Hi Megan & Hubby,
                             I had a temp colostomy back in January 08.  It was
emergency surgery so laproscopic was out of the question.  I had a 12 inch
incision in my abdomen and a 1 inch hole for the colostomy.  32 staples.  I was
11 days in the hospital but remember - laproscopic is MUCH different.  Less
healing and less invasive.  Sounds like you have a few other issues that could
pop up as well.  I would say he should be able to travel after two weeks but I
seriously doubt he'll be driving and there is no way he'll be 100% sorry to say
although he may feel up to it.  Stay positive and do what the doctors say.  They
really do know whats best.  Heal the right way.  I made th emistake of trying to
travel an hour to work every day after 4 weeks and it set me back.

Ping me anytime!

Jerry





--- On Tue, 8/4/09, Meghan <wymom94@...> wrote:

From: Meghan <wymom94@...>
Subject: [peoples with ostomy2] upcoming surgery -advice for spouse
To: peopleswithostomy2@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2009, 10:29 PM






 





Hi, I joined this group a short while ago, but guess I didn't
introduce myself. I'm Meghan, wife to a soon-to-be ostomate. My husband, Russ
is 38 & has had a j-pouch for 13 yrs now, had colon cancer shortly before he
turned 25, when we were young-marrieds. His j-pouch worked well enough for a
while, but has given him a LOT of grief the past 2 yrs & is now 'shot'; also
pre-cancerous growths are 'ringing' the bit of rectum they left in him. He's
scheduled to go in for his ileostomy in early October & he's looking forward to
it as well as being worried. He's tired of the pain & problems w/ his pouch &
feels he will get real relief w/ an ostomy instead. I am hoping & praying that
he does. He is expecting recovery to be pretty smooth & hopes to be off-work
only 2 weeks (or telecommute after 2 weeks). Is this reasonable? I worry that
it isn't. His surgeon hopes to do cut out his j-pouch & resect a new segment
from the ileum via
laprascopy, but if she has to, she will cut the bottom portion of his original
incision open to do this. She told him he'll be inpatient 5-7 days -the
hospital is about 2 hrs from our home. Our son is having reconstructive bone
surgery on one foot & ankle 8&1/2 weeks after my husband's ileostomy surgery &
his hospital is also about 2 hrs from our home, but not the same hospital (our
son's is a children's hospital). I was worried about how well recovered my
husband would be by the time our son's surgery comes, but my husband is
confidant he will be 100% by then. I am not physically able to manage our son's
care on my own. I'd love to hear from others who have gone through the ostomy
surgery and can give advice on what to expect, how to plan, and how I can best
help. I plan to stay at the hospital w/ my husband as close to 24/7 as I can.
I did the same when he had his j-pouch surgery yrs ago (that was a one-step.. he
has never had an ostomy, not
even temporarily) . We both plan to stay w/ our son when he is in the hospital
after my husband. Sorry this was so long.

-Meghan































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