Back to see my amazing surgeon today. Don’t worry, I’m okay! If anything, that’s the reason for seeing him. I am doing so well since surgery, he double checked my blood work, did a MRI scan and a calprotein test to confirm that everything is A-Okay. I’ve briefly discussed my thoughts on ‘remission’ this time around here, and also here. But today it was made official but not at all…
health
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Sometimes; it just hits you, hard
How long does it take you to accept something? I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t be terrified to see my stoma. The first time I got to see it, I was high on morphine and was desperately trying to understand what was coming out of me and what I was attached to. PICC line? Check. PCA pump? Check. Catheter? Check. Abdominal drain? Check. Ostomy bag…? Check. I felt the…
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My Tips for Eating with an Ostomy
Disclaimer: This information is based on my own personal experiences since my ostomy surgery in August 2016. If you are seeking dietary advice regarding your stoma, please contact your stoma nurse, dietician or medical team for further assistance. I’m coming up to six months with my wonderful ileostomy, Pricilla. It’s not always been a great relationship but I saw quite quickly how she was going to make my life with…
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Fearful
I’ve already had five and a half years with my chronic illness. I’ve gotten used to it disturbing my life and disrupting my plans. It seems to have a knack for doing this, a lot. What I am not used to is being without medication. It feels foreign, almost like we are testing the IBD gods, tricking them into thinking I am well. For all intents and purposes, I am…
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Part of Coloplast: Charter – Ordering Ostomy Supplies
I was introduced to Charter as part of my pre-op care from my stoma nurses. They recommended the service for several reasons: Supplies could be order online, 24/7 They have the largest availability of products from a variety of companies Their delivery was discreet. Almost all new ostomates from the hospital would recommend Charter for their level of professionalism, knowledge and friendly advisers. Ordering my ostomy supplies for the first…
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One Year On
Three hundred and sixth five days. A whole year; twelve months. We sat in traffic. It was a busy Wednesday morning rush hour. I’m anxious, excited and ever so scared. It felt like make or break time; would these doctors also recommend surgery? Did I have more choices than the scalpel? I was in agony. I knew I was sick and I knew that I would probably choose surgery but…
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Coming off “The Radar”
I’ve had Crohn’s disease for over five years now and I think in all those years I have never ever been off the departments radar. You know what I mean right? I’m always causing trouble. If its not for being in hospital on their ward, I am taking biological medication and they discuss me in their weekly MGT meetings. Sooner or later I become unstable so I am then discussed because my…
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Remission: I AM IN IT
So, this week is proving to be quite good. And I want to share my good news, because lets face it, sometimes it happens so infrequently, I just get too excited. Today I’ve had the results of my MRI scan from last week come back, in the form of my IBD nurse calling me to cancel and rebook some appointments with me. I enquired to what was open on the…
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MRI Scan: Small Bowel Study – 19.01.17
So, last week I was at the hospital for a routine test; a Small Bowel MRI Study. My surgeon is using this procedure to finalise the plans for whether or not I continue to receive my Vedolizumab treatment, as my Crohn’s has gone into possible remission. I’ve had a couple of these MRIs before; all pre surgery and without my ostomy. I was hesitate, anxious and nervous for the following…