Tag: stoma

Since getting home from the hospital, I’ve been trying to rebuild my stamina and leg strength with short walks around where I live. I’ve made huge progress, being able to walk for longer without experiencing any pain after, however, I do get stiff and start to hunch my shoulders and lean forward after a while. This means I slow down drastically and find it hard to keep walking unless I sit down for a while. My fiance suggested (as did a friend of mine a little while back) that I get a walking stick to see if it would help. I got this earlier this week while we were out in town (and I was feeling stiff at the time); the moment I started using it, I was upright and moving much faster and easier than I had been before.

I have no intention of using it all the time as I don’t want to become reliant on it, but I think it was a good idea getting it for use at least in the short term. I used it today to get to and from my doctors and I didn’t feel soar or stiff afterwards.

As I have every intention of going to the London Expo Comic Con at the end of this month, I will be taking it with me as I know I’ll be doing plenty of walking around (also, it’ll hopefully provide a sort of barrier between me and the crowds). So, if anyone is going to the London Expo this year and sees a Misty with a walking stick, it’s probably me.

I went to the doctors for an ECG this afternoon because my resting heart rate has been abnormally high (between 100-130 bpm) since leaving the hospital. The nurse said although it’s steady, it is high so she showed my doctor and said it could be that my potassium levels have dropped again so I’m going to have a blood test tomorrow morning. I may have to start eating more bananas.

I’ve been less stiff today; I slept for a bit on the sofa last night with a hot water bottle on my stomach next to my bag and the pressure-heat combo seemed to relax my muscles. Also, my ankles aren’t as swollen today.

I’m still a little tender around the middle but I think that’s a combination of having done too much over the weekend and having a bit of trapped wind. I feel more comfortable than yesterday though so if I continue to take it easy over the next couple of days, things should improve.

Feeling a little fragile this evening. My stomach and gut feel heavy and tight but not painful. I’m also bloated from the steroids and my ankles have swollen again. I think I may have over done last weekend.

I’m getting tired but I don’t really want to go to bed felling like this. I think I’ll put a film on and lay on the sofa with my feet elevated. That’s helped before and, if I lay on my back but prop myself up a bit, it might help my stomach relax.

Check up all done

Everything went well, the nurse isn’t concerned about my tiny bump because it’s not hot or red and it isn’t painful. She said it’s to do with the mucus fistula; it’s normal to get a little bit of mucus from the back passage, so to just go to the toilet if I get the urge to.

She is also happy with how the bag is after two days (so not corroding too much, ect) and how my stoma is looking. She said there’s a little separation around it but it’s nothing to worry about because it’ll heal over time. Once I’m off the steroids, it should heal a lot faster.

Next appointment is in three weeks (they couldn’t do four) which’ll be just before the London Expo Comic Con – which I have every intention of going to – so it’s probably best I get checked before I go, just in case.

I noticed a tiny bump just above my groin wound. It’s painless and doesn’t seem solid so it’s probably nothing to worry about, but I’m going to ask my stoma nurse about it anyway. I’ve got my second check up this afternoon so I can ask her about a few other things as well.

Had a good day in Winchester today. Stopped off for lunch at the guildhall cafe then went for a little walk around the park before heading home. I may have overdone it a tiny bit because my stomach is a little achy and I was struggling to walk faster than a snails pace, so I’m relaxing for the rest of the day. 

Short day trip

I had an appointment for Universal Credit this morning and because it was in the middle of town (which isn’t that far from where I live), we decided to do a little shopping. I got a few things for my stoma emergency kit as well as a new pair of shorts. It was a good day, even if I am a little tired from all the walking. I was a little stiff from not doing much yesterday so I think it was good to go out for a bit today.

Got some clothes from a friend the other day. They fit really well and are so comfy, even with my bag. I’m really grateful to her; she even bought me a new skirt and top yesterday out of the blue! I feel a lot less self-conscious now when I go out because I have clothes that’ll cover my bag but not restrict it.