I get that your surgery was postponed once or 2ce, but Wow! You have a very patient heart & sole!!   I'm not sure I would be so gracious towards another set back date & still allow for the possibility of another postponement!!!   Was your tolerance level always set high or is it something thats developed with your Ostomy & the leaks ?? 

I do the "Spa" thing, I read here at VO  for pouch changes now too & it sure helps with relaxing while changing to a new pouch! Who knew lighting a candle & music was so beneficial to the human aspect of Ostomies! Lololol! 

You just continue to hang in there until your surgery actually happens  and like you've mastered everything else you deal with including work with leaks going on, something I'm not sure sure I could do, stay strong!! 

Happy Belated Birthday also! My eyes have been pretty screwy for some time so the day I read your post was a bad eye day. I did reply but hit the wrong key 2ce! Ugh! & everything was lost...2ce !! So, I gave up to come back on a good eye day! 

Reflecting is something we were taught by my parents to do on our birthdays or leading up to it. Then we were told to make changes we could & needed or wanted to make.  I think its a good practice to get into. We taught it to our kids & I heard my son telling his step son about reflecting before birthdays as a chance to help ourselves in the year coming.   Nice life tip! Way to go Liza!!  

Also great that you got to tell  your new co-workers about your ostomy. It is such a life saving surgery & it seems unless others know someone with it, its not even mentioned or known of! Education is important on this topic.  Good for you! 

You have been through some tough times, but you sure are a tough lady! Thank you for your thoughts and hoping you had a wonderful birthday. Take care and God bless.

Stella

Laurie

I understand how comments can affect us. I can get the same way, but the reality is that many of us post on forums because we are having difficulties and either need to vent or seek solutions. Not everyone "gets it", unfortunately, so don't take comments like that personally. 

Posted by: @squeakyandliza

I have been having one heck of a time lately. Every now and then I will get a good appliance that will last maybe 5 days, but I have had several stretches where I have 8 changes in 9 days.

Wow! Impressive! It's always worth investigating the off days, especially when you know that long wear times are possible. Post as often as you like :) 

Posted by: @squeakyandliza

So my new surgery date is March 22nd. But I’m not holding my breath. 🤣

Hopefully, it happens. Good luck! 🤞

I haven’t been posting much in the last couple months. I was feeling self conscious because someone made a comment about there being so many comments about leaks, and we all know I am sorta the queen of the leaks. 🤣

Someone sent me a very nice PM a couple weeks ago saying they noticed I hadn’t been there and asked how I was doing, and reminded me talking about our difficulties is part of what this site is all about. 

Then yesterday was my birthday and I always use my birthday to reflect on my life, like some people do at New Years. I thought a lot about life since my ostomy. It is weird that Squeaky was one of the top things I thought of when thinking of the constants in my life. My husband is great. My family too is so supportive. But thinking this is the second birthday in my life I haven’t talked to my dad, reminds me that nothing is guaranteed. I have some friends I know will always be there, but have also learned some friends can bail with no reason. 

My ostomy has taught me to be brave and open with people, which doesn’t come naturally to me. I had an opportunity to share my story about Squeaky with my new co-workers. Some were very kind and supportive and others said nothing. But with everything that has happened in the last 3 1/2 years, I have come to realize that life is too short to care what other people think. I am what I am. Take me or leave me. I know the people who matter won’t leave me. 

So, since I’m not going to worry if someone will be put off by leak talk, I have been having one heck of a time lately. Every now and then I will get a good appliance that will last maybe 5 days, but I have had several stretches where I have 8 changes in 9 days. I just try to roll with the punches, but it gets really hard sometimes. I have just been keeping my frustration to myself and sometimes venting to my husband. 

My surgery was postponed 4 times due to my surgeon having a difficult recovery from a surgery he had. Then my insurance denied it because they wanted me to go to a surgery center instead of the hospital. Then they stopped all elective surgeries, due to Covid. So my new surgery date is March 22nd. But I’m not holding my breath. 🤣

Thanks for “listening”. This was cathartic for me.