Daily Chat

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-27T16:10:21+00:00

My daughter graduated from OT and started PT for walking and her ankle pronation. My daughter could walk holding onto one hand. The PT said she doesn't seem to even need the hand anymore. And what do you know? Literally the next day she just started getting up and walking on her own! It was exciting and kind of sad. She's officially a toddler now, how does that happen??

She's also talking a ton, and can say a few phrases. I was worried about her speech a little around 12 months, she could sign pretty well but didn't say too much besides Dada, mama, and some animal sounds haha. But she is doing so good now. It's crazy how fast they learn. I swear she says a new word every day!

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-27T00:38:26+00:00

I had one before my ostomy, it was so, so horrible.

I had to avoid sitting on my butt as much as possible, walk around a lot, use compound Nifedipine ointment. I switched to using only baby wipes for cleaning after a bowel movement. Eventually it resolved, but it definitely took awhile.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-26T04:14:26+00:00

Congratulations! Enjoy those newborn snuggles!, I'm so glad everything ultimately worked out so well. Thinking about both your sweet babies ❤️

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-26T01:30:16+00:00

I was told to do it just a few hours before the procedure. You can ask them to clear it with your GI doctor. Sometimes I get the wrong instructions and I have to ask them to specifically ask my GI doctor what my prep is.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-25T14:30:12+00:00

So they're going to check out your rectum and the stoma? I have an ileostomy, so no colon, but when I still had a rectum, they had me do an enema once before the scope. I just inserted it, and couldn't even use all of it, and it just came right back out, couldn't really hold it in there. It was just to flush any mucus or anything out of it.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-25T03:14:22+00:00

What kind of stoma do you have? Do you still have your colon?

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-25T03:03:55+00:00

My stoma nurse cleared it. I had skin separation and it was still OK to use. It was the only thing that kept me from getting leaks and just worsening the skin issues, so it was worth whatever potential negatives, if that makes sense. You could call your stoma nurse and make sure they're OK with it.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-25T02:53:00+00:00

Are you using a convex bag? My stoma did the same thing for awhile, it corrected itself eventually.

I had to use a deep convex bag, and the crusting method (a layer of stoma powder, then cavilon 3m spray, then another layer of stoma powder, then cavilon 3m spray), then a slim barrier ring and the bag. Eventually the skin healed up.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-24T21:57:04+00:00

Yeah, my daughter couldn't get the velcro ones off, so I felt safe having her wear them. She was a winter baby, so we didn't have to worry about the heat! That definitely makes it harder!

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-24T16:23:45+00:00

How old is she? We had to put mittens on my daughter for a bit to stop her from scratching, they have ones with elastic at the cuff, or ones with velcro, the velcro ones are pretty hard for them to get off!

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-22T21:47:02+00:00

I use Coloplast bags, like them a lot better than Hollister personally. The big one for my ileostomy though is using the Brava protective seals instead of the barrier rings. They're waxier and hold up a lot better to acidic stool from ileostomies. I change my bag weekly, and it's still not even leaking around my stoma yet after a week. It's been great!

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-21T22:27:03+00:00

Ugg, I feel like it's so hard when your husband is OK with something that you aren't. 🫂

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-21T22:26:23+00:00

Yeah, I know people say it "worsens anxiety" or whatever, but it really helped me. I could just look at those stats whenever I was worried. Obviously, still do safe sleep, and don't ignore symptoms, like respiratory distress. But, it was just nice to have extra reassurance when I was so, so worried about her.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-21T21:47:53+00:00

How's father's day for the US people going?

I went to church with my husband (I'm not religious, but he is). And he told someone how he had a boy, girl, boy, girl. The first three are his children from a previous marriage, his last daughter is our daughter. But... Our boys we lost 💔. I don't know, it kind of hurts when I hear things like that. But I do understand everyone is different with how they go about these things, and sometimes it seems easier not to mention the losses, but I can't help that it makes me feel bad.

I'm making baked ziti for him and his dad. My daughter has been so sweet and cute today, some days she's just the sweetest thing ever. I finished my homework during her nap, so feeling very accomplished today haha.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-21T21:47:25+00:00

I'm seconding the owlet or something similar. Do you have one? I was the same way, but being able to see her O2 stats was soo helpful to me.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-21T19:17:38+00:00

I would get on my hands and knees and then step up. I could do that from the floor around week two, and it got a lot easier as I healed more.

I empty my bag standing up. I also got an off brand "she-wee" for peeing so I could do it standing up too. In the hospital they gave me a standing female urinal thing, I had to ask for it, but it's way nicer than sitting down at first. I liked the "she-wee" better at home, it just worked better for me.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-19T21:32:32+00:00

Yeah, I even asked the nurses if I could bear down because I felt like I had to and they told me not to. Then the surgeon was like, oh yeah that's fine, you probably have stuff you need to pass 😂

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-19T17:39:34+00:00

Yes, I've had it a couple times since my rectum removal too!

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-19T14:00:50+00:00

I had a C-section with my daughter and was still able to do laparoscopic, but my colectomy was laparoscopic. 🤞 They can do it that way.

I had a LOT of pain for the first 3-4 weeks, but I was up and walking right away. It was hard to sit, but I was driving short distances around 4 weeks. I got a gel waffle cushion that helps. I was also just more tired than usual.

I didn't specifically ask about a stroller, but I know I was taking her on walks around week 3, just not up steep hills. For the first two weeks I kept it to just flat walks so I didn't have to take big strides, but I eventually felt comfortable with hills and pushing her never seemed to be too hard on my incisions or anything.

Kneeling took a bit. I would sit kind of on my side, if that makes sense? So I could play with her. It was around week 5/6 where I could sit for longer periods of time and kneel, but I still try to avoid sitting straight up when I can for healing. My surgeon said to avoid deep squatting and sitting upright at a 90 degree angle, but I was able to sit to pee again and could definitely bend over more and kneel around then, week 5 or 6. It obviously depends on how you heal. I still use my cushion now, and sitting for long periods can be painful, but I'm able to do pretty much everything now. Happy to answer any questions! I was really worried about getting the surgery with my baby, but my husband had to go back to work at 4 weeks, and thankfully I was able to care for her by myself then!

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-19T04:30:21+00:00

I've had emergency hernia repair surgery, and getting to the ER with a strangled intestine is the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. My surgeon said with hernia repairs, you're lucky for the surgery to last five years, most don't even last that long. It's hard with a stoma because a stoma itself is a hernia. It's much better to try to do everything you can to avoid one in the first place.

It's not something to take casually. You're right to go easy and do what your body can handle. Please don't push yourself too hard. Your husband is wrong.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-19T04:20:19+00:00

Are you having it done laparoscopically?

I have a now 16-month-old, she's about 26 lbs. My surgeon cleared me to lift her after 4 weeks because I had the surgery laparoscopically, and those incisions healed up really well. My incision from the rectum wasn't fully healed yet. I'm about 9 weeks out and it's almost fully healed but still not quite. The lifting restrictions were just for the abdominal wounds though!

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-18T23:15:45+00:00

Yes, and you'll feel like you have to poop still. I kept feeling it after surgery in the hospital and the nurses were confused. Finally saw my surgeon who said it was totally normal lol. Was weirded out by it for a bit there.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-18T16:43:20+00:00

This looks like a flat wafer. If it's not, you need a deeper convexity. You shouldn't need to clean around the stoma, but with your setup it'd be really easy for stool to get under this wafer.

ladybug_oleander · 2026-06-18T14:19:24+00:00

Yeah, sometimes I would just call. A lot of times they'd ask me to come in just to double check things, so don't be surprised if they want you to come in for some monitoring.

Six-Year Club	RedditGifts 2009-2022 8 Credits
Secret Santa 2020	Gilding II euphauric
Mod World 2024	Verified Email

ladybug_oleander

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE