Cooper, Charlie and I went to the Annual Halloween Costume party at our condo complex. The weather was great! And my Cooper wom first place!!!

eat your fruits and veggies  and some Halloween candy :)  xo  Inge

 

 

I was having trouble with my stoma bag yesterday. It is  was leaking AGAIN. It leaked Wednesday so I changed it and then Thursday afternoon it leaked again in the same place, so I called the home healthcare agency to get some advice. I guess its hard to troubleshoot that sort of problem over the phone, but the nurse told me she would get me some help. I had only one bag left and my supplies won't be here for at least one more week, so I thought I might have to use a ziplock baggie and duct tape for awhile. About an hour later my  home healthcare nurse called and told me she would come over Friday morning. Then a friend dropped off some extra stoma bags a few minutes later. Whew!

 

 

My nurse came over this morning to help me with my leaky bag. I was up most of the night checking it and putting more tape on it. I didn't want to change it though because I wanted my nurse to see where it was leaking. I'm glad I didn't because she had to take pictures of the area. When I did take off the bag I noticed my abdomen around the stoma had changed. I think it was swollen from surgery and now it's returning to normal, so I now have "dimple" near the stoma and exactly where my bag leaks. The ring used to sit flush on my skin but now there is an area where there is a very small space that stool can seep through. I called my doctor's nurse and she gave me a some paste that will fill in that area. Good thing because I was going to go visit the hardware store and buy some plumbers putty :O

Eat your fruits & veggies    xo Inge

Do you know there are videos on youtube that show how to change  colostomy bag? Neither did I...my home health nurse told me about it. I had a busy day today. I must have changed my bag 8 times. There were times it really hurt because my stool was too hard. I will have to find out what kinds of food I can eat that will make that easier. I have not changed my bag yet...I'm waiting for the nurse to come back to help me.  My incision is feeling better though.
Eat your fruits & veggies!   Inge

I swiped this off facebook. We have to learn to be consumer savy, since our government refuses to protect us and plays games with how they give information. Please repost this!

ALWAYS READ THE LABELS ON THE FOODS YOU BUY--NO MATTER WHAT THE FRONT OF THE BOX OR PACKAGE SAYS, TURN IT OVER AND READ THE BACK---CAREFULLY!

With all the food and pet products now coming from China , it is best to make sure you read label at the grocery store and especially Walmart when buying food products.
Many products no longer show where they were made, only give where the distributor is located.
It is important to read the bar code to track it's origin.
How to read Bar Codes .... interesting!
This may be useful to know when grocery shopping, if it's a concern to you.
GREAT WAY TO "BUY USA & CANADA " AND NOT FROM CHINA!!
The whole world is concerned about China-made "black hearted goods".
Can you differentiate which one is made in Taiwan or China ?
If the first 3 digits of the barcode are 690 691 or 692, the product is MADE IN CHINA.
471 is Made in Taiwan .
This is our right to know, but the government and related departments never educate the
public, therefore we have to RESCUE ourselves.
Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products "MADE IN CHINA ", so they don't show from which country it is made.
However, you may now refer to the barcode - remember if the first 3 digits are:

690-692 ... then it is MADE IN CHINA

 00 - 09 ... USA & CANADA

30 - 37 FRANCE
40 - 44 GERMANY

 471 .... Taiwan49 ... JAPAN

50 ... UK

BUY USA & CANADIAN MADE by watching for "0" at the beginning of the number.

 We need every boost we can get! Pass this on to everybody on your E-Mail Contact List!!

I got an email when I was in the hospital telling me there was a volunteer orientation meeting Monday at UC Irvine Medical Center. At the time I did not know if I would be well enough to attend, but I was and I went...John drove me since I can't drive. Long story short, I got a tb test today and then in about 2 weeks I will be seeing patients in the infusion center...in case you don't know what that is - it's a place in the hospital where patient's spend one to six hours a day receiving chemo. I will provide emotional support. I am excited about it!
Eat your fruits & veggies!     xo   Inge

I just made myself a smoothie:  added frozen spinach, frozen mixed berries, yogurt ( I always use the one with lacto bacteria stuff - yoplait is crap), 2 tblsps. chocolate hemp powder, orange juice, soy milk, 1/2 banana....then I added the vitamins (I broke open capsule) B Complex, crushed Iron; herbs, Milk Thistle (to heal my liver, Vicadin is not good for the liver); Aloe Vera (to heal my intestines); 1 tsp. Organic Green Super Food by Amazing Grass. I am waiting for the vitamin D3 to come in the mail. Of course I drank a shot of Noni juice.

I am back in my own bed...I was released yesterday afternoon. I feel so much better than I did a few days ago. I haven't had a real bowel movement yet. I'm taking Vicadin for pain and that will constipate people. It's nice to be home. My critters were so happy to see me, especially Jinx...he must have meowed for 10 straight minutes. I can eat most foods now, but I have to stay away from gas causing ones for a while though. I plan to make lots of smoothies and juicing. I have to change the way I take meds and vitamins now. Did you know alot of these pills are digested in the intestines? I thought they were in the stomach. The vitamins and herbs I take now are in capsules so I will break them open and add them to my smoothies. If I need antibiotics I will need them in liquid form. This change will be forever. I will also need to eat smaller more frequent meals and drink more water.
I had a small scare this morning at 6am. I woke up and went to the bathroom to pee and my pullup had diarrhea mixed with blood in it. I thought at first that my stoma bag leaked, but that was secure. It definitely came out of my rectum and small fresh drops of blood continued to come out. I also had cramping and pain all over my abdomen, not just my incisions, so I called the emergency room nurse to see if I should come in, she told me they were slammed with trauma patients....its Saturday night and lots of shootings (my personal comment) but that I could come in to get checked out. I decided to wait for the "rush" to get over and go back to sleep.  I got up 3 hours later, nothing in my pullup now and my abdomen feels better. I will wait and see. If there is something wrong it should leak out of my rectum again. If it does I will go to emergency and get it looked at.
It will take practise to get this changing my stoma bag down. There are lots of steps. I can only change it 2-3 times a week...I will only get enough supplies for that amount.  The supplies will run total about $300 a month! Emptying the bag will be ok. I will rinse it out with my squirt bottle to keep any odors to a minimum. I have to admit my stoma looks weird...it is actually my intestine sticking out of my skin, luckily it does not have nerves. It looks like a fat tongue and sticks out about 1/4 of an inch. Look it up on google image under colostomy and stoma if you are curious. I was going to post a photo of it on my blog but I figured it might gross some people out. It sure will be nice to have the freedom to leave my house earlier and not poop my pants anymore.

Eat your fruits & veggies!   xo  Inge

I dreamed about food last night...when I was sleeping...I am drinking lots of liquids and hooked up to saline drip...so that means lots of bathroom trips. Actually my bathroom is a portable potty by my bed. I still need help getting out of bed, but today I walked outside my room with the help of my occupational therapist. I also washed up and brushed my teeth. yay!

Eat your fruits & veggies!   xo   Inge

Well, I made it through surgery. I was in recovery sleeping quite nicely when I woke up to someone hooking me up to the ekg machine, apparently my heart rate was too slow. I guess its better than too fast. They must have cleared up the problem because I am here typing. I spent the rest of the evening dry heaving. The anesthesia did not agree with me and retching after colon surgery is not fun. I was up most of the night, I was either trying to find a comfortable way to sleep...I like sleeping on my side but it was too painful so I used lots of pillows...and the rest of the time the nurse came in to draw blood or take my vitals.
I need help getting out of bed and I have a portable potty next to me. I can't walk because it is too painful, but I can sit in bed with lots of pillows to support my back. I haven't eaten since and Sunday night. Monday I only drank clear liquids and sat on the toilet all night. Today I am back to clear liquids but only after bugging my doctors for hours. Hopefully I can eat solid food tomorrow.
You know whats weird? I feel like I need to poop but the urge is down by my rectum. I guess my brain doesn't know I had my plumbing changed yet. I wonder if it is like ghost pains, like when someone has their leg amputated. I was just informed that my diet will change...it will be a low residue, whatever that means. I can still drink my smoothies and juice still.

Eat your fruits & veggies     xo Inge

Tomorrow is D day for me. Today I am packing the things I will be taking to the hospital. I also dyed my hair...I figure I should look my best for surgery :) I cannot eat solid food today...only clear liquids. My stomach is growling :(   At least I was able to gain 5 pounds, so I won't lose much more weight.  I am glad to be getting this colostomy bag sooner than later...I had so many "accidents" in my pullups while I was away from home the last two weeks I lost count. It will be nice to stop worrying where the bathrooms are and will I make it in time. I will be in the hospital for 4 days and I can't drive for 2 weeks. James will be coming over sometime today...he drove down from Oakland last night to be with me.

I just took 2 oral dlucolax gel pills (can someone explain to me why I had to get a store clerk to help me because the laxatives are locked up? Are the bulimics stealing this stuff???)  After an hour I have to drink a gallon of Gatorade mixed with Draino. You probably know how I will be spending my evening!
Oh, well...my tush will get one hell of a work out before it retires!

Eat your fruits & veggies!    xo   Inge

I turned on the tv yesterday morning and there was a story about a cancer survivor was being interviewed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He had quite a story to tell... he is known as the chef with no stomach
http://hansrue.blogspot.com/

Eat your fruit & veggies!    xo  Inge


p.s.    We qualified for food stamps. We are soooooo blessed. Thats one less thing to worry about.
Tomorrow we go and stock up on food...only 3 days before my surgery.

p.s.s.   I almost forgot to tell you...the other day I was talking to someone and all of a sudden I started farting....outloud! I was so embarressed...there was nothing I could do...remember I cannot control myself becasue my sphincter muscles are shot. This person though apparently did not hear a thing because he just kept talking. I decided if it...wait not if but when it happens again I will tell the other person to pull my finger!  ha!

I found a website called the Non GMO Project  that you might want to check out
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

Natural Foods Added to the Wall of Shame

http://www.naturalnews.com/033838_breakfast_cereals_GMOs.html

I buy Kashi products, but you better believe no more! The box of granola bars in my pantry are going back tomorow. Shame on YOU Kashi!

Here is a contact number where you can voice your opinion...to a REAL person.
Kashi Co. Private Company, Headquarters Location PO Box 8557, La Jolla, CA 92038-8557, United States (877)747-2467, (858)274-8870

There is so much to do before surgery that is only eight days away. Tomorrow I go to my surgeons nurse to get "marked." I have to bring a pair of jeans and a skirt. I want to make sure the colostomy bag won't rub against the waistbands. I have had several "accidents" this week so I will be happy to have that problem taken care of. I had my MRI yesterday, with the help of my happy pill. I was in that machine for 30 minutes but I was so loopy it felt like 5 minutes.

I was recently contacted by someone else who has cancer. They wanted to know what I was doing to get better. That got me thinking...maybe I should write an e-book to help others get through this illness. What do you think? I am already planning to speak at local churches and hospitals to encourage others who have cancer or people who have loved ones with cancer. Maybe that will be my new profession.

Eat your fruits & veggies!   xo Inge

What a busy week this is! I had my MRI today and it went well. This week I have to get blood work down, get tattooed where my bag will be, and stock up on groceries. I went to the beach on Sunday and there was group of people drumming. They show up every week and all are welcome. I had fun watching them and even danced a bit with aid of my walker. How lucky I am to live in Southern California! The weather is always great :) Eat your fruits & veggies! Inge http://youtu.be/c2PK56N8EIw

I saw my surgeon yesterday and I am scheduled to have surgery October 18th. He will install a colostomy bag for me. I have mixed feelings about that but I really do not have a choice. My body is pretty much healed and my sphincter muscles are shot. There is no reconstructive surgery for that. At least I will not be stranded at home in the mornings anymore. I will be in the hospital for about 4 days and healing for 6 weeks. I will not have to lose my colon, and the surgery will be done laparoscopically.

Tomorrow I see my oncologist, hopefully she has some information from the nerve testing I did a few days ago. Then I go back to the food stamp office and see if I qualify for help. I am not happy going to these agencies and I know I blogged about that before. I guess sometimes we have to do things we don't like in order to get where we want to go.

Eat your fruit& veggies!   xo  Inge

Well, I feel better today than yesterday. I did some thinking and came to the conclusion that my depression came from losing my power. When I became sick earlier this year my life was controlled by doctors, social service, and family. I literally slept from January to May. I was only awake to eat, use the bathroom, trips to doctors, and radiation treatments. I knew I was getting better when I wanted to go outside the house and for short car rides. I worked hard to be able to drive myself around. Fast forward to now and I want to get out of the house more. I want a job, a purpose. When I saw myself sitting in the social security office yesterday, I felt sick to my stomach. The more I talked with the social worker, the sicker I felt. My life was now going to be controlled by the government. They would decide how much money I would live on for the rest of my life. This was not going to work for me. I have always been active and working. Soooo, last night I told James about my fears and he told me "Mom, the perfect job for you might be staring you right in the face and you don't see it. You have been an inspiration to others who have followed your story since your diagnosis. Go out to colleges, churches, etc. and ask them if you can speak about your journey. There are people who want to hear it. They need hope."

So I decided to look at my situation as temporary. For now I can offer my services for free or donation and see where it takes me. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. So I will put together an outline for a speech and practise on my pets. I have my POWER back!!!
Eat your fruit & veggies!   xo  Inge