Hi everyone. My name is Sara and I'm 31 years old. I have spina
bifida and tethered spinal cord, not to mention migraines, neurogenic
bladder (had bladder augmentation surgery), self catherization, acid
reflux, hernia, mitral valve regurgitation/high heart rate,
depression, I think thats the major ones anyway. In June of this year
I had to have an ileostomy (loop ileotomy-reversable-although i will
never be able to have it reversed unless some new technology comes up)
because my muscles didn't work and I had been laxative dependent for
years. The laxatives finally quit working and here I am. To be
honest I wish i had had the surgery a few years ago, its so much
easier and better than having a bowel movement once a week. (I work a
full time job and had to take a laxative either Saturday or Sunday.)
My doctor had to put my ileostomy up higher than he had wanted to
because I have so much scar tissue from other surgeries. The only
problem I am having with the ileostomy so far is that where it is
higher than normal my medicine isn't digesting. The majority of it is
coming back out in the bag. Don't really know what to do about that
right now, but I know i'm not getting the full effect of it cause of
that. I can say it has been an experience getting used to my
ileostomy. I had such a rough rough time with the surgery. I don't
think death could have been much closer. I lost 30 pounds in about 3
weeks. I was so so sick. The doctor wasn't for sure that it was
going to work and I promise you he danced a jig in my hospital room
when it started working. He is a wonderful doctor. Anyway I guess
I've wrote a book. Hope to get to know everyone.

Sara