THE INDIANA BLOG

You girls are just cracking me up! Thanks so much for making my afternoon!

Christine

Christine,

I would send a photo of my "rosebud" but I'm sure the photo would not do her justice...named my stoma rosebud because it was the name that just came to me and I felt it worked...funny that I named my stoma "Rosebud" and when I first told my doc, at a checkup he was really amused because apparently when he was being taught how to create the stoma, he was told to create a "rosebud". So during my early days of training my new system, I always told Rosebud that she was the most beautiful stoma in the entire universe. And she is.

Wow... like I said, I thought it was a lot different... so glad you are happy with it and can share your story with all the newbies!

I have a big scar that runs from just below my navel to the suprapubic bone, and a couple of little round scars on the sides from the JP drain and the stents. The first year after surgery, I didn't want anyone to see that scars. By the second year, I decided that I really didn't care anymore.

On the hospital concern, I had a fall from my horse last year and was knocked out for a bit. Luckily, my husband was with me and was able to explain the whole catheter thing in the ER. It's pretty essential because one of the first things that happens when you go into shock is that your urinary system tries to get rid of everything possible. So, I got a new Medical ID bracelet. After thinking about it, 90% of regular medical people will not have a clue what a Studer pouch is or what to do about it. They need to hear it in "layman's terms" with specific instructions. The new bracelet says, "Bladder Cancer, must cath to void, ICE XXX-XXX-XXXX" (my husband's cell #). Something to think about...

I am chuckling thinking about having you on the ambulance, unconscious, when your belly sends up a geyser... it would be really funny if nobody knew about the stoma! I can just hear the conversation between the medics in the back...

I got mine here: n-styleid.com/ and was VERY impressed with the quality, price, shipping time, size flexibility and the styles offered. I'd highly recommend them...

Christine

If i was smart enough to download a pic i would...but it looks exactly like a belly button...there is a flap of upper skin which covers the red stoma and it kind of recedes anyway. i doubt anyone would know even in an emergency room that i had a pouch...and thats pretty scary if i was unconsious..don't even want to contemplate that!!
pat

How cool is that, Pat! I had visions of this big, pink thing that looked like a wad of chewed gum in my belly-button or on my side... guess I had the wrong vision! Maybe this is a bit too personal, but can you post a picture? Or PM one to me? I'd really like to see what one looks like! You know, just a little shot of the new, "useful" belly-button... LOL Maybe others would like to know, too? Especially the ones trying to figure out which diversion to choose. I'll happily post the pics of most of my scars... to a point, you know... this isn't Playboy!

I'm kind of a visual person and can't say that my surgeon was much of an artist with a pen and paper, so I had to use my imagination at the time. I may well have chosen the Indiana Pouch if I had a clearer picture of what it entailed at the time.

Thanks,
Christine

I'm still happy with my neobladder. I've always been hypercontinent and have no issues with cathing two and a half years down the line! Rarely hear about Indiana pouches in the UK though.