No re-siting

In a most unpleasant meeting with Dr. Landmann at Mayo he told me that he will not re-site my stoma. I have now reported him to the Mayo patient ombudsman, not because of this answer (because we knew it was 50-50 going into this meeting)  but because of his attitude.   I will not detail what happened in that meeting because it gets me all upset again, but suffice it to say, it was very bad.  This physician should be fired.  I finally told him at the end of the meeting that he was never to tell an ostomate that he "understood."   It was clear he did not understand.  That is why I am energized to produce a video with the UOAA (if it doesn't already exist)  to explain to medical professionals what a day in the life of an ostmate is.  It would be required viewing in every medical school.

The consensus among the ostomates we know from our support group seems to be that most GI surgeons are SOBs.  They cut you up and then leave you to the nurses to take care of you.  They could care less about your follow-up care so long as their wound heals.  Your daily life is way below their level of thinking or caring.   But it seems like this should be reversed.  After all, surgery is merely mechanical. . a lower thinking skill is required for it when you consider it.  ( It does require an ability to detach, though.  Perhaps that is why surgeons are such SOBs?)  The care of a stoma and ostomates' concerns can be quite complicated depending upon their underlying illness (cancer, IBS etc) and whether it is an iliostomy, a colostomy or where the exit is.  So my hat is off to every wound care nurse in America.  . . the ones we have met have been professional as well as caring.  Bravo to them. 

This incident has also caused me to realize, at an even deeper level,why ostomates need others in a support group.  We need to heighten awareness among the public, help each other with problems and educate surgeons in particular, but educate the entire medical profession.  This will keep me busy for a week or so! '-) 

So, in other news all is fine. . .everyone is healthy and we're going to the ocean today! 

Hope you are doing well,


Peggy