Back in 2013, I was suffering an incredible amount with Ulcerative Colitis. This is a debilitating disease that destroys the lining of the large intestine.
http://ownyouribd.com.au/the-road-to-ownership
After nearly 10years of extreme pain, I was advised that I had to have my entire large intestine removed. To some this would have been a fate worse than death. But for me this was giving me a life worth living.
At the time of the operation, I weighed in at only 65kg, I was grossly underweight and looked like death. My colleagues told me after, that they waited for that phone call to say that I had died any time that I showed up to work late.
So on 24 April 2013 I was wheeled into the operating theater for the first of 2 major operations that I would undergo over the next 18months. After about 6hours in surgery, they had removed about 90% of my large intestine and had created an opening on my belly where there would forevermore be a stoma that would act as a new bum.
The only part of my large intestine that was left as about 12inches from my rectum up. This was stitched just under the skin for easy access if needed.
About 24hours later, the part stitched under my skin exploded and had to be made into a secondary stoma.
This brings about a funny story. An Indian doctor attended me and told me that he was going to stitch it open there in the bed. To which I'm giving him a hell of a hard time. The nurses were in hysterics at my language and threats to stitch is own asshole shut if he didn't give me enough drugs.
Anyway, the head surgeon came and had a look and through it was a crap job, so she drugged the hell out of me and got to work redoing it.
So anyway, for the next 18 months I was left with 2 stoma bags on my stomach. This was a bit of a nightmare, but still better. It was then time for the 2nd surgery where they removed the last 12 inches and made it permanent.
The doctors did a great job, and ended up totally removing my rectum which was sown shut.
2 days later the surgeon comes to see me to see how it was all recovering. She rolls me over to look at my ass, and exclaims that it looks like Mike Tyson went 9 rounds on my ass.
So fast forward to today, everything is great. I still have a bag on me belly, if anyone gets into a farting contest I am always the winner.
Basically the reason for the story is to gain awareness that not all people with stomas are old guys, a lot of young people suffer from these as well. If anyone is in the process of preparing for one, I'm happy to chat about my experiences and offer some advise.
If you like my content, be sure to follow along and upvote and resteem, its greatly appreciated.
Fabulous inspirational story to share, and thank you for sharing it :)
I work as a health care assistant and I think your and bravery and positive approach is heartwarming!
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Yes.. i agree with you...
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Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate it. Be sure to follow along if you enjoy my ramblings :)
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You're most welcome, I definitely will !
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Thank you, your humour and attitude are awesome. I really enjoyed this post. I once had to have an emergency op right after a cesarean and the doctor said he was making me into a hot cross bun.
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Thanks mate. Thats funny "Hot Cross bun"
Hopefully you follow along with more of my ramblings.
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Your story mirrors mine. I was diagnosed in my mid 20s and never quite got UC under control for a decade, except for one year of a fairly decent remission. I finally decided to explore the "nuclear option" and had surgery to have my large intestine removed.
Fortunately I had family in Ohio and had access to stay with them during recoveries and travel to the Cleveland Clinic which is one of the top facilities for this type of thing. I had "j-pouch" surgery so my small intestine was brought down and reconnected forming a small internal storage reservoir. It took 3 operations over about a year and a half and during that time I had an ostomy bag as well.
Some folks would think having an ostomy is horrible, but once you've been through the UC it's life changingly wonderful. I'm grateful for my j-pouch but I know if I ever need to go back it would still leave me with a good quality of life.
Sounds like you've got a good handle on it and a good sense of humor. That's critical! I nicknamed my stoma Krang. If you've ever seen the old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, Krang was a little pink brain that rode around in the stomach of a giant robot and made all kinds of weird gurgling noises. It seemed to fit!
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Thanks for your comments Bryan. I had the option of a J-pouch but from my experiences and the work I do I didn't trust the results. It was just a gut feeling (pardon the pun) that told me not to do it. Maybe it was the wrong decision, but I regret nothing.
I nicknamed mine Steve in reference to Scuba Steve. I love Krang though, thats so cool.
Hopefully you follow along and read more of my weird ramblings.
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I could definitely see the ostomy being more convenient in some work situations. With the limited storage of the pouch I still go to the restroom a lot, although less than with UC and at least controllable!
The main concern is that it's nearly impossible to definitively say if someone has UC or Crohns. If Crohns manifests I could someday have a permanent ostomy myself.
I'm sure you made the right choice for you and your life is 1000x better than living with UC!
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As they say, what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. It was very brave of you to upload that picture. Amazing story, thanks for sharing.
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Thank you very much.
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I admire your courage and stamina and thank you for sharing this sensitive experience. I do believe many of us suffer due to so much of the food alterations like GMO's and artificial ingredients they through into everything. I am so sad to see you have had to suffer so badly. I do believe the Monsanto's and the FDA should be held accountable sooner or later.
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Thanks mate. I tend to agree with you. I grow a lot of my own food where I can but still even thats not 100% safe. Time to head for the hills i think.
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I've got a few people around with UC unfortunately, but had no idea this happened to you..Great post and story mate, I resteemed this :)
BTW consider setting a profile picture in the settings
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Thanks mate. Its something that I'll freely talk about, though 99% of people wont as it is a very disgusting and humiliating disease. I for one dont give a rats what people think of me, which is why I'm happy enough to talk and educate people on it.
I sorted out that picture finally.
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Greetings! Follow me at https://steemit.com/@bitgeek
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Thanks mate. Following along :)
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I also have an ileostomy due to UC. I've had it 4 years now but am having more surgery next month to create a J-pouch and hopefully reverse the stoma.
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