the end or the beginning?

It's not the end, but the beginning. I know it's hard for you to imagine that now. But, if you do have ostomy surgery I predict you will later be posting that you should have had it sooner and that you finally remember what it is like to live life painfree. Unlike what you might think, most people with an ostomy ARE NOT retired octogenarians! I had my ostomy surgery in '89 when I was 28. Many here have had their surgery in their teens.

Does anyone here have the link to Photobucket that was posted a while back that showed what we actually look like?

It will be the end of your suffering, and the beginning of a pain-free life!

Our www.photobucket.com login is crohnsdisease and the password it 6mp3asa if you want to see pictures of us. You'll see that you can't tell that any of us have ostomies. Feel free to post a picture of yourself, too!

Hope your GI appointment on Tuesday goes well.

Cecilia

I so understand everything you are feeling right now, both physically and emotionally. I had my surgery at the Mayo Clinic which is in Rochester, MN and I live in VA. I had to make five trips in a three month period. Each time, I was so hopeful that would be THE time for surgery, but they were cautious, and always had some other test to do. So I would come home, wait, go back. One time I was up there three weeks. I was out of work this entire time. Luckily my office is very understanding and let me keep my job. I was on part-time status from November till April, and most of that time I did not work at all. I had so much pain, bloating, constipation, and I suffered with terrible nausea/vomiting, which is not a typical symptom of CI, but it was how it effected me. I am only 31 so it was hard to be going through all of this when most people my age were going out, and living somewhat carefree. I had to move back home with my parents, which was the best thing I could have done as they have been such lifesavers for me. Many nights I would wake up in terrible pain and the only thing I could do was roll around on the floor for an hour or so. My Mom would always get up and sit with me, talk to me. I am so lucky to have them. Just know you are not alone in this, and things will get better. If you don't like what your doctor says, go somewhere else. That is what I had to do. The doctors here in my hometown wanted to do a colostomy, which I did not understand the logic behind because I would still have my colon, it would just come to an opening in my abdomen, and since the colon was the problem what would that have solved?!? So, I had to suck it up, and go to Mayo. Not an easy thing to do, but I knew I had to do it. So PLEASE, do not be discouraged if you don't like what your doctor has to say. Whether he/she says there needs to be some other test done and you need to wait to do that first, or if he/she says they will not do the surgery (in that case GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!). The best advice I ever got was from my Mom....take it one day at a time. Tell yourself, I will get through today. Don't get caught up in what will be happening a week from now, a month from now, take it one day at a time. As a side note....you mentioned you are eating fiber one bars. My gastro at Mayo said that for people with CI high fiber foods like that often make the problem worse. Fiber is very dehydrating, so make sure you are not over doing it. BEST of luck to you. I will check back Tuesday to see how your appointment went. Remember, you are not alone.......