I’ve had a lot of time – a decade – to think about remission. When my doctors said remission to me back in 2012 – I was less than a year into my official IBD journey – and I honestly thought “great, that’ll make things easier! Welcome back to normal life!” I feel pretty foolish now because nothing about remission then was easy. It was harder than flaring because I…
surgical journey
-
-
Examinations Under Anaesthesia
THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY What exactly is a Examination Under Anaesthesia? This is a surgical examination under general or spinal anaesthesia, also known as a EUA. Due to the location of a particular area that requires a deeper look, a surgeon will usually advocate for this procedure to minimise pain and discomfort to the patient. Why you might have one and the benefits This procedure can be…
-
Having Major Surgery During a Pandemic
I know almost all of us did not expect nor predict that 2020 would be how it has been thus far. It has been without a doubt the most challenging year for a very long time. However, when you have a chronic illness, you go through periods where you are indeed isolated and out of the public sphere due to ill health. I, myself, have had my fair share of…
-
Life Lately | Surgical & IBD Update
Let’s catch up, shall we? I haven’t done a ‘Life Lately‘ posts since I was having my wound dressed each day. That feels like forever ago but it has only been a matter on weeks. So, let’s catch up on everything medical that’s happened since my Vedolizumab at the end of May. A general overview of June can be found here. The whole of June can be split into two camps…
-
Surgery Anniversary
I’ve been thinking alot lately about surgery and it’s sometimes negative reputation and impact on the chronically ill. When I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and we were discussing treatment options for controlling it, I was positive that I could fight this without the need of surgery. I remained feeling that particular way for many years, even as I went on and came off several medications – noted…
-
Why? My Proctectomy Explained
Background: In 2016 I underwent two operations for my Crohn’s Disease. The first was a Right Hemicolectomy in May, followed by a Subtotal Colectomy with Ileostomy in August. My first surgery was to remove a stricture that was causing all of my then IBD symptoms. It had been unresolved by medication, so a joint decision between myself, my consultant and surgeon was made to remove my terminal ileum and about 20…
-
Life Lately | The ‘Final’ Step
At last, answers and a plan. I last talked – openly and frankly – about my current predicament back at the end of November; re my rectal stump. Since then, we’ve had some improvement with its produce but it’s still a massive pain in the butt; metaphorical and literal. But we have had some appointments come through and we are now at Stage Three of the process. This being; I…
-
Happy Surgery-iversary…?
May 12th. It is forever etched into my brain. We’d been able to control, for the most part, my disease with medications and ‘diet’ for the five years prior to that. But, somewhat inevitably, it came down to needing a clinical trial or surgery. I opted for surgery but debated the toss for weeks after choosing. I was going to need testing to predict the type of operation I would…
-
To new beginnings…
Tuesday 23rd August (cont’d) “I’ve got a space for you on the end of the emergency list today, could be this afternoon, probably this evening though.” Ward round this morning and surgeon is keen to remove my colon today. Despite being busy, he will stay and do my surgery when his list is complete. Turned out that meant waiting all day – still experiencing more blood than I’ve ever known…