dead friend

my friend with an ostomy died recently. his brother sent out a notice by email, using Chris's account. i was shocked to read it, although he had been sick his whole life and was waiting for a double lung transplant in the time leading up to his death. his whole life was marked knowing that it could be over soon. he led an unusual life to say the least, between being a regular TV telethon face, to visits from hockey players at the Children's hospital, to trying to live like a normal kid in a suburban town, and keep a job, and cart an oxygen tank around sometimes.

through having an ostomy, i have come into contact with people - like Chris - who have lived unusual lives, with all kinds of health complications, and run-ins with hospital, needles, knives, drugs, walkathons, frustrations like missing big events because they too sick to go, pooping themselves, getting screwed by a negligent doctor, etc... and then we've all been able to meet up in the park or a coffee shop and laugh about it.

I'm a regular Dear Abby!

Jeff said...

I've wondered what it would look like to have no anus. Thanks for braving it to share with us. I have an ileostomy but still have a rectal stump that needs to be yanked out. Getting it scoped this month but the GI and transplant people tell me that I should get it removed due to the cancer risk. I've chatted with others who said it takes a long time to heal. They also said sitting on a O-ring cushion won't help as it spreads the cheeks and makes it worse. I've heard of the vacuum pump thing to help healing. I had a fairly deep chest opening from a liver trasnplant but it didn't take a year to heal using the old wet to dry packing. Any other tips for this surgery and healing afterwards?

mypinkbutton said...

It feels weird. It kinda felt like my ass cheeks were a bit misaligned and that was annoying. It took a few weeks before that sensation went away.

I used the donut a few times and seem to remember it was a bit of a relief, but also kind of awkward to sit on.

Here's a tip: enjoy whatever pleasure you can from stimulating your anus while you still can. Before my surgery I had the wild fantasy my surgeon might turn my non-functional anus into some kind of erotic pleasure zone. It's the least he coulda done for my troubles, huh? no such luck.

and another: If any nurses approach you with a wet sponge saying they want to clean you up... make goddam clear they know you had your rectum removed. I may just have had the worst luck possible when this happened to me, but that towelly scrape across my gaping wound hurt like an mofo - even when I was pumped full of pain killers.

and another tip: get a sitz bath as pictured above. and sitz your ass in that bath. it feels good. use salts, and for an added treat, use the solution bag of warm water to create a little toilet-top jacuzzi for your ass.

I've never heard of the vacuum pump.

other than that, I don't have any tips, unless, Jeff, you have a vagina. In which case I recommend you are careful when you have sex, like I mentioned in my earlier post. or if you are a gay man and like bottom, all I can say is: there are support groups for you. and... you have my warmest wishes.

well, you have my warmest wishes no matter who you are. Good luck Jeff!