I was interviewed for another radio spot recently, along with other CRC survivors in the greater Seattle area — here’s the link for this one (I’m at the beginning).

I also went in yesterday for a barium enema — this is the first of two diagnostic appointments that need to happen, before my ostomy reversal surgery scheduled for Apr 21. All seems ok, based on the real-time feedback they provided during the procedure, and the summary now available in mychart:

1. Status post low anterior resection with patent end-to-end anastomosis and no leak of contrast seen.

2. The remainder of the large bowel is normal in appearance.

For folks like myself with an ostomy, the barium enema procedure is easier in some ways — you don’t have to do any of the bowel prep that is normally required. They did ask me to bring in supplies for an ostomy bag change, as there is a possibility of the contrast flooding the bag and causing it to burst. Fortunately that did not happen (although some contrast eventually made its way into the bag, later that day).

I did get a helpful piece of advice from the ostomy facebook group that I follow — to bring an adult diaper to this appointment, and put it on immediately after. This is because that contrast solution — which is all inserted through the rectum — gradually seeps out, for quite a long time. I was surprised to find that it was still coming out, well into the next day. Yes, fun fun. But glad the results are good. Next step: endoscopy on Apr 14, right after I return from India.