I really belong now!

So after posting forever not really belonging here, I am now an offical ostomate!  WOO HOO! 

I had my surgery 4-17 and got home last Monday, but didn't really feel much like getting on the computer till today.  Surgery went well, but when I woke up I was so upset I couldn't believe what I had done and I hated it.  They put this clear bag on me and it was really gross, and the nurses and CNAs were emptying it for me, becaue they had to keep up with how much and they would empty it into a container and then just set the container anywhere and I had to look at it, yuck, lol.  Anyway, once I got home and got into the non see trhough bag it was better, until I saw my self naked for the first time.  I was so upset.  I got down to 122, I never thought I woould be upset about being too thin, lol.  So there I was all skeletony, staples all down my middle, brusies everywher from IVs and that bag hanging off me, I just cried and cried.  I was having alot of trouble with gas, and then I got where I was eating regulary and that stopped.  Anyway, I still was having trouble with it, but then something great happened, I sat through a whole movie withough having to go to the bathroom!  So, I got a little better feeling about it.  Then I drank a milkshake, still feeling a little better about.  Then today, something wonderful happened ( most people would find this dumb, but alot of you have had UC or something similar and will understand) I went on a car trip and DID NOT worry about where a bathroom was!  Then on the way home, I stopped and got some fries and ate them in the car, even though I knew we might get stuck in traffic and there might not be a batrhoom, and I drank another milkshake, also in the car!  I haven't had  a milkshake in probably 5 or 6 years.  And I haven't been able to go on a car trip or eat in a car without worrying about a bathroom for 8 years.  So now, even though I am still kind of grossed out when I have to clean it, I don't think I am doing it right, lol.  That today made me realize I did make the right decdsion!

I want to say that you guys have been super helpful and i hope that now that I actually belong I can be as helpful to other people as you have to me!

God's speed to all of you having surgery or just recovering. :)

I am new to all of this too however mine was an emergency surgery. I have had Crohn's disease for 20 years now. The 1st surgery I had was Feb 11 they took out part of my ileum and did an internal resection. The following week I went from great to bed ridden again so 1 week later they went back in (after more CT scans and bloodwork and enemas). On Feb 19th They went in drained 400cc of an abscess, saw I had toxic megacolon removed 1/3 of my colon and I got a temp ileostomy. I hate how I look right now but that probably has to do with an infected insicion, thanks to a dumb resident getting feces in my incision and just dabbing the poo away even after I asked her if it needed to be flushed. I was going to get the vac off yesterday my Dr on tuesday said I could but when I got home I flushed my abscess drain and it came out of my stoma and my incision. I also have a drain in as you probably figured from my last statement. The abscess came back again after Surgery a couple of times. When my Dr was on vacation another Dr took my case until he returned. They did the whole drain thing and since nothing much was coming out the day after it was placed they did another CT saw there was nothing there so they pulled it. Needless to say this thing wont go away. So when I look in the mirror I have the wound vac dressing with the flange overlapping then about an inch to the right of the ostomy is the drain with a liter sized bag pinned to my shirt. I wish I felt as good as you do I still have a fentenyl pain patch and dilauded for break through pain which I have needed a lot the past couple of days since the abscess is draining double than it had the last 2 weeks. They think there might be a fistula feeding the abscess so CT scan for me again tomorrow fever is coming back too even tho I am on a hefty dose of augmentin

Cattieos, it sounds like you're discovering life again, congratulations :) It's amazing how a surgery that so many dread, can actually make such a difference to us and give us our life back, isn't it?