Recommendation to surgeon - Brisbane or Gold Coast, Australia

I was just wondering if anyone in this forum is from the Brisbane or Gold Coast in Australia and could recommend a good surgeon based on their experience?

Hi Richard. Thanks for your reply. I actually had my surgery at the end of June performed by Dr Mark Doudle at Pindara Private Hospital. He is a really good surgeon and I can recommend him highly to anyone in southeast Queensland who happens to come across this thread and is looking for a colorectal surgeon.

Thanks, Richard. My surgery was 4 days after yours.

I have an end ileostomy. My stoma nurse was a source of help and comfort in the immediate aftermath of surgery. I haven't seen her for about 4 months. Most of the mystery of a stoma has now disappeared. I used to contact the stoma nurse at least once or twice a week in the first month after surgery. But now, as long as the stoma looks okay, feels okay and functions okay, I put it to the back of my mind. Life is much much better than it was with UC.

Hope everything is going well for you.

I had the option of a j-pouch but I chose an end oleo because I wanted to have the least number of surgeries. I was an unorthodox case for the surgeon - I decided to have surgery before exhausting all the medication options. I wasn't prepared to take steroids and the risk of side effects from immunosuppressants for the rest of my life (while still living with the rollercoaster ride that comes with UC) didn't make much sense. Once mesalmine drugs didn't work, I decided to be done with UC and drugs, and I feel much better both physically and psychologically. And no risk of bowel cancer is an added bonus!

Sorry to hear you are having issues with skin irritations. My stoma sometimes points southeast but it is about an inch long (although sometimes during periods of inactivity it is smaller). Since surgery, I have regained weight that UC robbed so my stoma sits in a bit of a concavity, if that makes sense. Because of this, I technically have a leak since the adhesive part of the appliance doesn't sit flush against the skin all the way around the stoma. But I never have skin irritation. Perhaps one reason is the output is usually thick rather than loose. And every time I change the appliance (which is usually every 4 days) I always leave a ring of stoma powder and anti-fungal powder around the base of the stoma. I also use Bravia Skin Barrier Wipes around the stoma and the adhesive area.

I've not experienced any sweat-related issues with the adhesive. The past few weeks have been quite humid here but the appliance has withstood the sweating. I use a Hollister product - perhaps you can experiment with a different product to see if that helps?

I hope you find a system that works for you. It's still early days and, while I understand skin issues are annoying and uncomfortable, the consolation is life without UC.

I used to change my appliance twice a week on regular days - Sundays and Thursdays. Then I got a bit lazy and skipped a day .... 5 days has been the longest between changes. I don't have any leaks or irritation, so I decided to change every 4 days just to keep things clean and to make sure everything is looking OK.

All the best for the festive season.