Today I embarked on the next step in my journey to a ‘normal’ life again by giving Colostomy Irrigation a go.
Read moreI Made a Life-Changing Decision and I Regret It
I made a life-changing decision and I regret it. There. I’ve said it. I regret having a colostomy bag fitted. I regret electing to have surgery and I’m currently where I am due to my decision. I have to figure out how to accept that and then move on.
Read moreChristmas Tree Race
Since discovering the race in 2016, the Christmas Tree Race in the Forest of Dean has been the highlight of the running calendar. I first ran it in a Christmassy t-shirt and the following year I had gone full on fancy dress mode with a customised Christmas Tree costume with lights and club branding. I was first Christmas tree home and won a prize for the best fancy dress.
Read moreColostomy Irrigation Decision Made
This year has been a struggle. There’s been a lot going on with wound issues, the parastomal hernia, depression and generally not really getting on with the stoma.
Read moreHernia Decisions
When I signed up for a new bum, I didn’t really read the terms and conditions. I just focused on the benefits of having a stoma. With every procedure there are going to be complications but you just presume that you’ll come out the other end fine and carry on without any issues. But then a hernia appears.
Read moreYet Another Wound Update
It ’s been almost 11 months since my wound issues started and 11 weeks since my last operation to reopen the area with the aim of allowing it to heal fully.
Read moreA Letter to Myself
Dear Rob
Remember the time you had a bum? I do, and it wasn’t good. Things got so bad that you decided to have it removed and replaced with a new bum but you’ve been dealt some issues and they haven’t been easy to deal with.
Read moreColostomy Irrigation: To Irrigate, Or Not To Irrigate?
At my recent appointment with my surgeon, stoma nurse and surgical care practitioner (wound nerd and fellow mycophile!) the idea of colostomy irrigation was brought up. There’s always a lot to take in during an appointment but I think it was raised not because of my hernia (which was a big talking point during the appointment) but because of the things I mentioned such as still having issues with pancaking, leakages at night and random noises.
Read more10 Months with a Stoma
It’s been 10 months since I had a new bum installed and it’s been a bumpy ride. I was n’t expecting further surgery and I certainly didn’t expect to still be having daily dressing changes to a Ken Butt wound. Here’s an update on the wound, my latest specialist appointment, my hernia and my mental health.
Read moreOvergranulation Update
Recently, the Ken Butt wound was working a bit of overtime in parts causing some overgranulation. A ridge had formed on one side of the wound which needed to be addressed. There were a few different options available for how to treat it but it was decided to start with the one that would cause the least complications.
Read more