10 replies to this topic

[mandy.s]

My husband is c4/5 quad 22 years post. We've been using enemas (1 oz bisacodyl) and magic bullets. Between battling hemorhoid problems, extreme dysreflexia, CONSTANT bloating (like he swallowed a basketball) and early to bed every night to perform a 3 hour movement. He's seriously considering a colostomy. He already has a urostomy. He's had all the tests the GI dept can and will perform. Seems to be no answers. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of a colostomy bag? And whether he will be able to expell gas quickly and efficiently so as to not be bloated.

Thanks
Samantha & Vern Smiley

[allis53ca]

you've stated the pros already, and after 4 years of having one i honestly can't state any cons.....do it

[mandy.s]

allis53ca, on 06 September 2010 - 06:16 PM, said:

you've stated the pros already, and after 4 years of having one i honestly can't state any cons.....do it

Thank you. The drs don't seem to want to talk about it with us. And we need some real advice not just textbook knowledge.

[BRANDYgoering]

mandy.s, on 06 September 2010 - 04:42 PM, said:

My husband is c4/5 quad 22 years post. We've been using enemas (1 oz bisacodyl) and magic bullets. Between battling hemorhoid problems, extreme dysreflexia, CONSTANT bloating (like he swallowed a basketball) and early to bed every night to perform a 3 hour movement. He's seriously considering a colostomy. He already has a urostomy. He's had all the tests the GI dept can and will perform. Seems to be no answers. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of a colostomy bag? And whether he will be able to expell gas quickly and efficiently so as to not be bloated.

Thanks
Samantha & Vern Smiley

mandy.s, on 06 September 2010 - 04:42 PM, said:

My husband is c4/5 quad 22 years post. We've been using enemas (1 oz bisacodyl) and magic bullets. Between battling hemorhoid problems, extreme dysreflexia, CONSTANT bloating (like he swallowed a basketball) and early to bed every night to perform a 3 hour movement. He's seriously considering a colostomy. He already has a urostomy. He's had all the tests the GI dept can and will perform. Seems to be no answers. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of a colostomy bag? And whether he will be able to expell gas quickly and efficiently so as to not be bloated.

Thanks
Samantha & Vern Smiley

[BRANDYgoering]

Hi Samantha, my husband is a quad of 9 yrs and now 61 yrs old. in the beginning no way, not macho, not attractive until we saw another quad of 22 years with his colostomy and tools and we changed our minds. I did bowel control for 5 years in bed while also working full time and it wore on him and me. Quality of life is what we have now, and has brought us back closer. I'm in the hospital now but will talk later.

[mandy.s]

BRANDYgoering, on 06 September 2010 - 09:53 PM, said:

Hi Samantha, my husband is a quad of 9 yrs and now 61 yrs old. in the beginning no way, not macho, not attractive until we saw another quad of 22 years with his colostomy and tools and we changed our minds. I did bowel control for 5 years in bed while also working full time and it wore on him and me. Quality of life is what we have now, and has brought us back closer. I'm in the hospital now but will talk later.

Thanks. I've done bowel control since before we were married in '91. I also work full-time and we have a 13 yr old. It can make for a full day but I wouldn't consign him to having someone else do it. There are no family members around that can help either. We are definitely looking for a higher quality of life. I don't want it to reach a point where everything just isn't worth it for him.

Hope all is well with you and that you're out of the hospital soon.

[tyvin]

Do it. The appliances and dressings they have now days makes having a colostomy very easy. I knew a guy who had terrible gas and had a colostomy. His bag would get blown up from air all the time but all he had to do is expel the air (he wouldn't take anything for the gas). There are many things that can be suggested to take to reduce the gas also. It's a little strange at first but he'll adjust but he's got a urostomy so maybe it will be nothing to him. Some people have terrible body image concerns.

Farrah Fawcett was offered to have a colostomy 5 years before her death. She wouldn't do it because of the body image thing and like many people she didn't believe cancer would really kill her. It wasn't until her cancer was out of control that she would consider it but alas it was too late.

I know he doesn't have cancer but I like to tell that story so people will realize that whatever reason a colostomy is being considered it's best to just do it instead of all the regrets later.

[dingle]

Hello
I had a Colostomy 10 years ago it was the one of the best things I have had done and I havoked back,
I have had a RTA in 1965 and I wish I had one done earlier as I travelled a lot,
to change it takes my less time than it takes to boil a kettle,
my abvice is have one done as soon a possible,
the reason the bags blow up like a ballon is the carbon filter is not working this happens some times as they are made in the millions.

Edited by dingle, 15 September 2010 - 07:46 AM.

[Illinois Boy]

I had to have one in 2001......

I still hate the SON OF A BITCH........

Nuff said.......

Jim

[mandy.s]

Sounds like great advice.

Jim, I'm sorry to hear that yours isn't working out for you. Anything in particular that you don't like about it? Or just the whole thing in general?

Sam

[Illinois Boy]

mandy.s, on 15 September 2010 - 10:02 PM, said:

Sounds like great advice.

Jim, I'm sorry to hear that yours isn't working out for you. Anything in particular that you don't like about it? Or just the whole thing in general?

Sam

Don't like the damn hole in the side of my tummy....
It's embarrassing to my ZEUS like physic when I go swimming.....

Jim