So... 3 years ago today was the day I got taken into theatre, only to wake up 7 hours later with an ileostomy - something I had never heard of before then.
All I can remember of that day was waking up ridiculously early in the hospital bed. I could barely hold my own weight, I'd been bed-bound for longer than I could remember and in hospital being pumped with drugs for 2 weeks. I was given IV antibiotics like Metronidazole, Ciprofloxacin, and Tazocin. I was given IV fluids because I couldn't eat. I was even given IV Ciclosporin, perhaps one of the strongest immunosuppressants around these days, all in the hopes that I wouldn't need surgery. Anyway, I woke up on the morning of the 10th so early, and hobbled straight to the toilet. I remember being in the worst pain of my life, my mum was in the hospital with me, staying in my room to keep me company, I remember waking her up by the sound of my struggling from the hospital bed, a few feet to the toilet dragging my drip stands along with me. She rang the nurses' button and they came in to start my painkillers for the day. I was drifting in and out of sleep for the whole day and by about 10 o'clock in the morning the doctor rushed in, at which point I was on the toilet again, and I will never forget what he said... I needed to be rushed into theatre to have my colon removed immediately. If I waited another day there's no telling if I'd have made it.
Anyway, I don't wanna go on about all the details and all the bad stuff.
I really wanted to write this blog as a kind of "milestone" blog. It's been 3 years since that day and probably the 3 hardest years I'll ever have to deal with in my life. I feel it changed me as a person, I had only just turned 16 when it all happened and now I'm 19 and I feel like I grew up much quicker than my friends, but honestly I don't think that matters.
Today I was at work, and this week I'm meeting an ostomate, I have some loving friends and a lovely boyfriend and right now life hasn't seemed so good. I've never felt more healthy, and even though I have days where I wish it had never happened, I've never felt more comfortable with who I am and what I look like. Before my operation, I couldn't remember a day where I felt fine and had no pain and didn't have to rush to the toilet every few hours, and now I'm back to better than normal!
Woohoo!
Franicaa
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pussycat
What an amazing, refreshing young lady you are. I'm sure this blog will be really reassuring to many young and old alike. Keep it up, kindest regards, Marilyn
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Hollister
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Past Member
So young and so wise - I am so glad that your life is now full of positivity - enjoy! Best wishes, Jenny
Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister