ActiveUC: I'm having the same problem. No advice, just want you to know you're not alone and that I'm thinking about you and wishing you the best. I had my colectomy almost a year ago, but my...
Thank you everyone for the advice. I've been drinking 16 ounces of Powerade Zero every morning, and that seems to be helping. I've also gotten some Coconut Water and tried to get more Potassium. I've...
I had an immunoglobulin treatment during my worst flare. Didn't help at all. I had unresponsive c.diff at the time and my infectious disease doc thought it might help everything, but I saw no...
I went to an urgent care last night because I was dizzy, and the PA said I was extremly dehydrated. She said if I got any worse to go to the ER for some fluids. I've been drinking a ton today, but...
If you are considering j-pouch surgery with UC, which is what I have, it's almost certain you won't go anywhere near 15-20 times a day. I go maybe 5 now. One in the morning, once after each meal and...
I'm jealous of your "laser" incisions! My surgeon cut me open! Oh well. I took the pills too. The Dr. I saw was at an urgent care place, so not top-of-the-line, but he understood that I needed...
Welcome to the board and best of luck to you! I know this is a hard decision to make, especially so young, so hopefully all of these answers will help you. •Did you have ulcerative colitis? Yes, I...
Good idea run4pancakes. I eat Greek yogurt instead of regular for the same reason....
Florida sounds so nice! I'm a little farther north and typically stick to Virginia Beach or the Outer Banks, although I don't discriminate! I love all beaches :) I'm glad to finally be able to relax...
I took it for a killer sinus infection a month with an ileostomy with no problems. Honestly, I didn't even think there might be problems, so it's good that there weren't! Best of luck!...
I've only had my j-pouch for a few months, so I'm far from a professional, but all of my GIs, surgeons and ostomy nurses have said that simply eating a yogurt every day or two would be effective in...
I think most of us who had Crohn's or UC have gone through periods where we couldn't eat. I didn't eat anything solid for several months, getting nutrition through TPN or Ensure and drinking water,...
I used to get really dizzy, and my doctors found that it was probably from anemia. Mine was really severe, so I had blood transfusions, but it might be good if you can get some blood work and see if...
Rosemary, have you tried Ensure or Boost? When I was really sick and losing a bunch of weight, they gave me those in the hospital. After I got out, I would have 1 or 2 a day for nutrition. It might...
If you have your rectum and sphincter, you shouldn't have any problems with incontinence. I have a j-pouch, which is my small intestine connected directly to my rectum with no colon left, and I have...
I used to do that, until my GI told me that with severe UC, even if you don't eat anything, your body will still produce mucus and poop. It sounds like you're in a pretty severe flare, so this would...
Best of luck Rosemary! Please keep us updated. As for the Picc line, I've had 2 because I have basically no veins left to draw blood from. They are such a blessing. It didn't hurt at all for me to...
Funny! I just got a tattoo of a semi-colon next to my ostomy scars. It cracked the tattoo artist up! Glad we can find humor in our situations :)...
I couldn't find Calmoseptine locally and wasn't willing to spend a lot to have it shipped, so I bought Desitin at a local store. Never having tried the alternative, Desitin has been perfectly fine....
I'm now 6 weeks post-op, and the gas pains are definitely normal. Mine went away after about a month. No problems holding it, no more gas pains and I can eat pretty much everything now. It will get...
Good luck! I had surgery 3 months ago and I'm definitely back to normal now....
I could never drink too much caffeine even before my UC diagnosis, and of course it was off limits for the past year. I had 1/2 cup of coffee this morning, though, and it was kinda fine. It always...
I was on Remicade, Imuran and Pred at the same time and would really caution people against doubling or tripling up. I ended up in the ICU with pneumonia, sepsis and c.diff. Try to use the least...
My first week or two were so bad that every time I changed my bag, had a leak etc I cried and had to take a nap. Believe me, I've been there, and it gets better. Best of luck!...
Silent Lucidity, I had my takedown a few days before Pancakes and I back up what she says 100%. I go, on average, 6-8 times a day. It depends on what I eat, but it's already firming up a bit too....
I had c.diff twice before having my colon removed, and boy is it terrible. Because I was so prone to it, I asked my surgeon last time I saw it. It really only affects the colon, so we have an...
Thank you Sibby and Babeinthewoods for being so wonderfully nonjudgemental. No one knows everyone else's story. For those who automatically rail against surgery, I'd really think that you'd have more...
How great Jackie, I'm so glad it was easy and you're feeling better! You are so strong...
Thanks for the info Nena. I just wish I'd thought more about this while I still had my loop ileo!...
I loooove spinich so I noticed the same thing you did whenever I ate it. It was definitely shocking the first time I saw it! No idea if my body was absorbing any of the nutrients. Let us know if you...
Gook luck Jackie! Heaven knows you deserve some good luck after all of this. Let us know what the doctors find. You are in competent hands!...
Haha torranceboy, I meant pouch too. I had my takedown 11/17 so I was trying to give you some friendly advice on the pouch, not the bag. Whoops :) And pancakes, my surgeon said I should try to hold...
Torranceboy, don't worry. The bag doesn't feel burdensome at all, even on days when I go more often. I had some rough days in the hospital, before I was eating solids, so be ready for that, but I...
Pancakes, I'm very similar. I haven't been keeping track of exactly when I've needed to go, but since I started eating solids about 5 days ago, I've been going 6-7 times a day. The first couple days...
Hey B'Dereh. I'm 9 days out from my takedown. My BMs are starting to solidify. Of course they'll always be loose, but it's more like oatmeal most of the time now. The first few days after I started...
Try not to be too upset about staying longer, Jackie. I know no one wants to be in the hospital, but I had my surgery last Thursday and was in the hospital for 5 days. Just got out this Monday. I...
Thank you all! Some gas today, no BM yet though. I guess tomorow This waiting is the worst! And Jackie, it definitely isn't as bad as the first surgery, you'll do great. Erin...
For Pancakes, Jackie and anyone else having their takedown soon: I had my takedown yesterday afternoon. It went really well. The pain is nowhere near as bad as the more invasive 1st surgery. I'm...
Good luck bostwis and everyone else having the reversal soon! I'm having mine tomorrow so I'll let y'all know how it goes. So far it's already a lot better than the first surgery. No prep! Just clear...
Deacon Blues, I just wanted to say that I love your signature. I will help you in beating UC up unmercifully!...
I had a flare a lot like that at the beginning of 2011. The Prednisone only got it under control enough that I could go home from the hospital, which I know you're trying to avoid. You might want to...
I don't know about anyone else, but I got a yeast infection a couple weeks after my surgery and the longest period ever. It's good that you're seeing the gyn if you're worried, but it's probably...
You've got nothing to worry about B'Dereh. The Barium enema test was easy as pie. I got myself so worked up over it, mostly because enemas were my enemy when I had UC (couldn't hold them in) but very...
I'm so sorry to hear what happened to you! But I'm so glad you're able to bounce back so quickly. With my UC I was in the hospital for 2 months at 23, and it was traumatic. Sadly I wasn't able to...
I found out yesterday that I'm scheduled to have my takedown January 19. Yay, next week, yay! However, my insurance is requesting to look over all my surgeon's notes before giving me the go-ahead for...
Allswell - I definitely wear tight pants with no problem. You just need to empty a little more often. As for my recovery from Step 1, it was definitely easier than I'd thought. I was inpatient for 7...
My pants fall a couple inches below my belly button, and my stoma is right around belly button level, so hopefully this will help. I usually tuck my bag into my pants because I don't love wearing...
Thanks for the advice everybody! I will definitely bring some Calmoseptine to the hospital with me, and some flushable wipes....
Thank you both, and thanks Suebear for the ointment advice. It's good news that neither of you have any experience. Maybe it's not as common as I'd though - here's hoping I don't have it either!...
Good luck! I lost well over half my hair before my surgery, but after I got off of all the drugs and had my surgery it stopped. I got a cute pixie cut until it all grows out. I hope everything works...