Just found out about this site as I am a lifetime member as of 3-30-09.
Had UC in '93, wore the bag for 11 months. Now I've turned 40 and for my milestone birthday, I was blessed with Crohn's and the bag! Just wanted to get on here and chitchat with you folks who are walking in the same shoes I am. Talk shop, you know, all the things we ostomates deal with on a daily basis. Anyone out there, I'd love to talk. I am in Cleveland, Ohio, had my surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Actually, right now I'm still on the mend. The doctors put a suprapubic tube (for urine) in me as well, so there is no activity out the back or front. Go back on 9-18 to get opened up again to remove my "J"-pouch from '93, make sure the healing is complete, take the "P" tube out, staple me back up, and only have to deal with the ostomy bag.
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Hope things go well for you. I was diagnosed with UC in '04. I found out I had it when I went to the emergency room because I didn't have enough strength to walk. The doctors said, "Well, you have to have surgery and put a bag on you," so I was like, "Well, what are my other choices?" He said, "We can send you home and let you die because your colon is about to explode." After that, I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks, then they released me without even showing me anything about my new friend, except for one nurse who said, "I think this is how it goes on." So, since then, I have had no stoma nurse or anything like that; I just kind of learned on my own. Having no insurance is a bummer.
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In both of my cases, I had no choice. It was surgery or be put 6 feet under! I thank God that He has been with me all these times. Without Him, I never would have known what to do and might not have gone to the hospital when I did. I don't know if you have had your surgery or not yet but I hope you will hang out on this website when you are done. I have learned a great deal through the people here and it is so great having others who have had the same thing done and been through what you are about to or have gone through. The only thing I have turned down is a reversal of the ileostomy. When the doctors did the emergency rebuilding of my original ileostomy this last February, I told them I did not want to go through this again. My doctor told me at that time that I was no longer a candidate for the reversal. In a way, I was very relieved. The last three years of my life have been a nightmare for me. I do not want to go through any of it again. If you wish to be rehooked up and they say you are a good choice for that, research it carefully. Every surgery I have ever had except for Old and New Maxine and the emergency surgery on my broken foot, I have spent weeks researching. I recently had my C5 C6 disk in my neck replaced with an artificial one. I went to my pre-op with 2 pages of questions for the doctor. I knew everything that they were going to do and could talk intelligently with them. I always try to research my adversaries! Don't cancel your surgery. It is nice not to have to suffer any longer with horrible pain. We all had to change a few things around when we had our surgeries but in the long run, most of us are glad we did it. I know I am. Good luck to you!
Sounds like we both have been through hell and back again. That UC got a hold of me and knocked me on my caboose. I was pale from losing blood, especially the red blood cells. I've never been a big person, but at my weakest moment before surgery, I was 114 pounds. I was knocking on death's door.
Had all 3 ops, 11 months later I had to learn how to crap again from my rear.
Then hit yet again with Crohn's and a lifetime member of the bag club.
Keep in touch, dude. I'll be looking for you
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