Back Home after 2 days!

I had my Take-down surgery on a Monday and went home on Wednesday morning.  The surgery went well, with no complications.  I woke up in the recovery room feeling a bit sore and drowsy, I didn't have a catheter and I also had no PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) pump, so asked for some more pain relief.  The nurse looked at the wound, and it was so bizarre not having a stoma and a bag on.  I remember telling the nurse, that's it I'm done with surgery, NO more I said hmmm apart from a C-Section and I want twins, two babies, one pregnancy, job done!! We did laugh.  I was so excited the morning of my surgery, I was very happy.  My first poo put paid to that!  I was back on the ward very quickly and was drinking fortisip and water and also got out of bed so I could have a wee.  My stomach and all along my right hand side was very sore, it felt a very deep muscular pain, not surprising really.  A few hours later I had a little walk to the bathroom.  The nurses were all impressed with my speedy recovery, and I did well.  The first night after surgery that morning I had my first bowel movement!  Eeek there wasn't much, but it was very runny and extremely acidic.  I didn't expect to get butt burn that quickly but I did.  The pressure in my bum was unbearable.  I had two bowels movements that night.  In the morning the surgeon came to see me and was very pleased, as I had done a poo!!!  He said I could be discharged that day, which seemed really quick.  I told the nurses I would wait till the afternoon to make sure everything was ok before going home.  By mid day, the pressure was awful and I was in so much pain.  I laid on my bed with my knees up and managed to pass wind! thank goodness!!  haha.  It was a huge relief but the pain, spasms and fullness was horrid.  By the time my boyfriend came at visiting time I was so tired and emotional.  I was crying and didn't know what to do.  I felt overwhelmed by it all, my brain, my body and my poor bottom didn't know what was going on.  I missed my stoma.  I didn't feel I was emptying my pouch properly, I always felt "the urge".  Needless to say, I stayed the night and left the hospital in the morning.  

J-Pouch Op Tomorrow!

The day has nearly arrived, I am packing my bags for the hospital in preparation for tomorrows take down surgery!  I'm am feeling a mixture of emotions from, excited, nervous, sad, happy but in the most part I'm in denial!! I can't get my head around the fact that tomorrow I will have my reversal and have a poo (the normal way).  Today will possibly be my last stoma bag change forever, that seems incomprehensible.  I'm not nervous about the operation, but thinking about going for a poo is really, really scary.  I'm scared I will feel like I have UC again, scared about the possibility of being incontinent and scared I will feel restricted again by my bowel habits.  But I really can't control any of these things and try to remind myself to be positive and confident.  I am SO determined to be a successful J-poucher :)  Worrying won't get me anywhere.   So lets focus on what I am looking forward to:


Eating a more varied diet, especially salad.
Absorbing more nutrients and fluids.
Lying on my front.
Not having the bag on.
Low cut jeans and clothes.
Wearing small pants.
Another step forward to recovering and getting a job.
Reaching my goal of being healthy and being able to look forward to starting a family in a few years. 
No more medications.
No more operations.


Goodbye stoma, hello J-Pouch!


L x

Gastritis....ITIS...ITIS...ITIS!

Hello :)


Long time no blog! I have Gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach lining...hmmm sounds all too familiar.  It has knocked the stuffing out of me!  I am not happy.  I went to the doctors last Thursday and he gave me a diagnosis and medication.  I've been on Ranitidine for four days and the vomiting has stopped for the last two days but I am still in constant pain and really suffering.  I cant help but feel alarmed by this sudden illness, I am naturally worried about the health of my stomach after the years of abuse from the concoction of drugs it has had to digest.  I've never had gas problems or gastritis before so this is new too me and I don't like it.  I feel anxious that all of a sudden I will deteriorate and need to go to hospital, which I know is silly but when you battle chronic illness this feeling can rear its ugly head when your ill.  I have had a strong talk with myself to GET A GRIP!  


This is not good timing either because I have my Pre-Op Assessment on Wednesday,just three days away.  I doubt they will be happy for me to have anaesthetic with my current Epi-Gastric problems.  What will be, will be...