Sara.
I'm new to this groop too,but I have had an ileostomy for over twenty
years.I think having one isn't nearly as bad as it sounds.
After I got used to it, I wouldn't trade it for a colostomy and
Iwould NEVER go back to the way I felt before. This is just my
opinion. I hope it helps.
Steve
In ileostomy@yahoogroups.com, "streamsinthedesert"
<streamsinthedesert@y...> wrote:
> Good evening everyone. My name is Sara and I am 31 years old with
> spina bifida occulta and a neurogenic bowel which causes chronic
> constipation. I have been laxative dependent for about 7 years
now.
> Only one laxative is working now (fleets phoso soda) and I am
having
> to take more and more of it to make it work each time. I work a
full
> time job and only can take a laxative on the weekend (i'm
> incontinent, my muscles doesn't work). A few weeks ago I took 8
> teaspoonfuls of the fleets on Saturday, 6 more on Sunday morning
and
> 10 senokots on Sunday night and finally had a bowel movement
Monday,
> so I had to miss work. I am scheduled for a ileostomy on June
2nd.
> I would rather have a colostomy, but my doctor said that he wasn't
> for sure that it would work because I have taken so many laxatives
> for so long. I am really aggravated over getting this. I guess I
> really don't know what to expect. He is doing a loop ileostomy by
> laproscopy surgery. Is it really bad having a ileostomy? Does it
> constantly run into the bag? How often do you have to empty or
> change the bag? Can I use a throw away bag instead of emptying the
> other bag? I am a social worker and am out in the field a lot,
will
> this keep me from working? I'm just so full of questions. I hate
> having to decide on this myself. All of my other surgeries I was
> told that I had to have it done, but this one was left up to me. I
> don't want to wait until this laxative quits working and then have
to
> have emergency surgery. I am also afraid of getting toxic colon
> since I have gone up to 2 weeks and 2 days without a movement
> before. Can anyone help? Which one is better a ileostomy or a
> colostsomy? Thanks
>
> Sara