I have had step one of two and am currently completing chemo - 9 of 12 down. My Doctor would like me to wait 3-4 months to have takedown which would hit in begining of summer. I have 10 and 8 year old boys who play baseball(one will probably be on two teams this summer), go to basketball camp and swim in our pool. I would like advise as to when I should have takedown. If I have it in June will I be able to keep up our busy schedule or should I wait until August and they are back in school. By the way, I am a stay at home Mom so going back to a job is not in question.

Hi Jeannie,

I think you have just answered your own question. I think you should wait until August when the boys will be back at school and you will have more time to adjust to your new plumbing. Besides, the extra couple of months will mean that hopefully the chemo will be well and truly out of your system and won't interfere with your new j-pouch function.

Good luck

Shell

I had my takedown 4 1/2 weks after my initial surgery. I had an X-ray of the pouch at 4 weeks and all was healed and so had the second surgery a couple days later.

The second surgery was "a peice of cake". I was home 3 or 4 days later and back in the gym with the week; no pain and no complications. i had early stage CC so had oral chemo, Xeloda but did not start it until after the takedown. It was so easy compared to the intial surgery!!!!

Why your delay? Do you have complicatins of some kind?

I was extremely ill going in to step one. Chemo is very hard on me and I lost over 40lbs very quickly. I developed blood clots in my arm due to dehydration and then a dangerous allergic reaction to oxyplatin, one of my chemos. My doctors want me strong going into step 2. It sounds like you had a great step two, I hope I do!

Shell thanks for your advice, I would hate it for my kids to be stuck at home with a sick Mom again this summer. I am just looking foward to getting rid of the bag.

Jeannie

Jeannie,

Your doctor told you you could have step 2 3-4 months after you finish chemo? I just completed treatment 9 of 12 as well and my surgeon wants to see me one month after chemo. I know I won't have step 2 surgery that soon, but 3-4 months. That's a long time to wait for the chemo to get out of my body.
Best of luck to you as you and I have been and will be going through this together.

You should physically feel fine soon after takedown but you'll be adjusting to your new plumbing. In my opinion, it would be nice to go through the active summer with your boys without worrying about bathroom issues. I'd wait until summer is over.

-Kenadi

Jeannie,
I like Jasons thinking. I suppose it depends on your battle with the Chemo...but if your thinking about when to have it, your on top of it! I think your doctor wants some weight back on you before step two. I think a little weight will help you keep up with the boys! If August is good for you, your system might be good for Thanksgiving and Christmas. One Christmas I hung a stocking in the bathroom! Helped out quite abit. You and Jason are my hero's. Monday I talk about biopsies for my lymphoma cancer thing. I still don't buy it. After the dilation and new meds, things are well. My pancreas seems to have both doctors semi concerned. Even then its early and the prognosis is excellent. Good Luck, I'll be watching you and Jason. Arthur

I would say to wait until your kids are back at school in August, or even longer if you feel you need to. Enjoy your summer! I waited nine months between surgeries to get stronger, and I did not go through chemo.

Good luck to you!
Becky

Another thing you can do is actually make the appointment for the surgery for June and see how you're feeling. You can cancel that surgery up until the time they put you under.

I was in the hospital for two days for my takedown. But, here's the thing - we don't have that crystal ball that will tell us exactly how things will go - darn it. So we just have to go with our best judgement. If you have surgery earlier rather than later, and you hit bumps in the road, they'll get resolved. As others have said, they've waited much longer than the norm before having takedown and felt just fine with it. So I guess I'm saying, that whatever decision you make will be the right one.

kathy

Thanks everybody, I think I probably already knew I should wait but wanted others advice. I will probably wait unless I start having problems with the ostomy.

I wish I has the cyrstal ball or magic eight ball my kids ask things to get the right answer!!

Jeannie