Chapter 15
Over the next few days I started my neighborhood walks. Descending my condo staircase and then a couple hundred yard jaunt on my first few walks literally took everything out of me and I barely made it back up to my condo. Bracebridge has very hilly terrain, so even small walks were very tiresome at first.
My eventual goal was to walk to Knowles which would be a 5 km round trip. I knew that I was still many weeks away from conquering that goal, but with each walk I gradually increased my distance. After a few weeks and many walks later even those twenty-eight stairs back up to my apartment also started to get much easier.
I could feel my fitness level slowly improving within the first couple weeks of being home and I was now talking louder than my post-surgery whisper.
My eventual goal was to walk to Knowles which would be a 5 km round trip. I knew that I was still many weeks away from conquering that goal, but with each walk I gradually increased my distance. After a few weeks and many walks later even those twenty-eight stairs back up to my apartment also started to get much easier.
I could feel my fitness level slowly improving within the first couple weeks of being home and I was now talking louder than my post-surgery whisper.
There would be no more peace and quiet for Sherry.
Sherry and I headed down to Barrie to buy my upgraded ostomy supplies. There is a small healthcare store in Bracebridge, but the prices were almost double what we paid for the same items in Barrie.
I bought everything I needed.
Sherry and I headed down to Barrie to buy my upgraded ostomy supplies. There is a small healthcare store in Bracebridge, but the prices were almost double what we paid for the same items in Barrie.
I bought everything I needed.
A small tube of the barrier paste was $40. Pouches and flanges were about $100 for both boxes. I also bought an ostomy belt for holding the bag more securely against my stomach. It was nothing more than a cheap fanny bag belt, but I guess the special plastic clips that clicked onto the flange, justified the outrageous $30 price I paid.
For what these items actually are it’s a total fraud what the companies get away with charging ostomy patients for these necessities. It was just another example of the profit before patient mentality infesting the healthcare system today.
After buying my upgraded supplies, I decided I would try to get five days rather than the recommended three days before replacing the flange and bag. My cost averaged about $15 per change and since I was going to have the bag for six months, I would need approx. fifty changes. Also accounting for a few surprises, I figured I would be looking at a $750 out of pocket expense until my reversal.
I am sure glad my bag was temporary.
On March 13th I had my follow up visit with Dr. G in his office. He would also be removing the staples which had started to irritate me. They were now very itchy and pinching my skin. My wound was healing up nicely and with the exception of a visit to Emergency a few days earlier, I was having no issues since the big operation.
I did however have three fewer staples as my wound began leaking a greenish thick pus. Sherry insisted that we go to the hospital to have it looked at. She was afraid it would become infected. The doctor took out the three staples to allow the area to be cleaned and to dry out. Apparently, this is very common with abdominal wound staples.
Dr. G was quite pleased with my progress. I told him I was walking a lot and eating well. He suggested Imodium would slow down the stoma output after telling him that I was constantly emptying my bag. He used a small tool to cut each staple and then pull it out and I felt a painful twinge with each staple he removed.
I felt that as far as Dr. G was concerned, I was now good to go. He explained that going forward I would be monitored for the next five years with exams, blood work and CT scans. This was the standard follow up protocol for a rectal cancer patient in Ontario. I told him I was consulting with Dr. N the following day for an evaluation and to determine if any more chemo was necessary.
I could tell Dr. G wasn’t crazy about me doing more chemo since I had a complete response to the previous chemo/rad treatments. He told me it was a tough decision considering the possible potential nasty side effects. Dr. G told me he would be having no input on chemo since he was the surgeon.
It would be up to me and Dr. N to decide whether the mop up chemo would be in my near future. Either way I would be seeing Dr. G again in about six months for my reversal. I shook his hand and thanked him for everything he had done for me as I left his office that Thursday afternoon.
Dr. G is my hero.
For what these items actually are it’s a total fraud what the companies get away with charging ostomy patients for these necessities. It was just another example of the profit before patient mentality infesting the healthcare system today.
After buying my upgraded supplies, I decided I would try to get five days rather than the recommended three days before replacing the flange and bag. My cost averaged about $15 per change and since I was going to have the bag for six months, I would need approx. fifty changes. Also accounting for a few surprises, I figured I would be looking at a $750 out of pocket expense until my reversal.
I am sure glad my bag was temporary.
On March 13th I had my follow up visit with Dr. G in his office. He would also be removing the staples which had started to irritate me. They were now very itchy and pinching my skin. My wound was healing up nicely and with the exception of a visit to Emergency a few days earlier, I was having no issues since the big operation.
I did however have three fewer staples as my wound began leaking a greenish thick pus. Sherry insisted that we go to the hospital to have it looked at. She was afraid it would become infected. The doctor took out the three staples to allow the area to be cleaned and to dry out. Apparently, this is very common with abdominal wound staples.
Dr. G was quite pleased with my progress. I told him I was walking a lot and eating well. He suggested Imodium would slow down the stoma output after telling him that I was constantly emptying my bag. He used a small tool to cut each staple and then pull it out and I felt a painful twinge with each staple he removed.
I felt that as far as Dr. G was concerned, I was now good to go. He explained that going forward I would be monitored for the next five years with exams, blood work and CT scans. This was the standard follow up protocol for a rectal cancer patient in Ontario. I told him I was consulting with Dr. N the following day for an evaluation and to determine if any more chemo was necessary.
I could tell Dr. G wasn’t crazy about me doing more chemo since I had a complete response to the previous chemo/rad treatments. He told me it was a tough decision considering the possible potential nasty side effects. Dr. G told me he would be having no input on chemo since he was the surgeon.
It would be up to me and Dr. N to decide whether the mop up chemo would be in my near future. Either way I would be seeing Dr. G again in about six months for my reversal. I shook his hand and thanked him for everything he had done for me as I left his office that Thursday afternoon.
Dr. G is my hero.