Tree work and colostomy/ileostomy ops

[Andy Collins]

As one or two know, I recently underwent major surgery to remove my colon. This means I now have to wear a bag over a stoma full time. What I want to know is whether anyone else out there has had a similar experience, and how they cope with everyday tree work. Getting back to my job is all I want, I don't want to stack shelves anywhere, I want to carry on this job. I have quite a while left before I'm work fit again, at least a couple of months if not longer. But if you have any experience of this, please let me know. If you don't want the whole world to know, pm me instead. Thanks.

[geoff]

Hiya Andy,a few years ago I was rather ill,& it was touch & go as to wether I would have to undergo this surgery,I got lucky & now have good health without having a stoma.

A few people I know/met at the time of my illness have had the surgery,& whilst none are arborists,they do sport,& work manualy.

I dont see why it should restrict you once you have got into the way of things.

Wishing you a speedy & smooth recovery from the surgery,& a bright future in your work.

[Andy Collins]

Cheers Geoff, my problem is that I've always been a flat out, full on, busy kind of person, I can't stand the thought of being held back by this. I know my strength is down, for now, but that's something I can sort in time, after all I have nothing else to do except walk and cycle right now. I just need to hear that I can still do the job from someone who's been there, done that

[Hodge]

My mate had it done about 15 years ago, he is a catering maintaince man, he get on ok though, does sport etc just don't think he can lift heavy stuff. All the best.

[geoff]

I'm sure you will be fine,it does take a bit of time for things to settle down,but I bet you will be out there & at it this summer Andy.

[penfold]

Andy, just spoken to mum about this and she has suggested speaking to the stoma nurse about diet and regulating "functions" to somewhere approaching "normal". Get well soon mate. Mum says there is a plus side to it all in that you don't have to worry about bothering the customer to use their loo.

[TREE-SURGEON-ESSEX]

Hi Andy sorry to hear that mate got a question was this caused by tree work or a natural thing ?.

[Andy Collins]

Pen fold, thanks, I've spoken to my stoma nurse, but they don't quite comprehend the real world of tree work.

Tree surgeon Essex, it certainly isn't tree work that caused the issue, however they don't really seem to know what does cause it, although they link it to the Western diet.

Thanks for the feedback so far, what I really hope is that someone else out there has been through the same or similar so they can let me know how they dealt it, just so I have an idea.

[RobArb]

I must admit I'd never heard of this procedure before:blush: but looked it up after your posts, I hope your on the mend soon

 

Is the stoma and bag permanent or temporary, is a jpouch? (american terminology?) not possible?

 

Its just I found a blog of a bloke in america who was only 31 when he had a colostomy/ileostomy op but had a jpouch done too, 2 years later apart from 6-8 bowel movements a day he's perfectly fine with no bag and still works in the construction industry quite happily

 

Plus when he did have his temp bag he write a special belt thing that kept the bag safe, will see if I can find the blog.

 

don't know if any of this is a help but get well soon

 

 

 

Sent from Rob's GalaxySII

[Andy Collins]

Hi Rob, thanks for taking the time, until Dec 1st I had no idea about it either, so no shame there! I'm trawling the net for info on this, Im in limbo at the mo, in between the stage of having the initial op and the stoma, and the option of going for the reversal later this year. The downside of reversal is problems with infection in the pouch formed internally, I have so far spoken to 3 who have undergone reversal who have had complications, including one with a life threatening infection resulting directly from reversal. The internal pouches will have a very low capacity, requiring emptying more often than the bags I'm currently using. It is early days, I still have a lot to find out, and for every bad story I'm sure there wil be a dozen positives.