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Bootstrap's Update: Surgical Adventures!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/13/2012 8:46 AM (GMT 0)
Surgery was a success! I had my colectomy and J-pouch construction on October 4th, so I am now about nine days post-op, and I have been recovering beautifully. Making friends with my new stoma (Stella) and learning to trust her as I've been eating all kinds of naughty foods with no problem whatsoever! I've had pizza, burger & fries, burrito, cheesy casserole, sourdough bread, chocolate, jelly beans, cookies, brownie, coffee, wine (only 1/2 glass), and more, all in the last week!

I will be more frequenting the Ostomy board and J-Pouch.org now, but I will come back here occasionally to continue helping answer people's questions about UC (still have those 17 years worth of UC experience behind me) and people's questions about surgery, like Marianne and Suebear do - since I know they were so helpful to me when I was making my decisions.

Just in case anyone wanted to read ALL about my adventures, here are my latest blog posts all about surgery....

Detailed account of the surgery: ronnielee-fightingforit.blogspot.com/2012/10/surgery.html

Detailed account of my hospital stay & post-op care: ronnielee-fightingforit.blogspot.com/2012/10/post-op-inpatient-care.html

All about coming home: ronnielee-fightingforit.blogspot.com/2012/10/going-home.html

Again, thank you to everyone for your continued support - this forum is the best!!
Posted 10/13/2012 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
So glad everything went well and you are recovering nicely.

Congrats for finally put this disease behind you! :-)

Posted 10/13/2012 11:42 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats so glad everything went well,its so nice to read all the positive sucessful outcomes as people it really inspires me to think that I will be able to get through it all if I ever have to go down the surgery route.
Once again congrats I bet you felt you really deserved that glass of wine! to celebrate your new UC free life!
Anna
Posted 10/13/2012 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats on being a new person! Bet it feels awesome!
Posted 10/13/2012 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
i'm so happy that everything is going smoothly! does it feel great eating things you never thought you'd eat again?
Posted 10/13/2012 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
I read your whole story. You are very detailed in your writing :) I too am glad that things went smoothly for you. May you continue to heal well!

Btw, I hate those catheters too! lol
Posted 10/13/2012 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Yay congrats! It's nice to enjoy food again isn't it? I have to say...you sound terrific! I wasnt as spunky as you only 10 days after my first surgery! Your blogs are awesome and they will help out a lot of people. And I am glad to know maybe some of my posts helped you when you were looking into surgery....thank you for saying that. I have had some mean-spirited comments in the past like "why are you still posting on a UC board?" among other comments. And it's simply just to help people because I know first hand how scary it is and yeah, I got a few years of UC hell under my belt too!

Best wishes with the rest of your journey! :)
Posted 10/13/2012 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Awesome to hear all has gone well for you! Your blog helps a lot...for those considering surgery or anyone who wants to know of what might be considered in the future should meds not work.
Be well!
q
Posted 10/13/2012 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the update, and congrats on a good recovery so far!

I agree, I appreciate hearing from the post-surgery folks on here when they check in. Helps the surgery seem... less scary?
Posted 10/13/2012 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hey! All the best to you and Stella!

This sounds like it worked out for you and I'm so glad. I hope you soon get over the 'where's the bathroom syndrome' and that you don't have any complications.

I don't drink alcohol, but please have a toast and dedicate it to all the folks here (who will welcome your sage advice when you visit).

Cheers- to better days.
Posted 10/13/2012 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Haha, thank you so much to all of you for all your congrats and kind wishes! It is so great to know that so many people are supportive of both me and what I'm going through as well as my idea to write it all out in a blog. And yes it is wonderful to eat all those foods again with no fear of retaliation. Sometimes as I sit here in front of my TV, finishing up a piece of chocolate for dessert after an especially yummy meal (with Stella gurgling and chuckling in the background), I think to myself, "This is just a little slice of heaven." Of course maybe it's the pain meds talking, LOL, but overall I have been really happy through all of it!

Marianne, I actually spent a whole paragraph thanking you for your help in one of my replies to another thread you'd chimed in on over at the ostomy board. You should go track it down if you haven't read it yet. ;-) I would have just sent you an email directly, but your addy isn't listed.
Posted 10/14/2012 12:04 AM (GMT 0)

bootstrap said...
Haha, thank you so much to all of you for all your congrats and kind wishes! It is so great to know that so many people are supportive of both me and what I'm going through as well as my idea to write it all out in a blog. And yes it is wonderful to eat all those foods again with no fear of retaliation. Sometimes as I sit here in front of my TV, finishing up a piece of chocolate for dessert after an especially yummy meal (with Stella gurgling and chuckling in the background), I think to myself, "This is just a little slice of heaven." Of course maybe it's the pain meds talking, LOL, but overall I have been really happy through all of it!

Marianne, I actually spent a whole paragraph thanking you for your help in one of my replies to another thread you'd chimed in on over at the ostomy board. You should go track it down if you haven't read it yet. ;-) I would have just sent you an email directly, but your addy isn't listed.

I just went back and I saw your paragraph to me. I really appreciate that and it makes me happy to be of help. :)
Posted 10/14/2012 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Bootstrap-Best wishes for a quick recovery and a return to your athletic endeavors. Thanks for keeping such a detailed blog, definitely makes the process seem less scary.
Posted 10/14/2012 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Such great news. I am happy to see you back & feeling good.
Posted 10/14/2012 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
congrats!
Posted 10/14/2012 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Yay, great news! Best to you and Stella :)
B
Posted 10/14/2012 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Your blogs are great, thanks for posting them. So glad to hear you're doing well.
Posted 10/15/2012 2:52 PM (GMT 0)

great news! I haven't been around in a bit, and i remember how frustrated you were because nothing was working, and how you were considering surgery.... congrats on your surgery and hope everything continues to go well for you. (and stella)

I read some of your blog, you write really well, from the heart.... and you are still "fighting for it" even though you had surgery!! It takes alot of courage to have a chronic illness like UC or now a jpouch AND not give up, continue to wake up and live your life, the one that was given to you, as best you can!!!!  you are surely going to be an inspiration for others. 

big hugs and continued health!!!!

Posted 10/15/2012 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for posting such a detailed blog. UC San Francisco is a tremendous hospital, and it sounds like you had amazing care while you were there. And how great to have the supportive parents that you do! Glad to hear that you and Stella (Stellllllaaaa!) are getting along just fine. Come back every once in a while to let us know how you are getting along! Congrats!

Posted 10/15/2012 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Stella Artois.
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