Tab ... check in with us when you're feeling up to it.

[Tracer]

n/t

[Tab]

1. Just got discharged last night, after 12 days in hospital

was originally just planning on 4 or 5 days.

Just like surgery was expected to be about 3 hours but took closer to six.

So much scar tissue had built up since radiation treatment ended in mid-December.

The tumor was also further down than they thought, resulting in my having a permanent colostomy (although it's actually not as bad as I thought). Major resectioning, major use of Percocets.

But I'm alive and functional. Things hurt, but I'm more functional than I thought I'd be at this point in time.

On the bright side I have a note from my doctor in the discharge instructions saying "No heavy lifting" and "No strenuous activity" and even one about my diet warning me to have little roughage, so "no broccoli, cauliflower, ... etc", although that would have been of more use when I was 10 years old than it is now.

So, long haul, but I have to say that although I tire easily still (may also be the meds) that when I am up I have more energy than usual, so maybe that thing was sucking me dry.

Thanks for asking, and for your support :)

- Tab

[elleng]

2. THANK GOODNESS!!!

WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU, THINKING, HOPING, AND PRAYING!!!!

O8) :bounce: :grouphug:

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Glad to hear you're back!

Broccoli gives people gas. You ain't missin' nuttin'.

[The empressof all]

4. We've all been thinking of you...

Jeeze no cauliflower or brocolli :cry:---Honestly if it weren't so healthy for me I'd just as soon do away with it. We'll come up with lots of things that you can eat and enjoy in the kitchen.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. Good .......

I missed you and your funny/goofy/smart posts at C&B.

Heal, relax, enjoy the pain pills if you can, and come hang out when you're up for it.

In the meantime, you'll still be missed .................

[mtnester]

6. The C&B gang misses you Tab

and we cannot wait for your unique and special humor to bring us more stories there.

Glad you are home, it is the best place to recover.

[japple]

8. Yeah, Tab. C & B is in the doldrums without your unique

perspective.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, and a glowing, healthy future.

[Warpy]

7. If there's a colostomy support group in your area

and they didn't visit you in the hospital, give them a call. They can give you a lot of tips and tricks for living with them that often don't occur to health professionals.

You can locate one at http://www.uoaa.org/

Online support is at http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/ among others. That one has an IRC chat that meets once a week. They also review the latest developments in appliances from the user's point of view.

[Tracer]

9. So glad you're doing OK!!

Re the colostomy: my neice's husband had one when he was 29 (Crohn's Disease) and it sure hasn't stopped him! He swims, skis, runs, coaches kids' soccer and has procreated 2 more kids since the op.

[madmax]

10. Great news Tab!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wishing you a speedy recovery. You've been a real trooper throughout this ordeal and I admire your courage. :hug:

:bounce: :party: :bounce:

[sazemisery]

11. YEAH, you're back!

We have missed you and have worried about you. Did you ever figure out what to do about that hole in your funnel. I got mine out of the drawer and it also has one. Any help be appreciated.








PS - Glad you are back

[noiretextatique]

12. welcome back, Tab

:toast: glad you got through the surgery and are on the road to recovery.

[Tab]

13. Finally done with chemo

CT scan shows all clear. PET scan in a few weeks, nothing unusual expected.

Still have souveniers (e.g.: colostomy, limited bodily function) but I guess the big C is gone. Frustrating, but it could be worse - some people don't get rid of the big C, and have far more limitiations. That's how I look at things - no matter where you are, someone always has it worse. I'm lucky to be alive and functioning, a few parts missing, and a few other parts not functioning. Picked up diabetes along the way. Altogether, though, I shouldn't be dead this time next year. I know not everyone can say that, so best wishes to them, and I'll try to appreciate what I'm left with just that much more.

Thanks to all for your support.

- Tab

[JohnnyLib2]

14. Thanks for the update, and the upbeat attitude.

Onward, ever onward.