Jpouch Update

So its been a little over three weeks since my ileostomy takedown and things have been going so well. I am so happy with the outcome of my jpouch! I thought my body would take a while to be used to my jpouch, but things have actually been oddly normal ever since I've been out of the hospital. I was told that I would still be having a little bit of urgency, going many times during the day, and some people even say they become slightly incontinent (like maybe at night). I have to say, I really haven't had any problems with any of that which makes me so happy. I go to the bathroom more than a normal person, but it hasn't been a problem with me at all. I even started to drink coffee and diet coke again this past week and everything has still been very normal. I have also gone out to the bar a few times and I just take immodium before going out. I finally feel like a "normal" person again! I haven't felt this feeling in over two years. It is such a relief to not have to constantly be worrying about my ostomy anymore.

About a week after my surgery, I decided that I wanted to begin working out again. I went to the gym twice that week and realized I should probably wait a little bit longer because my stomach was hurting me a lot. The pain kept getting worse and worse and by that Friday of that week, I ended up going to the Emergency Room. I thought that my wound from where my ostomy used to be was infected because it was hurting so badly, it had a slight layer of pus over it, and around the top of the wound, it was very hard. After being at the ER for about 5 hours, it was confirmed that it wasn't infected. I had some of my doctors come down to look at my wound, and they had to scrape a layer of dead tissue out of it, causing major bleeding and pain in my wound. After leaving the ER, my wound looked so much worse than what it looked like going in. My wound was about an inch deep into my abdomen and they told me I would need to do a wet to dry dressing change on it until it closes up. Ever since then, I have had no problems with it and its starting to look like its healing better now. It is still an open wound so I do a dressing change on it every day.

Tomorrow I am heading back to the University of Chicago for my post-op appointment. Im sure nothing too exciting will happen there. I think they are just going to be looking at my wound and making sure everything has been going well with me. Also this week I am going to be observing in the GI lab during my clinicals! I am going to be watching different procedures including colonoscopies and endoscopies which I am extremely excited about! Yay GI!

 Heres my wound after they scraped away the dead tissue! Gross, I know. 

 And here is my tummy with no ostomy! yay

Life is good ~
-- JKL

Bye bye ostomy!

Sooo I realized I never actually posted this after my surgery.... sooo read up!


Written on March 9th, 2015:
"It has been three days since my third and final surgery... my "ileostomy takedown." After the surgery, I woke up in the post-op room and I was in pain, yes, but not nearly as much pain as I have been during the past two surgeries. I was given pain medication right away and after that I seemed to be able to tolerate it. When they rolled me up to my room, I even was able to move myself from one bed to another rather than making the workers lift me up. I was on a lot of medication so i don't exactly remember the details of the day but I know I was sleeping on and off a lot and not moving much. I also remember I kept feeling down on my abdomen for my ostomy, just because I've gotten into the habit of always checking up on it.

Here's my new stomach! The bottom incision is from surgery #2 and 

where the dressing is now is where my stoma used to be!

 Jerry got a picture of me knocked out.. (my hair looks so dark!)

After this surgery, I didn't have a catheter in like I have the past two times, which means I would have to get up myself and go pee when I had to. Like I said, I could actually get myself up without much help the first few times go try to go. However, for some reason, I felt like I had to pee so badly, but I WASNT GOING. My nurses and I tried every trick in the book (turn on running water, put your hand in a cup of water, poor water over yourself)... and eventually after doing a few bladder scans and ALMOST having to get a straight catheter, I went! 

The same day I had my surgery!

The pain from this surgery is a bit different than the last. It only hurts on my right side, where my stoma used to be, and its more of a sore feeling rather than a sharp stabbing pain. The day after, the doctors came in to change the dressing on my wound, and it actually looks like a gun shot wound in my stomach. Its a perfect circular shape on my lower right abdomen. During the surgery, they used stitches on the inside of it that will dissolve them self in order to close it up. I was so happy when I first saw my stomach without my ostomy... even though it helped save my life, I'm glad that I can move on from that part of my life and start to feel "back to normal"

All day Saturday, I wasn't able to eat or drink anything, so I was miserable to say the least. Yesterday, I was restricted to only being on my "clear liquid diet" again and after eating three bowls of jell-o, I decided I would rather starve than try to eat any more of that! I think I had eaten my body weight in jello and that point and felt nauseous just thinking about it. Finally,  I was given the okay to eat this morning! So I ordered something that was pretty light on my stomach.. I had an english muffin and then a side of vanilla greek yogurt. It all went down really well and I feel great as of right now. I just ordered lunch.. Mac and Cheese and mashed potatoes!

I will hopefully be able to go home tomorrow!"




-- JKL

the finale

It is March 5 around 9:30 pm. Tomorrow I will be getting up around 4:30 am in order to be to the University of Chicago hospital by 6 am and my surgery is scheduled for 7:30 am. Today I have been on a clear liquid diet, so I've eaten/drank... jello, Gatorade, sprite, Italian ice, and a little bit of broth... haha YUM.... It wasn't as bad as I thought doing this diet, its just so hard to remember NOT to eat something if its sitting there. By 12am tonight I will be NPO (nothing by mouth) until after my surgery.

The past few days have been pretty good and a little emotional. On Tuesday, my clinical group surprised me with a "poop" cookie cake, a very nice card, and a gift card. I had NO IDEA that they were doing this for me and I thought it was so incredibly nice that I cried. I was so happy by the support I have from so many different people in my life.

Here's my cake!

On Wednesday, I attended my first University of Chicago IBD educational. It was in Orland Park, IL and my mom and step dad came with me. Even though I do know a lot of the information involving IBD, I still want to try to gain as much knowledge as I can about it in hopes of it one day being a part of my profession. Dr. Rubin and Dr. Cohen were the speakers of the lectured that was titled "Why haven't we cured Inflammatory Bowel Disease yet?" It was very informative and I got to go talk with Dr. David Rubin, one of the nations top IBD doctors (and also MY doctor at U of C) and thank him for everything the team and he has done for me. 

  

Dr. Rubin speaking at the IBD event

Dr. Rubin and I

...and after going to the educational, my mom realized that there was a P. F. Changs near by so of course we had to stop and eat on our way home and I got to have my last supper before my liquid diet.

Double pan fried noodles with beef... my favorite.

________________________________________________________________________

 

Well as of now I am feeling great going into my surgery. I am very anxious and just wanted to get this over with. The day I've been to patiently waiting for since July is finally here. I wouldn't say I am nervous abut the surgery... I am more nervous about it not working for me and feeling those same horrible feelings I did when I had my UC. I am staying very hopeful and I know that everything happens for a reason. I am so thankful for everyone who has been extremely supportive by sending me texts and messages wishing me good luck. I am feeling an insane amount of happiness and a sense of joy that I have never really felt before...

TOMORROW I WILL BE OSTOMY FREE ~

I will update, like always, when ever I am feeling better!

CHEERS

-- JKL