NCOT - I saw you!!

Hey you!

Saw you on the UC forum. Thought I'd give you a shout out!

Missed you around here.

Hope you've been out living a magnificent life and just couldnt BOTHER to stop in for a while!!!
;) ;)

lol. well anyways - happy to see you :)

Lolzers, caught red-handed! >_>

I go through phases where I'm too tired or lazy to post much, so I recede into the background and turn into a creepy lurker <_<. I have been going out more often as well. Nothing terrifically exciting, but it gets me out of the house. I have to take changes to my routine very slowly, otherwise I get paralysed by anxiety, but I'm slowly making progress. I'm on the housing register list now, and looking into joining a local gym and/or part-time course. To this end my housing officer has been brilliant; honestly better than any psychologist or psychiatrist I've seen.

I'm even moaning less about the stoma - a little bit :p

Yay for the housing finally going somewhere! I can take over for your lack of moaning about the stoma- lastely I hate mine! It's ugly, it's there forever, it's a hassle.... & I don't even have any problems with mine! i think I'm experiencing some sort of delayed response to the entire mess. Not Yay for me...!

So happy to hear that you seem to be in a bit of a better place these days, NCOT! Making some headway on the housing situation and getting out a bit more are both great! I hope things continue to go well for you :)

@Evalou~ I think going through a bit of a grieving/anger phase is completely normal. Having a stoma may not be ideal...but it sure is better than UC! At the very least it gave you your life back....and may have even saved it. I hope that in time you get back to being as happy as you were at the beginning...and I have a feeling that you will!

None of us have been dealt the best hand in life, especially where our health is concerned. All we can do is make the most of what we have, be thankful we are well enough to get out and actually live life, and make the most of every day!

Great to see you doing better, NCOT! I still owe you the "fitness for dummies" / fitness for better state of mind mini-primer that I promised lol-- it won't be a tome but I really think it makes a huge difference. As for Eva Lou-- ohmygish, so sorry to hear you are now having a delayed downer reaction. I still have never had one (maybe my immediate post surgery complications challenges, incl ileus a week post op, took care of that), and I still feel that in some ways I have it easier than normies, because to my mind an ostomy gives one 100% control over doing number 2's whereas even the healthiest normie sometimes just "had" to go do a no 2 in a rush. I remember, being a book lover, pre-UC how just being in my favorite sections of a library or book store could get me having to run in a panic lol-- never again. Anyway, hope this phase ends soon... You were perhaps on too much of a high rught after surgery that set yourself up for a downer. You seem a very positive person so you can dig yourself out fast methinks. And NCOT your new outlook is great and I hope it keeps building, even if you have an occasional step back. Will try and write my little fitness post for you soon. :)

Thanks everyone! I know, this will pass... I think you may be right, probiotic- I was so relieved & happy post-surgery, I'm bound to get the blues eventually. And overall, the ileo is far, far, FAR better than UC. In every way. I guess the permanence of it all is just settling in. I expected to go thru a grieving process- everyone tells me that when you lose an organ/limb, etc. you experience one, & I guess this is it. I am glad that my ileo has not given me any trouble- if it did, I'd be feeling much worse!

Oh hey, I've missed seeing you around but I hate that you're feeling like crap and in a mood. I have been the most intolerable **** lately and my uc has been hell. YeAh it's great that surgery is a cure but it doesn't always work out that simple for everyone. It's really easy to fall into this self pity trap where we mope around and feel like crap. I've been here for weeks. It's the worst. Pointless to focus on what other people have though, it's not going to change our scenario. Lately I just can't tolerate anyone. People are so useless and incapable and self absorbed and self entitled. I feel like the most awful pitiful person in the world hahahaha. Anyways, you sound a bit like me.

Big hugs to both of you gals, (((((((NCOT))))) and ((((((Eva Lou))))! You both rock, and I wish you both happier days.

Urgh god, this sucks :-/

(See new thread.)

@nssg - I feel you on the not being able to tolerate other people. My dad is rather a noisy person (always faffing about and humming/talking/sighing audibly to himself: it drives me round the bend and back several times over. Had a meltdown today partly because of it. And in general, I'm not too keen on people. A few are genuinely nice and lovely, but most people I wouldn't give you two carrots for. So yeah; I get where you are coming from. Totally. That said, a severe flare up is enough to make anyone feel like hell. I don't know if your sig is up-to-date, but if it is you could certainly raise the 6MP dose up to 50-100mg. Or try a biologic. Yeah, the meds suck as well. #alwayscheery

@Eva Lou - I'm with you on the back and forth thing. On a good day I hardly notice the stoma or bag. On a less good day, it just seems more intrusive somehow: itching under the wafer, annoying bag emptyings in crappy public toilets, or whatever. And as a front sleeper, I've never really solved the sleeping problem. (Why would you have to sleep on your stomach with a stoma?? Surely it would be much better to lie on your back and avoid putting your full weight on the stoma while sleeping?)

Least I don't have any period problems - yet! With the rate my mucous/tenesmus is getting worse, I'll likely have to have my rectum removed eventually. (So looking forward to that day... ¬_¬)

Don't even get me onto the logistics of dealing with supplies and bag changes!

@CarenZ - Thanks. I must be honest and wish it could be the same for me too... :-/ I just have to try to remember there are a lot things worse than Crohn's. But it still doesn't stop me from being pissed off every single day I have had to deal with this crap... >.>

Re sleeping naked: I tend to overheat in bed, so I sleep almost naked. The bag doesn't bother me too much, fortunately. I really can't stand the feeling of being constricted around my stomach (thanks Crohn's), so I'd rather have the bag loose than wear a tight belt. Men's boxers sound like a decent compromise though.

@Pro - Hugs back to you, bro! *hugs* :p