A Semicolon Girl, No More

Well besides the cruise I went on in January 2019 has sucked big time for me. I used to have this weird theory that odd-numbered years were always bad, and right now everything that’s happened this year has given weight to that argument. Just a reminder, in 2018 I wasn’t admitted to the hospital once.

Let’s rewind. Last month I went on a cruise with family and had a great time. When I got back I came down with the flu. Yes, I did get the flu shot, but there are different strands of the flu and the flu shot is not 100%. I’m also immunocompromised and therefore it’s really easy for me to catch anything that’s contagious. Thank you to those of you who leave your house when you are contagious.

So I spent a week in bed with fevers and a nasty cough, whatever, I got through it. I was getting ready to go back to work when my stomach started to act up. This was Super Bowl Sunday. I didn’t think much of it, just thought I would sleep it off and get back to my normal routine. By early morning I was in a lot of pain and we went to the ER. I was admitted for a few days and then sent back home.

A few days later the pain came back and it was ten times worse. Back to the ER I went. I was admitted again, but this time they called my surgeon to take a look at things. I have several strictures and fistulas right around the area where my small bowel connects to (what’s left of) my colon. My doctors have tried to treat it with medications over the past few years but it’s pretty clear it’s not responding to anything. I’ve been on some of the strongest, newest treatments with no success. My GI knew it was time to bring in my surgeon.

The plan is to remove what’s left of my colon, leave the rectum, remove a small portion of the small bowel and do stricture plasty wherever possible (opposed to removing portions of the small bowel). I will end up with an ileostomy and no longer have a colostomy.

Photo by Piron Guillaume on Unsplash

It won’t be a big change for me in the long run, I’m used to life with an ostomy. There are some differences with an ileostomy, mainly I have to be careful about hydration. Without my colon, I can easily become dehydrated, so I have to increase my water intake. I will have more output and it will be more liquidy and less formed. And the ostomy will be on my right side instead of my left side.

I’m not nervous about surgery or my mother at the height of her anxiety alone with my fiance. I’m nervous and anxious about the recovery. It will be painful and it won’t be easy. I’m not sugar coating it like I’ve done in the past. This will be my 6th surgery, this is nothing new. Yes, it’s been almost 5 years since I’ve had to do this and I tend to forget about the recovery. I’m also 5 years older and I know that’s not going to help things.  My last recovery was not easy and I remember being depressed and having issues keeping a seal on my colostomy bag (my incision was still healing and pretty close to the stoma so it made it difficult to get a good seal the first few weeks). Cabin fever is real and not working takes a toll on you mentally as well as financially.

Yes, I’m going into this with a positive attitude. I know I will come through it and be back to my old self within a few weeks. I have a wedding to plan and my life to live.

I can’t promise too many blog posts but I will post updates on Instagram and Twitter.

Thanks for all your love and support. On to the next adventure.