HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

19yr old material girl that has an ileostomy

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
After surgery of a ileostomy procedure, how long is it before you are discharged?
3 days - 9.1% - 1 votes
5 days - 18.2% - 2 votes
7 days - 36.4% - 4 votes
10 days - 36.4% - 4 votes
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/31/2010 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
I am 19 years old & been having complications with ulcerative colitis although its a fine line between crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. I was diagnosed 5 years ago and every medicine i tried ended up failing. So on Oct 29, 2010 i started experincing another flare which i had to do the surgery. I was amitted Dec 8 and i was ready to end the pain and suffering. Being 19 it is a hard decision but it was all i had, i wanted my life back and finish college. I love dressing up so having an ileosomy was a big deal but you know what!!!!!! I havent been emotionally worry free and pain free for a long time and no more drugs, and close to passing out and dying from losing so much blood!!! I busted down crying everytime surgery was brought up and wearing the bag was considered, but i had the best doctor and nurses that knew it was best. Surgery was taken out of my hands and i couldnt be happier. If you are worried about covering up you can wear baby doll tops, fitted tank tops and self belts. Dont worry about hiding it because trust me its a reason to go shopping, eat what you want although ask your nurse about foods, i can tell you popcorn, coconuts, and peanuts stay away from because having a blockage is not worth it. Oh and my healing time was fast, had surgery on a tuesday and i was home a bit sore and all but was discharged that friday. Good luck to everyone:) we are brave and strong!
Posted 12/31/2010 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Ashlee
Sounds like ypu have a positive attitude, and that is necessary. You will find ways around little problems with clothing, etc. You will find what not to eat...the hard way. Todays problems pale in comparison with the problems with active UC or Crohns. You will have questions. This forum is the place to ask. Oh, and it is a pouch not a bag......mental thing.

Dan
Posted 1/3/2011 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Ashlee....Welcome and congrats on starting on your road to health. My son was also 19 when he went through the same problems and this week is the 1st anniversary of his J pouch. He is doing SO WELL. He is now completely healthy and able to do anything that his friends are doing. Have you decided on a J pouch or are you staying with the ileostomy. Either way, at least that nasty colon is gone and you can be healthy again!
Posted 1/4/2011 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Collicat:

     Thank you! I am so glad that he is doing good. I am considering the J-Pouch. My plans are to talk to the surgeon this week and finish this semester of college and proceed with forming the J-Pouch. I have a question though. Doctors say because I am so young that in time that I will have fewer bowel movements, is that true? And, is everything back to normal, no rushing to the bathroom and all? I am just so happy to be pain free and taking control.

Posted 1/4/2011 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
you just had your surgery you can try popcorn and nuts and such later on. I eat popcorn and nuts now, i dont like coconut so i dont know about it. Just chew well and drink A LOT ofwater!
Posted 1/8/2011 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Congratulations Ashlee and keep that positive attitude which is most important. Hubby had his surgery 3 weeks ago today and doing really well. He has a permanent ileostomy (had hoped for a j pouch but it wasn't meant to be) Whatever you decide to do ultimately you are going to handle it just fine. Attitude is a big deal when dealing with such important things and you have the right kind! Happy New Year.
Posted 1/8/2011 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
Another UC Wife, yes attitude is important. I believe if i wasn't this young that i would keep the ileostomy bag. Flaring so much and scared of the next step and worst of all the horrible pain, the bag is worth it. Little things like clothes and etc; you can work around that. He and I had surgery at around the same time and i honestly forget sometimes i have the bag. It just the greatest thing to be pain free and do what you want. I wish you both the best of luck and i do believe everything happens for a reason. Happy New Year and hope its a good one:)
Posted 1/8/2011 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry Ashlee....I have only, just now, seen your questions.

Dillon's surgeon told us that he would continue to "improve" for about a year after his takedown but that most of the improvement happens within the first 6 months. He is now approaching the year and I would say that things are a little better in that there are more days with less BMs than a few months ago. For the most part he has about 5-6 BMs a day but it completely depends on how much and what he eats and drinks. He tends to be hungry in the evening and thus eats a lot and then will be up in the night with a BM. Most days he does not use immodium or metamucil and he says that the number of trips to the bathroom do not bother him. If he is planning something special he will take a couple of immodium and all is good. Even though he has numerous BMs he can go to the bathroom when the time suits him and he can definitely hold it for an hour or so after he gets the urge. He finds that when he is out and busy he does not go near as often as when he is just sitting at home. I have heard from others that for girls it is even easier. Think how often you pee..they say that when you sit down to pee you will usually have a BM but it is as quick as peeing and there is no pain at all.

I am so happy that you are feeling well.

Cathy
Posted 1/8/2011 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
     I am happy you are feeling well.  I was diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis at age 52 and suffered twelve long years with it.  Had I been younger, I believe I would opt for the j-pouch.  It wasn't an option for me.  I can still see the very concerned look on my surgeon's face when he told me he would not do a j-pouch on me because of my age and extensive use of prednisone.  I honestly thought he was gonna bust out crying..lol.  When I told him I had no qualms about wearing a "bag", he was elated.  We made the appointment for my surgery immediately.  He wanted to wait at least six weeks after my last Humira injection.  Didn't want to take any chances.  He preferred me to be off the prednisone too, but unfortunately, when I tapered down to 7.5 mgm...boom...flared again.  Had to increase the pred to 40 mgm to get bleeding and urgency under control with a 5 mgm per week taper.  So, I was on 20 mgm of prednisone at time of operation.  I had a few blips, but thankfully, was still in the hospital so they were brought under control.  After the operation, I had to wean off the prednisone at 5 mgm per week.  Happy to say, I haven't been on that poison since the end of July yeah .

     I never cared much for popcorn, but I eat EVERYTHING else...salads, meats (watch the stringy ones though), veggies, etc.  Just chew, chew and chew.

     Having a perm ileo is a cinch for me.  Love being off all those meds...sorry I didn't have this ten years ago.

Posted 1/9/2011 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Collicat: Thank you so much for answering those questions. That was very helpful and makes sense. I just so happy there will be no pain and no meds.

Christine1946:Yeah prednisone caused a few minor things. I am actually glad it happen when it did because i was at peace. I tried everything so i know i did not give up and i believe we all made the right choice, we were just guided there. I understand that there are many of those who would like to have the reconstructive surgery, but i feel that its worth it. I don't know what supplies that you use, but i just found that the hollister bag with the filter is a lot better. When you are out and about and wearing a tighter shirt, the filter lets out all the access air left with no odor, and its flat other than the stoma. I would probably be upset too if they told me it was perm when i was hoping for the j-pouch, i told my doctor i would never have my colon out and would always bust down crying but i started learning to accept it little by little, but i understand it is very difficult. Feeling great, no meds, and being well is most important though.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply