Firthy, First off, I am not a guy, but I can understand why you would be very worried.... The main reason they have to warn you about impotence/etc. is because they are going to be working close to...
Hi everyone, Well, I have finally decided to schedule a date for surgery--May 6th. I used to post under "ConsideringaBag," but I thought it best to change my name as that is no longer the case!! This...
Hi Cecilia, I know I don't really know you, but I read many of your posts--you have a great sense of humor!! :) Glad to know that you are feeling better, and I hope you heal up quickly! Erin...
Jim, Thanks for the response--your insight and encouragement are much appreciated!! :) Your job sounds very cool. One of the things my Crohn's has made me miss is the time I used to spend outdoors...
Hi all and Happy Easter! [GISGuy--thanks for your story. It is always nice to read about others' successes. :) Also, is it GIS as in geogrpahic mapping systems? I only ask because my major in college...
Does anyone have this problem??? I have been having symptoms of a urinary tract infection for almost a year now, and after no antibiotics seemed to work, I went to a urologist today. (We thought the...
This happens to me to some degree as well (my colon has many strictures, so it takes things longer to pass through me --> the longer the food/waste is in the colon, the more gas that can develop due...
Resa, When I would get very sick with Crohn's my hair used to fall out, too. :( My dermatologist said I probably needed more iron (I was anemic), Or I needed more Biotin (a B-vitamin you can buy at...
Praying, Yeah, the stoma sticks out farther from the skin than I orginally pictured too until I stared seeing photos of them on the internet (Shaz, who is a moderator here, has her own site which is...
Ash, how cool of you to share pictures of yourself with Praying! I was happy to hear how you still looked awesome in pre-surgery clothing! :-) :-) And Praying, keep us updated on what you decide....
Glad you found it helpful! :) There are a few times they show stomas in that video, but the one blond-haired lady (where they show you how to change the bag), looks so totally normal--she is pretty,...
For those of you that may be having an ileostomy performed soon, I have spent many hours looking to find pictures/videos about stomas, bags, etc. just to give me a better idea of what to expect for...
sfgiantsjo, how awesome!! :-) :-) That is wonderful that you are so fit now!! I am so jealous- :) -I remember when I used to be able to work out like that, and I have slowly become a slug...I think...
I think I am slowly becoming an Out Of The Closet Pooper (not that I take in reading material, just that I am starting to care less and less about if people know it was me), just because it's like,...
Fellow Crohnies who hold down full time jobs, We all know the feeling of taking the dreaded Poop At Work (cue scary music). I could not resist posting the following...because it is so darn true...! I...
Stomagrrl, you are awesome! I kept smiling just reading your posts :-) I am happy for you that things have turned out so well, and you are proof positive that a lot of life is about having a great...
Lady ostomates, I am very curious as to whether or not you experience pain/discomfort during intimate times since having surgery. I also realize the type of surgery you had may make a big difference...
Bitbit, My story is pretty much exactly the same as upt0106's --the pain began with a bit of swelling on one bum cheek, the swelling and PAIN got much worse over 2-3 weeks, until I literally could...
Thanks so much to you all, peggy, Shaz, Gillcom and Chloe, for the great information. It is very comforting to know that people like the stoma nurses you talked about really take the time and effort...
Hi all, I have been reading/doing some research on where an ileostomy stoma would typically stick out from--and I have read many different things! (Based on posts and various websites I have read)...
I can empathize with those of you who had perianal (or Any kind, they are all horrendous!) fistulas. I had a bad perianal one that turned into a Huge abscess (the surgeon said it was the largest...
Malakai, I wanted to know the answer to the same question, as I am only 26 and plan on having kids. I take both imuran and remicade. **I was told by 2 different GIs that research has shown that women...
Judy, Studies have shown that if your Crohn's has resided solely in your large bowel for more than 5 years, the likelihood of geting it in your small intestine in the future is slim to none. I have...
Sugarmarie, Sorry to hear that you are dealing with strictures in your colon. I can commiserate-- I recently found that I have 3 very long strictures in my colon, and because of them, I cannot have a...
Aciestay18, I totally know what you mean. My CD and diarrhea in general are Always bad during my period. When I asked my GI about this, she said it is normal, and that for some women, she prescribed...
Vicky, I know what you are talking about--the pale, floating poo...! Many times when people with Crohn's eat fatty foods, the fat passes through partially undigested (looks pale/white colored), and...
I had a fistula similar to yours (perianal area is where it came out), and it was terrible--got infected and became an abscess. (I have Crohn's disease as well). Are you on Remicade? I went on...
Thanks again, each of you, for the experiences and suggestions! I can picture what you both mean, Peggy and Summerstorm, about the pillows..! :) That sounds like a good idea. Also, I never thought...
Cecilia, Thanks for the informative post! Also, I like to hear about your experience since it seems so positive. :) I can picture what you mean about feeling different after all the diseased Crohn's...
Bagarama and justjenjen, Thank you very much for sharing!! Both of your stories made me very glad--I am 26 and hope to have kids in the near future, and was concerned that a proctocolectomy would...
Bram, I was told by my doctor that it would Not be possible to develop any fistualas in the rectum/anus area if these parts were removed. (I had a perianal fistula once many years ago, it came out to...
Thanks for responding, BadBagGirl. :) Does it give you any problems (with menstrual cycle, pain, etc.)? I am curious if the people that you mentioned that went on to have children developed the...
Peggy, I am sure you are right that walking is the best get-in-shape exercise for me!--and I am glad to hear it, because I I am not too fond of running anyway!! (I swear, anything that jars my...
summerstorm and peggy, Thank you both so much for the great information!! Thank you also for being so honest about what it will be like--I would rather hear that yes, it will hurt, and what it will...
...I am just full of questions, now! I have tried googling for answers, but can't seem to find much detail on the surgery I am to have. The surgeon I saw told me that there is a chance of developing...
Hi everyone, I am sure these questions have been answered before, but I looked through past pages and couldn't seem to find exactly what I wanted.. :) When getting my ileostomy, I will be having my...
Eva Lou, Cecilia and summerstorm, Thanks for the advice and sharing your experiences. Cecilia, you should get a part-time job as a counselor for people facing ostomy surgery! You are very convincing...
Eva Lou, I was interested to read your post, as I just found out recently that I will need to have an ileostomy in the near future as well. (I did not know that they did all those things pre-op that...
Thank you both very much for the replies--they brought tears to my eyes (the good kind!) when I read them. You both seem very happy and have good relationships with your husbands. That is one of my...
Well, I guess I can change my username now from "Considering" to "Getting"... Just met with my surgeon today, and he basically said that my colon is shot---about 50% of my colon is strictured due to...
Holy cow! 80 mg of prednisone! That is the highest dosage I have ever heard! I have "severe" Crohn's, and they will only put me on 20 mg max. This is just my opinion, but no good doctor would put you...
ngwen, I had many of the same exact symptoms as you--sharp stomach pains that would comes and go, nausea (which for me, is extremely rare), and no improvement of the symptoms even after going onto...
Thanks, everyone! I never thought of mixing it with ginger ale or apple juice--that sounds like it would really help to kill the taste a good bit--what good ideas! pb4--I am with you, I think I can...
I have to complete a Fleet prep this coming Thursday. Now, I can withstand the most horrible stomach cramps from a Crohn's flare, but when it comes to drinking that horrible, salty-oily stuff, I am a...
KAnn, This was one of the first meds I was put on for my Crohn's way back when I was diagnosed (about 11 years ago). My Crohn's is severe, and this drug is only a mild anti-inflammatory agent, so I...
Dadof3, A good probiotic for people with Crohn's is called Florastor. My GI gave me samples, but you can get it from most drug stores. It is expensive, but my cousin who also has mild to moderate...
Wow--so many of you are in the Exact same boat as I have been for months now! Dustspeck, I too was having terrible stomach pains randomly throughout the day and thought it was from active Crohn's. I...
I had terrible skin tags before going on Remicade. After I started the infusions, they cleared right up in just a few months, and I haven't had one in 7 years (I have been on Remicade continuously...
Mike and Vicky, Thank you so much for the info about both of your surgeries. My surgeon's nurse called today, and just from my symptoms, they are fairly sure that I need a resection done on my...
Vicky, You had responded to an earlier post that you had a stricture in your sigmoid colon and opted for a resection. I have a stricture there also, and I will be doing tests soon (a barium enema or...