1st year in the life of an ostomate!

Having UC sucked...contracting staph infections, one being MRSA that was super scary, sucked...then when my UC decided to become super aggressive and unresponsive to ALL medications I thought that was just down right ridiculous!  My GI mentioned surgery...I began to research...and then I found you...my beloved HW.  Both this and the UC forum was my rock.  You embraced me with love and support that my family and friends simply did not understand how to give.  I went into the surgery knowing that I was not alone.  The information and guidance I received was beneficial to not just myself but my family.  You soothed the hearts of many with your kind words and expressions of empathy.  My family and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

The adjustments over the past year have been both amazing and annoying...but NOT a pain in the ass!     For instance...

I LOVE that my crap doesn't stink!  (thanks to M9!)

I also love that I no longer Sudoku (that was what I used to pass time as I set up residence in the bathroom during the UC days)

I love that I can play and roll around with my son as much as I want!

I love that spicy food has zero affect on me!

I do not like the itchy feeling the day before or day of accessory change...but I do love calling the appliance and all that my accessory 

Ooo...I also LOVE the feeling of a brand new accessory...it looks pretty, there's no moisture uckiness around the folded closure part and it seems that things slide out a little easier...TMI?...sorry 

I do not appreciate abdominal cramps...really?    I believe any woman who has suffered through the pains of UC has paid their dues to the abdominal gods and we should never again anywhere near the region...unless of course it's appropriate pregnancy pains.

I am thoroughly scared of broccolli...with the first month or so I had a horrible blockage from broccolli and really have not ate it since     I know there are ways around it, so I'm going to try it again (in the mushy state) very soon.

I have a love affair with Immodium...I went without for a few weeks and decided that was silly...Penelope is just far to vocal for some public settings (especially school) and Immodium is her muffler 

I'm annoyed with how quickly I can become dehydrated.  I can tell my body has drastically adjusted from when I first had the surgery, but there are days where I haven't drank nearly enough I can tell...so   shame on me for not drinking enough water.

I have greatly appreciated the ability to do anything I want now...things that UC tried to take away...like picking up boxes...moving things...throwing my son around (he's 2 and loves to wrestle!)...going for road trips...etc.  LOVE IT!!!!

I also love not having to scope out the nearest bathroom whenever I'm away from home.  Which brings me to a complaint...

I HATE when toilets have a high water level in the bowel...it splashes when I empty!  Yucky!!!!  The bathroom at my office is like this, and the downstairs bathrooms at school are an issue.

Have I mentioned that I love my M9!?! 

I also love the Eakin seal and Hollister 88300...life is good!

Oh!  I can eat popcorn now!  I obviously have to pick through and eat the fluffy fully popped pieces but who cares?!  The popcorn princess is back in business!!!!

I am bumbed about not being able to eat certain things like potato skins...I really wouldn't dare...well, I did once and that was not fun...really not worth it.  Of course I eat them when they're chopped small enough...I eat about anything if it's small enough, but I prefer potato skins whole and chewy...yum...but not anymore.

And while we're on the food topic I'll just say that I do not like eating Taco Bell bean burritos before bed b/c that usually always ends with a pop...popped bag that is!   I don't know why but those burritos and night time just don't work for me...don't get me wrong, I enjoy them earlier in the day and possibly an afternoon here and there, but never as dinner. 

And then there's green peppers...oh green peppers...I hated them before my pregnancy but now they're a favorite food, and one I must be careful with...just putting it out there.

My family is very glad to be out of crisis.  Being UC-free is such a treat to everyone in my life.

I learned that individually, as a couple, and as a family we were not emotionally aware of what living with a chronic illness would entail.  It's been a struggle but I believe we have overcome.

I am over half way finished with my master's degree and every research opportunity I have I focus on some aspect of chronic illness and an emphasis in IBD.  Once I am licensed I will specialize with individuals, couples and families with IBD, and those enduring traumatic situations such as emergency surgies, hospital stays, etc.

My husband and I were on the brink of separation several months ago, and after very hard work and dedication are finally in a very good place.  We will be celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary March 3rd, and we are determined to make 2010 our best year yet (as one month after our wedding in '07 I had my first flare and then a month after that we were pregnant...it's been busy!)

I hope that each of you have had positive experiences during your adjustments.  I realize they are not always wonderful...like dropping the end of the accessory either while it was filled with water (which I always use each time I empty) or full of crap (hahaha).  Also the feeling of leakage is the worst...there's always that initial "no way!" to the never failing "son of a bi*ch"...and then the time it takes to clean the mess and replace the accessory...grrr.  

But really, I hope that you all are enjoying life and appreciating each moment of every day.

My first year post UC has been one to remember, but it's the year to come and the years that follow that I look forward to the most.

Honestly I was in a great amount of pain for the first 3 weeks post-surgery.  I started feeling better about 5-6 weeks afterwards.  Then 3 months after I was good...6 months after I was great...9 months I was super...and 1 year later I am awesome! 

I know it's hard, especially with to little ones.  But it retrospect it was the UC that was hard...the surgery and recovery was the final chapter.  Oh, and I cannot stress the importance of water!  I use the Crystal Light individual packets in a large cup...I like the wild strawberry.  I would recommend drinking over 100oz a day...I know it sounds like a lot but the more hydrated your husband stays the better he will feel.

SINCERLEY,,

BEVERLEY...............