Hi All,
I've been a member here for several years, and during that time, the community here as been both resourceful and supportive, so thank you all for your contributions.
I was diagnosed with UC several years ago and after numerous medications failed me, it was determined surgery was the next best option. For years, I refused to believe that I would end up needing to have my colon removed; I mean there are so many meds to try, one of them had to work, right? Wrong. The last flare I had was the final straw. I had planned to spend the weekend in New York City, wanting to visit the MoMA for the first time and also get some shopping done. Well, I spent most of the time in my hotel room because the flare didn't want to wait until I had come back from my trip
.
The initial surgery was November 18 of last year and take down was February 23 of this year. Living with the ostomy for three months was exhausting but at the same time, I feared what life would be like after the second surgery. Well, it turns out that immediately after the second surgery, my energy had regained and I felt normal again. I am doing everything I was doing prior to the surgeries including working full-time, working out at the gym 5 days a week, going to school, and shopping. The difference? I am no longer taking colitis medications and I no longer worry about when the next flare will be. The only trouble I have right now is waking up, sometimes several times, during the night to relieve myself. I can hold it too, unlike during a flare. I eat three meals a day, pretty much anything I want and as much as I want. There are still consequences from eating food like peanuts and drinking alcohol; sometimes I notice blood in my stool but it doesn't last and is nothing like having colitis.
The bottom line is that it's been several months since I've had the surgeries, and I don't have an ounce of regret.
Best of luck to all of you!
Cher