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@billliveshere I agree!

 

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@snow try Carewell, they don’t charge shipping for anything over 50 bucks and so it’s a good deal. They have Abena

 

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@laalaauk Which company do you order from?

My company is called Jade Uromed. There are plenty of companies in the UK such as Nightingale, Coloplast, Great Bear and I think most do complementary wipes and disposal sacks. Don't you get them across the pond also?

 

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Does anyone know of any company that doesn’t charge for shipping of samples? I don’t have much spare cash to pay for shipping right now.

I have got free samples from Coloplast and Hollister in the past.

 

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@laalaauk
You are correct. I too have received free products from both Hollister and Coloplast. The Coloplast clip on colostomy system is the absolute best. They also have a more comfortable and flexible wafer. Never a leak, nor odor from the Bag. There was also less skin irritation from their product over others. The hospital sent me home with Hollister products, thankfully my Ostomy nurse suggested the Coloplast SenSura Mio System. Made all the difference in the world to me!!! See below, I saved all my emails “If you have any questions regarding your order, please contact your Coloplast Customer Service Representative.
For Coloplast Support call 1-888-726-7872 or email samples@coloplast.com
Hope this helps. Not sure how many people on this site have to deal with ostomy issues? Maybe more than I realize. I’ ll start a new thread where I can share any info, tips and tricks for how I overcame my challenges

 

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@Nocturiaat55 Thanks to your and everyone for sharing your tips on free samples

 

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@laalaauk
Not sure how many people on this site have to deal with ostomy issues? Maybe more than I realize. I’ ll start a new thread where I can share any info, tips and tricks for how I overcame my challenges

I for one would appreciate that! I don't have an ostomy yet, but I'm anticipating losing my colon later this year. Still trying to get another colonoscopy scheduled to confirm the dysplasia they found in April, but even if they don't come up with dysplasia I may push for a colectomy with ileostomy since I'm in a very high-risk group for colon cancer.

 

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Been a few days so here's an update. Things are getting a bit better, been doing my kegels every day. Still using 3-4 pads a day but staying mostly dry at night with a pullup. It's only happened once but yesterday I was able to stand up from a chair without leaking, walk to the bathroom and pee normally! not been able to do that since but it was encouraging to say the least. Guess a step forward sand then back LOL.

Today is two weeks since my surgery.

 

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Any kind of surgery is a big deal as far as recovery goes. Surgery is an invasion of the body so time will heal. But for two weeks since, you're coming along just fine. Just keep doing what they tell you to do. My rule of thumb when recovering from something like that is to just do a little bit more each day than the day before. That way you won't feel like you're taking a step back for every step forward. Here's to your continuing recovery!

 

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Another week has gone by with more improvement. Still leaking but no longer the gushers I was having so pad usage is down. But I'm not feeling any "bladder full I need to go" sensations like before surgery so I have been trying to go on a regular basis which is helping. Is that lack of "need to go" normal and can I expect it to return eventually?

 

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Hi @ShelllKnobCat, It's great the improvement is continuing and that the "gushers" have diminished. You are making good progress! And congrats to staying with the program! I haven't had the type of surgery you've had but I'm not a bit surprised that that "gotta go" feeling is not there now. Even with minimally invasive surgery, the nerves around that area can and do get affected. After all, the nerves are invaded and they are reacting to all of that probing being done around the bladder and urethra. I've had two inguinal hernia surgeries. One was by laparoscopy and the other was a regular open incision. It quickly became obvious after the open surgery that the nerves around that area were affected. The area around my groin hurt like all get-out for few days and then settled down somewhat but not 100 percent completely. A few months later the surgeon sent me to a pain specialist who explained that those things commonly happen after hernia surgery but doesn't mean the surgery was botched. He gave me an injection that seemed to take care of the residual pain right then and there. Ask your doctor for confirmation, but I venture to say that the "gotta go" sensation will likely return when you are completely healed and the bladder nerves have had a chance to settle down and heal on their own. Once again, here's to your continuing recovery!

 

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Hi @ltapilot
so sorry to hear about your colon issues. If I can help in anyway let me know as I've been through it all. there are other sites, like this one that are focused more on colon issues. They may also offer advice. Best is to take it all in and make a decision that you feel most comfortable and safe with. all my best

 

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Weekly update. 3 weeks since catheter removal and still seeing improvement. Still using a pullup with a pad but may try just a pullup tomorrow and see hoe it goes. Upped my kegels to 5 sessions of 20 ten second sets per day - seems to be helping.

I am finding that, as everyone told me, patience is the key!

 

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I'm surprised the northshore dude hasn't posted here. As said before, Northshore does free samples. Beyond that, I think they have the best customer service I've ever dealt with. HDIS did samples years ago for free. I'm not sure if it was only to the Medicaid customers or not.

 

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Hi Shell knobcat, Glad to hear you are still improving. By all means do try just the pullup tomorrow and see how it goes! If not , ehn try it again in a couple of days. And it's good the kegels seem to be helping. And patience is indeed the key as recovering from any type of surgery is not an overnight thing. Just keep up the good work and even if you're feeling more on top of the world just keep doing the kegels and all that the dr suggests. Once again, Cheers! You da man!

 

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Patience is the key. Most people expect immediate results. It takes time to heal after any surgery or procedure. It took me over six years for my ulcers on my inner ankles to completely heal, only to have it come back. They're not diabetic ulcers, but venous insufficiency ones, which translates to poor blood flow. The valves in my veins don't work properly which results in blood pooling in my feet. That's why I wear compression socks. It helps push the blood back up my legs.

 

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Is it possible to overdo Kegels? I went from 4 sets of 20 5 second Kegels per day to 4 sets of 10 second Kegels and then 5 sets of 10 second per day. But i am seeing regression over the last couple of days with my "gushers" especially when I stand up and walk. Have I overdone?

 

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You are exercising a muscle. Like doing too many sit ups can make your abs sore and weak for a bit, so too can kegels. You can also over tighten the pelvic floor muscles. Think, a body builder with gigantic arms cant wipe his own ars very well. Just a thought. Give it a day or too and make sure to get enough protein in your daily diet for muscle regrowth and healing.

 

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Been a while since I posted. Now 7 weeks post surgery and 6 weeks post catheter removal. I have had a couple of nearly dry days but still having days when I use 3 pads - mostly days when I'm psychically active. So hoping the improvement continues. My post op PSA is Friday so nervous about that. I had a small positive margin and one of my seminal vesicles had cancer cells so the doc says it's 50/50 on whether I have a good PSA or not. If not I will then be doing 6 weeks of beam radiation therapy so hoping for a good PSA.

 

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Hi @ShellKnobCat and we are also hoping for you for a good PSA! We'll think good thoughts! Keep up with the physical activity as it will help you in the long run!