Joining the ranks...Nov.23!

Hi everyone,

My name is Allie and im on the Crohn's board but after much pushing and prodding my dr.'s have agreed that I need a colostomy. The surgery to have the permanent colostomy and removal of the colon to the rectum has been set for Nov.23 and I couldn't be more excited!

I have had Crohn's since 1999 and have run the gamut of surgeries, including resections, draining's, have had 3 strokes and have had 2 continuously draining (rectal) fistula's for 10 years. Back in 1998 I had a fissure and the Dr. cut my rectal muscle too much and since then I have had little to no control of my rear end. People with Crohn's have accidents all the time but Im a walking advert for depends! LOL.

To say Im absolutely over the moon to have a "portable poo bag" is putting it mildly. I want to shout at the top of my lungs to everyone how amazing this is for me.

I just wanted to say hello and ask everyone here if there is anything I should be aware of or any questions I should ask before hand? I have always got wonderful idea's/response's/suggestions from the Crohn's board and Im positive that as I start this new phase in my life I will find a wonderful fount of information from everyone on this forum!

YAY forbeing healthy soon!
Its great to know you only have so much more time until you wont be sick anymore!

Some things to remember
Its normal to waiver in your decision, keep a pro and con list, your pros will be MUCH larger than your cons, lol. My con list was 3 things, my pro list was 2 pages.

Stuff to take to the hosptial, IPOD, computer, gameboy (if you like games) GAS-X (you dont want to have to wait on the dr to write a script for it, and with gas-x it works best if you take it before you get gas.
Go ahead and order some samples of bags now, that way they will be there when you get home. Dont freak when you see the nasty green stuff thats gonna be your orignal output, or the awful clear bag they put on you, when i saw that i was liek OMG what did i do??? Then after i started eating it got better. If they give you red food, your output will be red, and when i say red i mean RED, lol. Dont worry, you arent bleedign to death, lol. (i almost woke my husband up and told him to take me to teh hosptial after eating red velvet cake, i thought i was dying!)

Also when you go for your marking, wear your regular clothes, the stuff you wear most, that way you will get marked in a good spot for your clothes. If you wear sweatpants or something she will mark a good spot for those clothes.

If you have little kids, line up someone to help with them when you get home.

So are you having an ileostomy or colostomy?

I wish you all of the best...

Thanks everyone!! Im not wavering in my decision in the least, in fact I am currently filling a spiral notebook with all the things im going to be able to do once I have the colostomy. One of the things....picking can's on the side of the highway. Honestly, I sometimes see people out there miles from a washroom and just shake my head in wonder! LOL.
Jackie, im having a colostomy.

Hi Allison,

You do have a great attitude, I am so happy that you will get your life back too. I also have crohns/colitis and was a walking add for depends as well, it was a horrible time in my life. I now have an ileostomy and it has given me back quality of life, I do have some issues with mine but I am getting there, my surgery was only early march then had second surgery in july for proctocolectomy. I thought crohns patients had ileostomy's, but then Im not sure what the difference is between a colostomy or ileostomy. I know colostomy is on the left side of the stomache and ileostomy is the right side and output is different as well but thats about all. I will have to do some more research lol. Anyway I am thrilled for you and know you will do great. take care and keep us posted,

Allison--glad you came to meet us!! As someone who lived with three continuously draining rectal fistulas for 10 years (whew, that was a lot) you are GONNA LOVE life with an ostomy

I knew I was "better" at about 6 months post op--one day I woke up and thought "WOW"!! I still find myself thinking I need to buy my butt supplies or take my meds...but then I snap out of it!!

Cheers to life without accidents!