i can ride at the 42 day mark: anyone riding with a colostomy?? POD#2 TAKEDOWN DONE!

[spiderman]

since my emergency surgery,
i feel stronger
am walking 4-5 miles a day
and have been cleared to get back to work a week from today.
i plan to start slow and advance as tolerated.
any time after labor day my surgeon
(who knows me well and is a good friend)
would be willing to do the "take-down"/reanastomosis
...closing the loop on the original surgical procedure, as it were...
so--great news--why the post??
here's the deal.
i have been given the green light to ride with the ostomy at the 6-week mark
and could delay the takedown until later in the year
when the riding is not as nice.
even if the takedown is successful laparascopically
the same 42 day recovery after the surgery applies.
i kind of like the idea of working/riding/living with an ostomy
because it can be done
and it saved my life...
the other impulse is to get the restorative procedure done right away
(2 more weeks out of work post-op)
not sure there would be many willing to ride/draft ostomy-guy...
although my surgeon assures me
my patients will be eager to see me back in the saddle at the office...
the local peloton will be the same--just don't get yourself knocked off the bike!
at any rate, i am signed up to have the consultation
right after labor day and have some time to consider how to go forward
as i walk on
throughout this month of august.
thanks, friends
peace
spidey

[Pete Serotta]

each day is a new one....keep on moving forward. In life we move forward or backward.....

I will have to look at the dictionary on some of the words, but if you are close to RALEIGH,,,"Lets Ride or have a wine"!


Where are you located/live :bike:


PETE

[thwart]

Good to hear. Hope those first miles are coming up soon.

[dekindy]

You know that you need to make completing the medical procedures the top priority. Snap out of it! Riding means a lot to me also but you need to keep it in perspective.

[thwart]

Yeah, but Spidey's a doc, IIRC.

He knows the benefits that exercise (and the resulting positive attitude) can have on the healing process. And is well-informed about possible downsides...

[spiderman]

You know that you need to make completing the medical procedures the top priority. Snap out of it! Riding means a lot to me also but you need to keep it in perspective.

an ostomy reversal is an elective procedure.
i do feel blessed that i am a candidate for the reversal
but many folks don't have that option...there are also inherent risks
that make riding with an ostomy seem very attractive.
even though chaning my mind-set about my own body image
is quite a challenge, i am finding there is a great deal
of mis-information out there about ostomies and althletes who have them...
nice to have one of the best surgeons there is
right here in my small town in rural iowa
who is helping me overcome my own flawed notions about ostomies!

[gasman]

You know that you need to make completing the medical procedures the top priority. Snap out of it! Riding means a lot to me also but you need to keep it in perspective.

I would disagree. There is no need to rush what is an elective surgery. Spidy knows his body and he will probably find it will still take a while before he is back to full strength. I think waiting is a good idea both mentally and physically. it's what I would do also.
Good luck.

[dekindy]

Yeah, but Spidey's a doc, IIRC.

He knows the benefits that exercise (and the resulting positive attitude) can have on the healing process. And is well-informed about possible downsides...

Doesn't any professional that that advises/treats themselves have a fool for a client/patient?

[gasman]

Doesn't any professional that that advises/treats themselves have a fool for a client/patient?

He's not treating himself. He's clear that what he's doing is with the full knowledge and consent of the surgeon. I've seen this same scenario dozens of times. It's all good.

[MattTuck]

Sounds like a tough choice. I think that if you can do it safely and not risk further damage (ie. does a crash risk sudden serious injury that a person without a bag wouldn't face?).

Also, I know jack crap about ostomy bags, but my gut reaction is that it might be uncomfortable and a pain in the ass to ride with.

I think if the doctor says its safe, and you're not risking any serious complication, it could be ok.

[firerescuefin]

I would do it sooner than later, but that's the way that I am wired. You love riding year around, so is that really a driver.

I would see how you feel as you heal up and let that be the guide. You're in SUPER shape, you know what your up against (more than most) with regard to what it is going to take to get back to where you want to be.

[Fixed]

get well soon , enjoy the ride when you can

cheers

[thinpin]

Aside from colitis patients, I think you're the first man I've heard of showing affection for his colostomy ;) Its not going to be a problem,but a quick look or a few questions in the colitis forums (not sure of the url on USA boards) will turn up lots of folk very active with ostomies, if its practical info your after.
Heal well.

[etu]

after perforated diverticulitis, i would recommend waiting at least 3 months. makes the second operation easier, scar tissue gets softer. waiting makes sense especially since you're going to try to get it done laparoscopically. laparoscopic assisted colostomy takedowns are not the easiest operations to do.
wait until the winter when the riding is not as good!

[Dekonick]

No answer for you, but best wishes for a speedy revocery.

[AngryScientist]

spidey,

listen to your body

listen to your surgeon

listen to your heart

take time and let your brain sort out the details.

wishing you a speedy and full recovery. :beer:

if only we lived closer, i would help keep llew's wheels turning :D

[spiderman]

spidey,

listen to your body

listen to your surgeon

listen to your heart

take time and let your brain sort out the details.

wishing you a speedy and full recovery. :beer:

if only we lived closer, i would help keep llew's wheels turning :D
I would love to see llew, et al
Getting some miles in...
My nurse is finding the best week
To schedule the surgery when both surgeons
Involved in my case will be operating
Here again together...
Sounds like I will have at least
A few weeks of gentle riding
To help me have a peak in my fitness
Before my next operation...
Just never thought I would ride with an ostomy
...Makes me wonder if I will
Have renewed interest
In riding gutcheck (48 hours to cross south dakota)
But now with some personal experience

[BojiBiker]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but

The Gutcheck 212 in 2012 has a nice ring!
After all, how cold can it get in August?
and
I don't think there's a tandem record yet??!?

Spidey,
For purely selfish reasons, Get well soon!
I miss your wheel!
The BojiBiker

ps. Let me know when you need another lake lap.

[spiderman]

Thanks for all the well wishing, prayers and encouragement!
I returned to work, starting with a very light schedule
From 9 to noon and have now advanced to most of the day
And on call...4 deliveries last week!

I was doing so well both of my surgeons suggested I start
Back with some gentle riding to prepare for my "takedown"
14 september -- G-d willing --

So, yesterday my wife and daughter took me out
For a lake lap...with a power nap at our cabin
Which is at the halfway mark.
I rode the terraplane for the first half
And felt great...colostomy didn't bother one bit!
I have an appliance that I received as a sample
That worked great, but I think my every day system
Will work well also.
My daughter and I switched bikes for the ride home.
We met up with our friend and lbs owner
Who rode me home...he has always been a great coach
And really encouraged me in my recovery riding!
20 gentle miles total
And I felt great and ready for more!

[93legendti]

One of the strongest riders in our group has ridden with a colostomy bag for years. He needs to stop sometimes to empty it, other than that you do don't know it is there.

[spiderman]

One of the strongest riders in our group has ridden with a colostomy bag for years. He needs to stop sometimes to empty it, other than that you do don't know it is there.

would be interested in fielding a few questions
from a novice ostomy/cyclist...

[beungood]

How big is it how do you attach it under your kit? I salute you for your determination to keep riding! I have an issue going on now and am hlding off til the season winds down and I go to hunting camp ,I usually slow down then when I get back ride tl snow comes. I second the Opinion if listening to your body/Doctor and heart.

[spiderman]

How big is it how do you attach it under your kit? I salute you for your determination to keep riding! I have an issue going on now and am hlding off til the season winds down and I go to hunting camp ,I usually slow down then when I get back ride tl snow comes. I second the Opinion if listening to your body/Doctor and heart.

The stoma itself is situated just to the left of the umbilicus
And has shrunk to about 32mm.
I either use a 2-piece system that my wife thinks
Looks like the ironman device
Or a one piece which is a little more streamlined for riding
...Tucking into my bib shorts pretty neatly...
Felt good to be out today on the kirk (38/16).
My wife and I rode to a neighboring town for lunch
--50 mile round trip! Felt great!

[93legendti]

I sent you an email with my friend's name and email. He is also on FB. Plz let me know if he doesn't respond. I will be riding with him on Tuesday...

[spiderman]

thanks serotta friends for the kind words and encouragement!
i was cleared to ride for the last few weeks and really enjoyed
getting out on the terraplane to start, then the ottrott, the speedvagen
and finally the new kirk crosser...
(And a few lake laps on 'my fixie')
i rode a wonderful 50 miler with my wife,
then took the cross bike out for a little romp at the end of the day
for a sunset tour of the hogsback.
on my last downhill before heading home
at my maximum speed...
i took a stick in the rd
and the wheel came to a skidding stop.
i maintained control of the bike but needed to call for a ride
with the derailleur hanger twisted around the cassette...
(you can see the pics if you're curious in the custom bikes section)
dave has checked out the frame and even though i had noticed
a defect in the paint at the tt/ht lug
he pointed out that the separation (what i would call a fracture)
is of even more concern and will need repair...
...not unlike finding out this week before my takedown/reanastomosis
that the original 10 inches of colon removed
contained a highly aggressive, dyplastic (serrated adenoma) polyp.
good news: no radiation or chemotherapy.
bad news: colonoscopy at age 50 and every 5 years minimum...
every one to three years if further polyps are found.
my scope tuesday was completely clean
(no polyps or further diverticulum)
and the reanastomosis wednesday went well.
i came home today on a regular diet and no medications...
and am feeling particularly blessed--
just wanting to say thanks, friends!
...obtw, my surgeon has already given me my back in the saddle date
october 12th
with the caveat
"listen to your body
and make the kind of recovery from your last surgery
and this surgery may be your last"...
www.cyclingthelakes.blogspot.com
obtwbtw,
i was prepared for anything with the colostomy during each ride
and only needed to change out my appliance completely one time...
...in a cornfield on the way home with my wife on saturday...
:bike:
otherwise it stayed pretty quiet while riding
as long as i didn't talk about,
think about
or get a good whiff of
really good food!

[Keith A]

Great news and I'm so happy to hear that you are progressing nicely. Let's hope and pray that all continues to go well and that you'll be good as new someday soon.

[AngryScientist]

great stuff spidey, glad to hear things are relatively well, keep up the healing, and the riding!

:beer:

[R2D2]

Glad all is going well.
Just take it slow and easy and spin for a while....
It took me at least a year to come back from my abdonimal surgeries.

[thwart]

Good to hear overall things are doing well... and the bike can be fixed.

After what you've just gone through, the occasional colonoscopy probably doesn't sound all that bad.