Well I'm a month late posting this blog which I'm sure you realize means I'm healthy and happy and spending a LOT less time thinking about my intestinal issues.
One more year and I haven't been hospitalized. I had my pouch scoped again in Feb and Dr Shen said it was "pristine" and I could stop taking 6mp. Hooray! No more monthly blood draws. I think my veins have finally recovered, I see them on a regular basis now...
So I'm off all chron's meds now which is awesome. And I would like to say also that I'm the only one in my office who didn't get sick over the winter. No colds, no flu. I have the immune system of an OX!
As far as the k-pouch and me goes.....
I'm cool with it. Emptying typically 4 times a day, never really had a problem getting the cath in. And I've emptied just about everywhere now including Epcot, strip-mall, target, airport, coffee shops. Its not always easy in these places but at least I'm not intimidated anymore.
I would say I'm totally adjusted now because the k-pouch even figures into my dreams! When I had the j-pouch I had bathroom dreams all the time, almost nightly I would say, and now once in a while I have k-pouch dreams. And I have to tell you about this last one....
I think this dream this shows is my underlying fear of having to be in an ER or hospital away from Cleveland where no one has even heard of a k-pouch let alone know how to deal with it. I've been toying with the idea of getting a medic-alert type of braclet/necklace with the CC colorectal surgeon # on it. Sometimes I think what if something happens to me and shon is not around....
Ok a littl background so bear with me: so since my rear-end has been closed off I don't a normal sensation to go the bathroom. My surgeon left the majority of my spincter muscles in tact so I can squeeze sort-of. It feels different though and of course with my stoma I get all sorts of weird "feelings" too. And I haven't sad on a toilet and pooped in.... hmm 3 1/2 years now. OK so in my dream I'm laying on a gourney and I think its the ER who knows why I'm in there but all the docs and nurses are hoovering over me and shon is at my head and all of a sudden I feel like I'm pooping. And I start screaming "I"m pooping! I'm POOPING!!" and I'm freaking out. And I just keeping screaming "I'm POOPING" and the Doctors are saying "oh, this is a good thing" and I'm in full out panic mode now and I'm still screaming "No, you don't understand I can't poop, I can't poop! This is BAD. Shon get me outta hear I gotta go to Cleveland, don't touch me! I CAN'T POOP"
When I woke up later on and remembered it and I just cracked up and the thought of myself paniced out of my mind and screaming I"m POOPING!
Life with alternative plumbing!
