My JPouch is 1!

Happy Birthday to my JPouch!!!!!!!

365 days ago I was going into my last surgery and spent my spring break in the hospital. I went into the surgery with my ileostomy and came out with a new stomach because I was ileostomy free! It was such an emotional day and experience knowing that I was finally seeing the light at the end of my incredibly long IBD journey. Living with an ileostomy was hard but I learned how to accommodate and changed my lifestyle to make it work. I am beyond blessed to have had the option to get my ileostomy reversed where I would then continue living with an "internal pouch" called my JPouch. Everyone says that the first year with your JPouch is the hardest because your body has to relearn how to function since my colon and rectum were removed and my small intestine was sewed up into a "J" shape. My body thankfully adjusted to my JPouch very fast and I was never on any diet restrictions. My Pouchitis (inflammation of my internal pouch) that I experienced a few months ago was my only set back in this entire year. I have been eagerly waiting for my one year mark to arrive because it lifts a weight off of my shoulders knowing that I have hopefully made it through the worst. I know celebrating a day for your intestine sounds somewhat crazy but I cannot help but to enjoy this wonderful day with a smile on my face and celebrate.

Last year, I remember going into my last surgery feeling different than the past two surgeries. During surgery 1 and surgery 2, I was dreading getting my surgery. I was very sick and not looking forward to the recovery process or once again, waking up to having an ileostomy. But this last surgery, I was so excited to get. I woke up that morning so happy to be able to finally be DONE with my surgeries and to finally kiss my ileostomy goodbye. Even though I loved my ostomy (more like a love/hate relationship) I was ready to break up with it and move on with my life. It treated me well for the time being and I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to experience what I did, but I was ready. I had an overwhelming sense of joy that morning,  a feeling that I don't know if I will ever experience again. I had never been more thankful for my health, my family, my health care team, my friends and most importantly my IBD. Everything has made me who I am today and that morning, it all just hit me and brought tears of overwhelming joy to my face.

My JPouch is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Many people say that "everything happens for a reason." Even though some may believe that is true, I actually do not. I think bad things happen and good things happen and there is no reason as to why. However, I do think you can find reason within everything. I have found my reason as to why I was given inflammatory bowel disease and it feels so nice to say, I am at peace with it. I accept it. And I would never take it back if I could. My JPouch has made me a better person. It has shown me perspective. It has given me my life back. It has taught me how to be patient. It has made me a more compassionate person. Even though it isn't completely perfect, I find it one of the most beautifully flawed things that makes me who I am.

 

So thank you JPouch.
Happy 1st Birthday and many more to come.

-- JKL