of ages. Anyway it was nice to meet them all and have dinner with them.

It’s always nice to see Ina. She seems to be doing OK after the loss of her husband Robert.

After breakfast Sally and I headed to Elgin to get some fruits for her fellowship meal tomorrow at her church. I dropped her off and went over to the Bx to look for a headboard as I had seen them at out BX a while back. I had my mind set on a black leather one but THIS one caught my eye immediately:





What I didn’t realize is that they were selling me the floor model. BUT it was in great shape. We took it apart and put it in the back with minimal issues.

That being said I was having some “issues” today and had more than my fair share of potty stops. BUT I did make it through the a small part of the BX, a bit of the commissary, Lowe’s and a bit of Sams club as well before I realized as I was getting gas that my issues needed me to be home for a bit. And we headed to the house.

I didn’t accomplish much else, as evidence of the headboard still in the car! Soooo life is still good, just working through today’s issues and hoping things will calm soon.

I did come home, take a shower and put my sweats on and did some laundry and took a nap (short one as the phone woke me, but that’s OK too).

**poop talk**
This is what I posted on my reversals group.

Ok over the last few weeks I have come to the conclusion that if things are going well I have a HUGE sense of guilt and don’t want to say anything to everyone on the group because of the number who are suffering after reversal and, well, it feels like bragging. BUT for this facing their reversal, there is hope, and a few let downs. (Sorry long winded)

Im 4weeks4days post reversal, 1ft rectum/sigmoid colon removed, stump of a rectum left (1/2” maybe) and a side to end connect (tiny pseudo-pouch?)

For the first three weeks it was poop central. I decided because I had the time off work I would let my body do it’s thing. I would see if it work out it’s own issues and behave, if not I had fiber and all that Jazz to fall back on. I don’t take pain pills and am only taking Gabapentin, a stool softener (too chicken to stop those just yet), a multi vitamin and a probiotics (gummies type)

I was shocked that at about three weeks of constantly pooping myself at night and living in fear of pooping myself (with protection) in public that the switches started flipping. I started to NOT poop at night. Lots during the day still but my nights were mostly mine!! Yay

Then things started to slow down during the day and for about 5 days I had been pooping at 9pmish and not much during the rest of the day. As long as my stools were easy to pass I kept going with everything the same on meds.

I got so Cocky I drove 5 hours to Florida to get some work done on our little House here behind my mother-in-laws. I was wondering what the drive would do to my schedule but I’m happy to report things stayed pretty steady the first 4 days.

Today is day 5 and I’ve had a bit of diarrhea and urgency. Happy to report that Always incontinence pads work pretty good and my clothing survived. So. If it’s only every 6 days I get a “clean out” day I can live with that. But there IS hope. Your body can adjust. It’s not like it used to be, but it’s all good!!

I joked to my MIL that I can stay out until I run out of supplies! So what that I had to poop in three stores today. Then as the uncontrollable urges hit again while getting gas I realized that, nope, supplies or not, it’s time to go home and let this play out close to a potty!

Shopping and adventures in Fort Walton

I went to TJ Maxx but they weren’t quite open. Soooo I went to Salvation Army. I know, I know. But it was a huge one and I resisted a lot of “project” items that had temped me quite a bit.

So what I DID buy I had been thinking about for a few years and determined if I ever found a house canister set I would buy it. Why? Christmas mantle pieces. I had been looking fir ones I could paint,but this one was much better. It’s already ready to go. Ones I have seen in the past were $30 or more which is why I passed on them. I was looking for a bargain.

Here is what the front looks like. Obviously a canister set as it’s confectioner shop, bakery and coffee shop. There was s 4th one but it was broken and glued together. It got left behind. I purchased these for $5. I think they will do just fine.


And here is the backs. Now you can see why I wanted them. Nicely plain for decorating at Christmas.



After that, back to TJ Maxx. I bought three shirts (yay me!) and more importantly to my poor feet in tile floors was this:


A cushy set of rugs for my bath so I don’t have to keep moving the rug all over the bath! My poor feel are a mess here. The tile just NEVER warms up in the bathrooms. The floors are so cold and the neuropathy is really messing with me while I have been here. Feel aching and feeling cold although when I feel them with my hands they are perfectly warm. It’s just my nerves not working right. Sigh. Oh well problem solved with more socks and rugs ;)

Saw this cute towel (didn’t buy it!)



So I THEN went to Ross. Hummmm bad store!!! Really GOOD store but bad for my wallet!!

I found Three MORE shirts. Sweet. Spring shirts for me!!

Well I found shells to put on my glass containers on either side of the TV. Nice. I like them.


I also bought some things for Georgia. I got a plant rolling caddy for my lemon tree. I then picked up a super soft fake sheepskin for the office chair. Either at work or Home. As yet to be determined.

I then went to K Mart. Bet you didn’t know they had any more. Yeah it’s one of the few left I think. I picked up the last of my odds and ends items on my list - laundry soap, plungers, fun stuff like that - ha!

This is my car after the fact! Ha! Time to go home when your car is full.



But:



The one thing I noted today was my hair! Goodness. It’s a mess!! AND I just got it cut. It’s either too short or not short enough. Sigh.



It won’t lay right.


You can see all the new hairs growing in and waving at the world.


So I bought a headband or two at KMart. We shall see if we can’t figure something out a Pt taming the beast!!

Updates from Florida

Yeah. I decided I would do my rest and recuperating in Florida like a proper diva. Now to have warmer weather, a beach chair and a drink with an umbrella and I would be set!!

I got here Tuesday night after getting my MRI done. The MRI is to look at my spine to make sure there are no compressed or bulging disks causing the numbness in my legs. I still think it’s all neuropathy from chemo and as I wasn’t moving much, I simply didn’t notice how far it had progressed. The answers to that will be found out soon enough. I’m big sweating it just yet. Nothing I can do about any of it anyway.

So. Last I updated things in the healing front were going well. I participated I. My first Undie Rin for colon cancer.






Sherry’s boyfriend Josh. Tagged on his bum, appropriate for a colon shot anyway. Yes that is a Giant colon behind us.





The three of us ready to go





Liz with her “What’s up your butt” shirt.





So this ambulance was following me. It was funny he first quarter mile.





By the 1/2 mile I was beginning to wonder if he knew something I didn’t. Ha! Although I have walked upwards of two mikes in a day recently I have discovered it’s not all at once!! Yikes!!





Sherry and I at the finish





Butch and I at the finish amazing this is such a good shot as I couldn’t see a thing!!





Lizzie coming across the finish line. She cut two minutes off her time fro
The 5k ran the weeks prior. Yay Lizzie!!





And a fun time was had by all!!

The day after Lizzie and I drove to Ikea to shop and to visit with Angela. She drove down and met us. We shopped out hearts at in Ikea (buying surprisingly little) had pizza at Antico’s pizza.






They have the BEST pizza. Check them out if you’re ever close!! It’s as close to TRUE Italian pizza as we have found stateside.

That done along with a Target run and we headed home.

Long fun filled weekend!

Flash forward to me making some calls for air conditioning heater replacement for the the tiny house. Why you ask? Well one emergency call from kids last year that the A/C was on the fritz on the weekend of all times led us to know it’s time. So. Everyone wanted to give me quotes on Wednesday. I HAD planned on driving down on Wednesday. Guess not. I decided to bite the bullet and drive down after my 9am MRI. Thinking that it should be quick. *insert maniacal laughter here*. Yeah what they didn’t tell me was blood work was first then an hour after that was the MRI. So I didn’t go in until 10:30. I came out at noon. Back just screaming. I hate MRIs. That table is too hard!!

So seat heater is a wonderful invention as it goes up the back a bit. I had it on for parts of my drive.

I had to go home from that, eat and pack. On the road by 2pm. Not shabby. By the time o got here I just wanted to lay down and relax, so that’s just what I did. Crawled in bed and read and played on electronics.

I didn’t even disturb my bowel habits too bad. Whoop whoop!! Still had 9pm poo and bed. Yeah!!

Wednesday was four quotes and even a nap as the 1pm came early and the next one was at 3pm. Yeah!! Nice nap!!

So today is Thursday. Sticker shock is in full affect. $4500 to $5645. U had to justify my choice to go with the cheapest. The REASON wasn’t because of price. It was because he was the only one to mention the $400 rebate from the gas company AND will fill out all the paperwork and file it and pass the saving on to me up front. Sweet!! I like one stop shop!! So, choice made.

Sad fact was someone “rang my bell”at the front door. Yeah. It noworkie. So I went out to take it off to check battery size as it’s a wireless one. Uhm, yeah, I broke it. Whoops!!! In my defense it’s about three years old now, so it was delicate. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!! Ha!!

I think parts of the higher price is I’m not doing a simple a/c replacement. Why would I do something so mundane? Nope. So, when the folks had the a/c put in they put it here:






This is it. Smack dab in the middle of the back of the house! Right next to the back door and RIGHT under windows.





Yeah can you tell that’s the living room windows. Yikes!! Noisy in the summer.

Where do I want it?

Right here:





It’s in the west side if the house... the only down side is it’s planned to be in the wrong side of the fence. Now realistically it is just a deterrent for honest folks. The gates are never locked so it would be easy enough for anyone to off with the unit as it is. But it’s OLD so who wanted it?











And realistically it’s sort of out of sight when the azaleas are in bloom and has leaves. BUT. Going to get a fence there anyway. Why???

This:





That my friends is three windows in the house next door boarded up. Why ? Who knows but it’s a crappy job and it’s all sorts of messed up with plywood, metal and some fake brick veneer looking stuff. Not sure what’s going on over there. Not sure I want to know!! They are odd ducks.

So while out there I snuck this picture. See the pink dog in the distance? Gone are the days of folks not stepping out of their house fully put together. (Guilty as charged a lot of the days)





A closeup. I feel I can show this as there is a shrub blocking her face. Hahah. Wonder if bunny slippers are involved?






During today’s adventures I also listened to my husband and ordered my blinds for the last two rooms in the house - coral bedroom and side window in the living room. A bit more sticker shock... but I bought them anyway. Done and done.

Now to get a fence installed on the side of the house I’m having the A/C moved to.... and a few other odds and ends and this will have been a very success trip indeed. Finding a handyman to remove our attic fan would be icing on the cake, but doesn’t look like it will happen. Sad face.

Update on wound - which is no longer gross

So I’m at 3 weeks and 2 days post surgery and I’m really shocker how quickly I have healed. From gaping weeping hole to nicely scabbed booboo.  I should measure it, but I would say it’s 1” x 1/2” and itches!!  Good thing fir layers between my scratchy finger and it!



The skin lines and shapes are from wearing the binder 24/7 except to shower and change from one binder to the other for washing. This is my extra layer to keep me from mess in with it too much!



The rest...well, it’s an adventure 😁. I’m really taking if well now. I’m still working on control, but it’s not quite there...accidents while out today, but I can’t stay house bound anymore. So I go out and deal with things as they happen.  Today I got to visit Home Depot’s potty...take some time...put myself back together again. Good news is this doesn’t require Depends, just incontinence pads. Could be worse!



I also started sending out a lot of my unused ostomy supplies to those who can use them from my Facebook ColonTown groups. I mailed two packages today and found out about a war veterans place in Milledeville to take the rest to. Worthy cause.



This weekend is the colon cancer Undie Run. Yeah, I’ll be walking. I think I can do a mile...as long as I can stroll!  It should be fun. Liz is going to run the 5K and Butch and I will be walking. Should be done by noon.



Should be pictures of this to come!

Funny story only I would laugh at

  I was home doing stuff around the house and decided to go to do errands. My pad was slightly soiled from tiny leaks (yeah we all know the drill)...so I removed it, cleaned up and went on my way. A lot of walking in Lowes to the BACK of the store, so of course you have to look at everything on the way to checkout. Finish up there and head to a waxing place to FINALLY get my legs done... strip pants off and there’s a spot. What the??  Looks like A&D.... feel my undies to see if I need to adjust my pad  possibly. NO PAD!!  What the??  Apparently I neglected a very important step in my process!   Goodness. True test of my emergency purse pack!!  Extra undies, check, plastic bag, check. Good lord!  Ah well, Could have been way worse!!  I survived and even went on to grab some sugar to make cookies as my shirt was long enough to cover the tiny spot

Proof positive that it’s important to get trial runs in there before heading back to work.

Pooping in public...

Well, I have what I wanted. Poop in daylight hours. Ok now to calm the clustering and NOT poop myself when out and about.

Went to three stores. Had to poop in two. Had accidents in two. Little tiny amounts of poo, but still not great enough control ... I know I have to poo. I clench. Some just sneaks out. Sigh. I have pads for that reason and I was able to test my travel bag today. Passed the test so to speak.

Only 2 weeks and a few days out. Not disheartened as I have FULL nights of sleep. So it’s easier to rebound as I’m not nearly as emotional as I would be if sleep deprived.

There’s still hope and I will continue to try and get a grip as it were in the situation.... and the saga continues.

Odds and ends and Stoma wound healing

Look how pretty this variety of daffodils is!


It’s amazing how different the varieties are in daffodils.

And I finally started working on the craft room after running around with Mom a bit this week. Monday we loaded the car and worked on the craft room a bit. Tuesday we drove to the Consignment Shop and dropped off items and pick up money. Thursday we went to shop RVs and see what is out there for David and Laura. It was fun to see all the fun RVs out there..

Fun stuff.
Then today I worked on the craft room and organized some more.




Making progress!!!


We won’t talk about what is under the desk. Ha!!


And Angela’s bed is cleaning up more as well.

And with that we shall move into the health update. I’m 2 weeks and three days past surgery. Healing right up - shockingly so. The pooping is getting more and more regular. Working more towards daytime pooping instead of the middle of the night. Yay!!

The Stoma hole. Well here is your warning.
*** don’t look***






Scroll on if you’re squeamish.





You have been warned.



So really you can’t see the details on the 7th however the hole was down to the muscle. By the 18th scabs are starting to form and I moved from gauze to bandaids to avoid sticking (nice belly button scar). Today (23rd) the scabs are well formed and looking really good. Healing up nicely!!

Now to get control on the pooping a bit more and ill be set!!

Anniversaries flowers and spring weather.

I went to Aldi’s Sunday and found these roses left over from valentines. They were in such good shape I thought “what the heck!” They even smell good.


Then today THESE came for my anniversary! Wow. Pretty. They smell nice too and dwarfed the white ones but I’m in flower heaven right now.


Then Mom came over with the solid yellow daffodils you see here. So pretty and my favorite flowers of all time! Then I thought “I haven’t looked at MY daffodils this spring”. Duh. So I walked out and low and behold MINE are blooming as well. This the white and yellow ones added to moms bouquet.


Not sure why the few are dropped over.


Pretty pretty pretty!!


And the lemon was moved back into the sun and watered. Poor guy had been neglected as of late!! Whoops!! Hope he recovers well.

Presidents’ Day weekend used to mean a trip to Linda’s, games and visiting. Now? It’s laying around and sleeping. You’ll note there is a DOG in this picture. This is Bodie. He is being dog sat by Liz


I left for Aldi’s just before that fiat picture. Then came back to this.....


The dog was flat out when I walked in and raised his head to look at me just as I was taking the picture. Talk about sleepy heads!! Ha!

Me? I’m enjoying some late nights watching TV then not having any activity pooping until about 6am or later. Whooohooooo!!! I don’t want to jinx it and say all is well, but I think my body may be figuring out the schedule on its own. So this is two nights. We shall see if this is a trend or just a fluke.

Nights and days mixed up....

The saga of having meh nights and days mixed up continues.

I slept in really late this morning after finally going back to sleep after going potty for hours from 2am to 6am... then went BACK to sleep napping in the late afternoon.  Zzzzzzzz. That’s something new. I don’t typically nap, and I’m a huge proponent for napping but with not working I’m able to sleep in and don’t tend to nap.

Hoping my body will adjust within the next week or so. I hear there is a magical window of time where things iron out....

BUT I did complete two things this weekend with kids home. Went through the cup cabinet and the Tupperware cabinet to get rid of stuff not used in 5 years. Bundled up for a Tuesday run to the Consigment Shop!  With stuff from the craft room and these things my drop off should be pretty good.

So, making some headway on getting stuff cleaned out!
Next up is back into the craft room with my new Iris boxes to get paper put away and finish that mess up!!

Craft room clean out

My craft room exploded!! Mom came over and we moved all that we could with MULTIPLE trips to Angela’s room. The top shelf on the panorama you can’t see is empty as well. Then I pooped out. I need to get a few more Iris boxes to get papers more organized then cull through everything I have and craft my brains out for 20 years - hahahaha

Yeah. I’m a craft hoarder. Sigh.

Then I tired out. Done for a while. Time to sit and relax









More tomorrow

updates on a poopy week

Sunday’s thoughts were (found this in draft today) 

Well, I keep wondering “is this it?”  I know, weird. I wondered and worried so much. I have lots of odd cramping and pains but the doctors didn’t pay any attention to them in hospital, so I’m assuming it’s just body adjustments. (Yeah, this was the colon firing up to FULL production, heaven help me!)

Thursday Day 1 was rough, but doable. A few accidents, but go be expected. Night one was horrible with lots of wake ups and accidents. But being prepared was good and saved my sanity. 

Friday Day 2 was OK just a few times with mad dashes and limited accidents. Night two was accident free however gassy which is weirdly painful in the rectum, not the body. 

Saturday Day 3 I took a shower with the gaping hole in my gut. That’s a weird thing. Having a hole in your body that isn’t stitched and it open and weeping. I put gauze on it daily and tape it. Well, Butch tapes it. 

I was just feeling “off” that whole weekend. 

I had more accidents at night...more up and down at night...more clenching in the day to no avail. I feel a bit demoralized at this point. 

Tuesday’s doctors appointment - they put me on gapapenten spelling optional. It’s for the neuropathy in my feet that is moving up my legs. Maybe it’s a case of me not noticing it earlier, who knows. They said it was weird. It should not progress at this stage. Ok, so explain the two toes on the right foot now being numb. Which, by the way as of Wednesday they are better. I started the prescription Saturday.  Who knows. The doc wants to think it’s spinal related. I will leave it up to them to decide. They’re looking at vitamins levels, everything. We shall see. I’m ambivalent at this point. (Too worried about pooping in a diaper for life)

So..this is Day 7 (Wednesday) and here’s the skinny....

The hole in my stomach puts me off...which is weird because I’m usually ok with this sort of stuff...the gaping hole? Not so much...it’s very strange for me to not find this fascinating but gross. 

Then there’s the bowels...the other shoe dropped...it wasn’t as easy as first assumed. The nights are horrible lately. I sleep right through my warning signs. Then wake you a mess at 3am. Last night I walked around, cleaned up, sat down, laid down, moved around in an attempt to empty my bowels before going back to bed. An hour later, I lay down, get the urge, get up, lay down, get up, lay down. You get the gist...I finally lay down...no urges. Drop off to sleep only to wake to another mess at 8am...ugh. This has been the last few nights... the silver lining is in sleeping really well and well rested. I’m realistic and wear depends to bed nightly. I’m optimistic, however, not stupid. 

I need to find a way to get my gut to shut down at night. I’m OK with purges during the day and even the occasional “whoops” as well...but night time should be more sleep, less worry about pooping myself. 

So, aside from that, I’m not a shut in. I did go to the movies with Mom Tuesday after a doctors appointment. We saw Peter Rabbit. Cute movie. I have gone to the grocery store.  Ah, thrilling exciting life I lead, eh?  Regretfully anything more and I do need to know where the bathrooms are ;)

I’m trying to keep my chin up, but there is just something about this portion of the treatment for cancer that’s just wrong. Yeah, I’m cancer free but on drugs for neuropathy in my feet - which seems to be working, thank you! And I poop in diapers. Yeah, thrilled that this is “all over now” as everyone keeps telling me. I do try to be nice and not scream at them. It’s not over... it’s just in the not so glamorous stage of pooping paints, blood tests quarterly, CTs every six months and a colonoscopy in a year (silver lining it’s 1 then 3 then 5 - could have been annually).  So yeah...it’s “over”.... for today....

Body function update

I peed today. Yay!! As some of you know there were issues the last two surgeries with a very sleepy bladder. They backed off the long parting narcotics (drat) and that seemed to help. The pulled the catheter at 8 and we had action at 10. Yay me!! Now to get the rest flowing. Expecting some colon spasms which indicate it’s waking up. Just no “deposits” yet.

How it’s gone so far...Photo warning...

If you don’t like open wound don’t scroll to the bottom! The top part is good ;). I’ll put another warning right before

So the drive down was entertaining. I drive down as I won’t drive back.

So I had ONE job on the way to Mayo Clinic. Turn on I-10. Literally What ONE turn. Yep. I missed it. And it’s HUGE!! Good lord. Then to add insult to injury? Part of the freeway is totally shut down. Stop and go traffic and a big detour. Took an extra hour to get here - good thing we came the night prior or I would have missed my show time tomorrow!! First hibacleanse shower down. Time for bed!!! 1 am geeze. At least show time is 11am. I can sleep in!!!

Even that was a change in plans. Butch’s phone rang at 7am. Weird. My ringer was off. Whoops

He answers it. It’s Mayo. Cancellation (by someone else) and mad dashed to the hospital. Ok so my family doesn’t do mad dashes anywhere. Maybe a mad amble.
I’m got up and ready quickly ....

Bad thing is we have had 6 hours or less of sleep. Good news is I didn’t have time to get rattled. Yeah right.

I was so calm on the last few surgeries. This one? Not so much.

So. Headed in early to get this show on the road.

When I got here they were super ready for me. I was shoved into a room
In back before Butch even made it back into the hospital. He had dropped me at the door to expedite checkin ;)
They were sweet and held me off 5 minutes so Butch could say bye and take my phone :)


Happy. Not!!


Ok happy face for the world.


My view :)



Final farewell to Audrey and the bag!!

Then off to surgery. I was awake. lol the way into the surgical room AND awake for the mask. That was new for me. That mask was shoved on tight and didn’t have a huge positive air flow, that’s for sure. But out like s light after three or four good breaths. Zzzzz

Recovery was good. Pain was really there. They took off the long acting narcotics to see if that would get me bladder activity quicker. We shall see. I have the catheter removed at 24 hrs from surgery.


Last night in the room. Took two walks. Used the elbow walker. That’s interesting didn’t use it after my last surgery. Was probably suppose to. Oh well. First walk was short. Second walk was longer. Hummmm thinking I may have had three walks. Remember three different cut through. Short, medium and long. Who knows. I was walking - need to get the bowels working.

I will walk this morning once they get my catheter and IV unhooked. It will make walking MUCH easier as I can then walk solo. So. After breakfast sometime I’ll take 2 rounds. That 1/2 mile I think they say. 4 rounds is a mile. Per the nurses last time.







******* photo warning******
They pulled my packing and I gut to see the opening :)
***if you don’t want to see quit now***


















It’s bigger than my belly button right now!!! I was expecting the smaller gauze packing I had seen on TV shows where it’s more solid. Had I been quicker I could have gotten a shot of him pulling it out. Wasn’t that quick! Not a lot of pain removing it. It was more painful for the drain removals.

Sweet. Now I just shower as usual I don’t worry about the hole. If can get wet and soapy. I then just pat it dry and and put a new gauze pad over it until it heals over.

I read articles on it. This is shockingly the least infection causing solution to the wound closer. They get more infections closing off the wound fully.