Thursday, August 11th “I feel absolutely awful. If I’m honest, I’ve felt awful for weeks and I’m at the end of my tether. Please help me.” I was on the phone to my IBD nurse, begging for help. I’ve never begging for an admission but that is what came out of my mouth next; “I’d really like to be admitted.” She wasn’t shocked, just said she’d need to speak to…
IBD
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A Spiral of Set Backs
I last wrote anything about my Crohn’s disease back at the end of June. That is almost six weeks ago but feels so much longer ago. And in retrospect, so much but so little has happened. It’s just been one thing after another; without the last problem really going away. So I was being discharged in my last post after my bowel infection from surgery. That problem resolved itself a…
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‘Recovery’ and Bowel Infection Adventures [15.06.16]
I was never given any real information on how to recover from surgery. Sure, I got details on what had happened to my body, what I was now missing and how to best adapt going forward but I never expected ‘complications’; even though they were there, in black and white, at the end of the procedure paperwork, to happen to me. Complications included: Chest infection. Illeus (temporary stoppage in bowels). Damage to…
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Right Hemicolectomy with Cystectomy [12.05.16] – Pt II
The weekend after surgery saw the most activity. This would be the removal of my catheter, getting out of bed for the first time and finally being able to eat. Having not been awake for the insertion of the catheter, the removal was pretty painless. It was more uncomfortable than anything and it did mean I would now have to get up and find the female toilet at some point;…
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Right Hemicolectomy with Cystectomy [12.05.16] – Pt I
So last time, I had just had my pre op assessment for my surgery. I’ll admit, that appointment was extremely helpful – it calmed me more than I had expected and I finally felt relaxed for my operation and I knew I had made the right decision. On the morning of my surgery – Thursday – I packed my overnight bag with some pyjamas, face wipes, my phone charger, kindle…
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Pre Operative Assessment – 10.05.16
Its finally here; the pre op appointment! Before that appointment, I also met with the stoma nurse at the hospital; there is a small chance – 10% or so – that my operation could result in having a temporary ileostomy, so we discussed what one would look like, which side I would have it on, how the bag would fit to my abdomen and why it would be needed. If…
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One Week to Go
Seven more days of having all my insides, still inside of me. Seven more days of this constant, terribly draining pain. Seven more days in this current chapter of my IBD life. I know surgery isn’t a magic or quick fix. I know I will be in pain afterwards, a different pain from the one I’m experiencing right now but I am hoping this will be controlled better and not…
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Two weeks and counting…
BLERGH but YAY This sums up how I feel right now. I’m looking forward to hopefully not being in this pain much longer but I am dreaded the lead up to the surgery date and what that morning will be like. Because its all new to me – being my first surgery and all – I’m really anxious. And apprehensive. It’s two weeks until my surgery. I’ve finally had all…
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GYN Surgical Consult – 19.04.16
Thanks to my colorectal surgeon’s quick referral, I was going to see a gynecological surgeon to discuss the removal of the cyst on my left ovary that was discovered on my last MRI in October 2015. I’m very glad it only took a week to get into a clinic to discuss this with them; it had been the one thing that had plagued me throughout our holiday – sleepless nights…