So after being on the mend from this two step surgery. With one anniversary behind me and approaching the anniversary of surgery step number 2 I have come to the conclusion that the wrapping left behind was not so pretty.
It's not pretty or neat. It's not colorful. I can not even see it. But it is there. Some days wrapped pretty darn tight.
What wrapping am I talking about....well that would be scar tissue.
I think I have the most at the the ostomy site. While the scar from the outside still shows and well doesn't flatter my tummy...it could be worse. So I'll take it. Most days I don't even notice it. But when that naughty wrapping on the inside tightens up....oh what a pain.
Does anyone else have this issue? I am pretty sure that it was partly to blame for my blockage back in November with my hospital stay.
Tell me about your wrapping. I'd love to swap stories.
Still healing,
ML
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
One year.
Today marked the one year mark for my first surgery.
I felt kinda strange the days leading up to this day. Nothing like last year.
Today I have to admit I was kinda emotional.
Recently I spent a few days in the hospital and was reminded of just how special this J pouch is to me. Meaning, I was told that I had a small obstruction....all I could think of was losing my j pouch. I probably freaked out way too soon but if you can remember I had this surgery NOT because of my colitis being out of control but because of potential cancer....then having cancer found...so the hole idea of having yet another surgery or going back to life with the appliance came rushing back to me. Praises! Things seemed to resolve in my inner most areas and I was out by the weekend.
A year ago I was walking a dark path. Thankfully I was blessed to be guided out of it.
Sometimes I think of this past year and realize all that was revealed to me.
God's grace, strengthening relationships, maternal love (my mom is AMAZING), true friendships, children and resilience and just the amount of pain one person can take....emotional and physical. Thank goodness for God, family and great friends.
Truly this past year would have been different without that trio.
Here's to many more years of celebrating being cancer free and j pouch in tact.
I felt kinda strange the days leading up to this day. Nothing like last year.
Today I have to admit I was kinda emotional.
Recently I spent a few days in the hospital and was reminded of just how special this J pouch is to me. Meaning, I was told that I had a small obstruction....all I could think of was losing my j pouch. I probably freaked out way too soon but if you can remember I had this surgery NOT because of my colitis being out of control but because of potential cancer....then having cancer found...so the hole idea of having yet another surgery or going back to life with the appliance came rushing back to me. Praises! Things seemed to resolve in my inner most areas and I was out by the weekend.
A year ago I was walking a dark path. Thankfully I was blessed to be guided out of it.
Sometimes I think of this past year and realize all that was revealed to me.
God's grace, strengthening relationships, maternal love (my mom is AMAZING), true friendships, children and resilience and just the amount of pain one person can take....emotional and physical. Thank goodness for God, family and great friends.
Truly this past year would have been different without that trio.
Here's to many more years of celebrating being cancer free and j pouch in tact.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Been meaning....
I've been meaning to do an update but when I sit down to do it something comes up or I am beat. I usually did blog updates at nap time but well...I've been napping during nap time. The other time would be after bed time for my kids but well than I have to do some work since I was napping during nap time. Mainly I just need to get on it. So I will. I promise you. Be prepared and do bring a snack as it will be a long one.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Post Op visit
Well I had my post op visit today for the second surgery. It was suppose to be Monday but silly me forgot. I have a good excuse....I have a total of 11 months to recover from anesthesia brain. I was told by a fellow patient that for every hour you are under you have to take that many to recover memories or memory. So....yes I will recover but being forgetful now has a good excuse. Grin.
So the appointment was reset for today. I immediately asked what to expect from this appointment. I was transferred to a nurse. The nurse assured me that I would not need to take an anxiety pill because there would be no....well....no butt exam. That the appointment would be all about looking at my incisions. So relief is what I sought and that is what I got. I was just not interested in having my bottom examined. It is "working" so to speak. So much better than I ever expected. I have heard some pretty scary stories but I have heard some good stories too of what to expect post surgery. I am thinking I fall closer to the good stories at the moment than the bad. I praise God for that because I am already dealing with more bathroom trips than I have had in years. I was warned about this. All the surgeons I interviewed told me that while I recovered from final surgery and maybe for months afterwards that I would feel like I did when I had active colitis. That I would be in the bathroom a lot more than I had been over my three wonderful years of remission. Well. Well they were right. Once my bowel woke up, the last day and a half I was in the hospital I spent A LOT of time in there. In fact I did for the first week I was home. Let's just say my children know where to find me. Thank God my mom is here for the recovery part. Thank God she has been here through this whole thing. Now though, now it seems as if it is starting to know what to do. I have spent much less time in the bathroom this week so far and have gone out on some outings w/o fear of having to know where the bathroom is. That was something I always had to know when I was really sick. Not so much when I was in remission but I always visually looked for them, guess it just gets in your blood. I actually went to a kindergarten and grade school tour yesterday that took 2.5 hours and I never once felt like I need to quickly find a bathroom. I think I got a good one....I got a good pouch.
So back to the visit. Got there and Dr. H was running on time. I got in right away and then waited for about 12 minutes or so in a room for my turn in with the ole doctor. He came in and we talked. The first thing out of his mouth was "so we got ya out of the hospital....under ten days" and smiled. We had joked prior to surgery that I had set the office record for most time in hospital post surgery for surgery number one and that there was no need for me to break records this time. I think I got close. We both had a good laugh over it.
So Dr. H looked over my belly incisions and I mentioned that I thought the prior ileostomy site might be a bit infected because it was starting to bleed and puss. He took a look and said for me to be still and take some deep breaths...to think about the beach. Well I can tell you that as soon as that was said alarms went off and I was in no way thinking about the beach. He snipped at some scab covered stitches and peeled back the stitches. OUCH!!! He said "well you're right. Small infection." I should have charged him for the office visit. Grin. He than told me that he was going to place some pressure to release some fluid that was built up. It was kinda painful. He than packed the site and said "the kids will have a good laugh when I pull a shoe string out of my belly." I said "that's gross." Laughter filled the room and I didn't notice the quick packing and before I knew it he was placing a bandage over the wound. He's good.
We then discussed my bottom. I told him about the burn. Common. He mentioned what I was doing was correct in caring for it. Never in a million years did I think I would be placing diaper rash cream on my adult bottom. But it works. It helps. So I will continue for the mean time. Hopefully it wont be forever. We also discussed my "going" and how it was going. He was impressed. He said things sounded really good. So again...I have a good pouch!!!
He shared with me some other positive news but I am choosing to keep that to myself and my family for the time being. I hope you understand. But I can tell you that it made me very happy. God is listening and making my life better even after I used his name in vain way back when this past summer when all of this dysplasia/cancer/surgery stuff started. I can say I was angry. So angry. But I should have never used His name like that but I did. I know He has forgiven me.
The visit today was a good one. I have a bit of discomfort at the incision site and still the surgery soreness going on. But all in all things are looking/feeling really good.
Dr. H gives good pouch!!!
So the appointment was reset for today. I immediately asked what to expect from this appointment. I was transferred to a nurse. The nurse assured me that I would not need to take an anxiety pill because there would be no....well....no butt exam. That the appointment would be all about looking at my incisions. So relief is what I sought and that is what I got. I was just not interested in having my bottom examined. It is "working" so to speak. So much better than I ever expected. I have heard some pretty scary stories but I have heard some good stories too of what to expect post surgery. I am thinking I fall closer to the good stories at the moment than the bad. I praise God for that because I am already dealing with more bathroom trips than I have had in years. I was warned about this. All the surgeons I interviewed told me that while I recovered from final surgery and maybe for months afterwards that I would feel like I did when I had active colitis. That I would be in the bathroom a lot more than I had been over my three wonderful years of remission. Well. Well they were right. Once my bowel woke up, the last day and a half I was in the hospital I spent A LOT of time in there. In fact I did for the first week I was home. Let's just say my children know where to find me. Thank God my mom is here for the recovery part. Thank God she has been here through this whole thing. Now though, now it seems as if it is starting to know what to do. I have spent much less time in the bathroom this week so far and have gone out on some outings w/o fear of having to know where the bathroom is. That was something I always had to know when I was really sick. Not so much when I was in remission but I always visually looked for them, guess it just gets in your blood. I actually went to a kindergarten and grade school tour yesterday that took 2.5 hours and I never once felt like I need to quickly find a bathroom. I think I got a good one....I got a good pouch.
So back to the visit. Got there and Dr. H was running on time. I got in right away and then waited for about 12 minutes or so in a room for my turn in with the ole doctor. He came in and we talked. The first thing out of his mouth was "so we got ya out of the hospital....under ten days" and smiled. We had joked prior to surgery that I had set the office record for most time in hospital post surgery for surgery number one and that there was no need for me to break records this time. I think I got close. We both had a good laugh over it.
So Dr. H looked over my belly incisions and I mentioned that I thought the prior ileostomy site might be a bit infected because it was starting to bleed and puss. He took a look and said for me to be still and take some deep breaths...to think about the beach. Well I can tell you that as soon as that was said alarms went off and I was in no way thinking about the beach. He snipped at some scab covered stitches and peeled back the stitches. OUCH!!! He said "well you're right. Small infection." I should have charged him for the office visit. Grin. He than told me that he was going to place some pressure to release some fluid that was built up. It was kinda painful. He than packed the site and said "the kids will have a good laugh when I pull a shoe string out of my belly." I said "that's gross." Laughter filled the room and I didn't notice the quick packing and before I knew it he was placing a bandage over the wound. He's good.
We then discussed my bottom. I told him about the burn. Common. He mentioned what I was doing was correct in caring for it. Never in a million years did I think I would be placing diaper rash cream on my adult bottom. But it works. It helps. So I will continue for the mean time. Hopefully it wont be forever. We also discussed my "going" and how it was going. He was impressed. He said things sounded really good. So again...I have a good pouch!!!
He shared with me some other positive news but I am choosing to keep that to myself and my family for the time being. I hope you understand. But I can tell you that it made me very happy. God is listening and making my life better even after I used his name in vain way back when this past summer when all of this dysplasia/cancer/surgery stuff started. I can say I was angry. So angry. But I should have never used His name like that but I did. I know He has forgiven me.
The visit today was a good one. I have a bit of discomfort at the incision site and still the surgery soreness going on. But all in all things are looking/feeling really good.
Dr. H gives good pouch!!!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
What on earth...
What on earth am I doing up at 1:51am!!!!
Well.....
I got up to "go" potty for like the third time since 1opm and my husband is snoring and my tummy is gurgling and well I don't know which is louder. Except I don't think it's really my tummy as it is gas. Locked gas that hurts.
The kind of locked gas that makes you freeze one moment in pain but then sprint to the bathroom because if you release it you are not sure at this point if it is locked gas or well....poop. Yes, yes, refer to the right hand side of this blog. There is a lot of poop or butt references here. Deal with it.
I am also up because of butt burn. Which might not be so bad once the pain pill kicks in. No I didn't take it for the burn but actually for the pain and well in hopes that maybe it would knock me out and I would sleep despite the snoring plus gain comfort from the pain.
I will talk more about butt burn and the cause in another post but just know....it's not pretty. Worse than a sun burn....a really bad sun burn. I promise you that.
So that's what I am doing up. If you are up at crazy hour reading this than you must post a comment answering this question....what on earth????
Well.....
I got up to "go" potty for like the third time since 1opm and my husband is snoring and my tummy is gurgling and well I don't know which is louder. Except I don't think it's really my tummy as it is gas. Locked gas that hurts.
The kind of locked gas that makes you freeze one moment in pain but then sprint to the bathroom because if you release it you are not sure at this point if it is locked gas or well....poop. Yes, yes, refer to the right hand side of this blog. There is a lot of poop or butt references here. Deal with it.
I am also up because of butt burn. Which might not be so bad once the pain pill kicks in. No I didn't take it for the burn but actually for the pain and well in hopes that maybe it would knock me out and I would sleep despite the snoring plus gain comfort from the pain.
I will talk more about butt burn and the cause in another post but just know....it's not pretty. Worse than a sun burn....a really bad sun burn. I promise you that.
So that's what I am doing up. If you are up at crazy hour reading this than you must post a comment answering this question....what on earth????
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
HOME!!!
I am home! Couldn't be happier about it.
I slept well in my own bed. Got up twice last night.
I am feeling worn out today though. Must have been the excitement of coming home!!!
Look for a up to the minute, factual, what happened post in the next day or two.
THANK YOU for all your prayers!!!
I slept well in my own bed. Got up twice last night.
I am feeling worn out today though. Must have been the excitement of coming home!!!
Look for a up to the minute, factual, what happened post in the next day or two.
THANK YOU for all your prayers!!!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Set Back
Hi all,
Merry Lynn is having some set-backs after this surgery. I have not reported much this week because it seemed like everything was going well despite her constant gas in her abdomen and pain tolerance. She went #2 in the potty and that was a huge victory. It felt very natural and she felt like she "needed" to go and she did. HUGE! I asked her if she wanted a m&m when she got home for her success on the potty! Her two-year old would be so proud of her!
However, last night she spent the entire night throwing up and they have taken a cat scan or xray (not sure which) to see what is happening in her stomach region. She seemed very defeated and nervous today on my voice mail for what could be happening.
So, maybe I will have more information later when we know what is going on.
Michelle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
