Hi Janice,

I sometimes get really acidic output if I've not been eating much- do you think
this may be the cause?

I think perhaps this situation would call for a visit to the doctor though- it
will put your mind at rest and he/she will be able to give you advice/medication
that would stop this.

Kez
xxx


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Lorraine,

This list is for people with an ileostomy, or stoma from the small bowel. This
is different from a colostomy.

Kerry
Group Moderator


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Diana,
By the sound of it, your stoma has retracted. Mine does the same &
with the same results. I use Coloplast Convexity Baseplates & whilst
they are not perfect, they are about as good as they can be. I would
however, get in to see your stoma nurse & see if it's correct. As by
the sound of it, it should be protruding more than 1/8 of an inch.
one to one & a half inches yes, but not an 1/8th.
Hope everything is all going well for you otherwise. It will take a
bit of time to settle down & get used to it all. But considering the
alternatives, what other options did we have?
TTFN
Take care
Gawain

Hi Jane,
It's not only you ladies that feel that way, we lads do as well. It's
easier said than done, but try not to worry about it too much. I've
just met the most wonderful girl & she doesn't care about it in the
slightest. If you meet someone & they are interested in getting to
know you, then it won't put them off. If it does, then they
didn't 'come up too scratch anyway' & it wasn't meant to be. We've
been given a second chance with the surgery & sometimes fate takes
too long in finding someone for us. So if you want to see who's out
there, you have to get out there & look. It's not as daunting as you
might think really. Just meet up, chat & see how you feel about
eachother. Then take one step at a time from there. I told Lisa soon
after we first got to know eachother, sure it was a bit of a
surprise. But by then, if the truth be known, we'd already fallen in
love with eachother & now we have the rest of our lives to look
forward to together. I've met her children & they all approve & my
dog approves of all of them. So NOW, I'm looking forward to tomorrow
& the day after that & the day after that........
Don't give up hope, he's out there looking for you, just like you are
looking for him. But if he doesn't know where you are, he might not
be able to find you. So make the best of it, chin up, chest out
(figuratively speaking) & seek him out. Chat with friends, get back
into the scene of going out with the 'girls on the pull' & prepare to
meet the person of your dreams. I did & nothing good ever happens to
me............... until now that is!!!
Take care Jane,
You'll get there
Gawain

Hey all,I have a problem and I need some advice.I have had Crohn's
Disease for 13 yrs.And back in 1997 I had an ileostomy surgery done.I
have never had this much trouble with it.For the past week or two,I
have been having been pouring out acid or bile from my bag and from
the stoma.I need some advice on what to do.It is causing me so much
pain.I do not know what to do next.I had my gallbladder taken out in
1999.PLEASE HELP ME SOMEONE!!!!!!!              Janice

HI.. thes are only for colostomie users though ..am I right?

lorraine


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Not sure if this would work for others, but it sure makes me feel better.

Purchase 'ostomy caps' if they are available with your line of appliance. I use
Coloplast and the caps are available, 30 to a box.
They are, oh, about 4 inches ,circular, and flesh colored and flat. They provide
me with 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours of 'bag-free time" for showers, bubble-baths 
and, uhm,,, intimate occasions. Very flat and close against the body. Hardly
noticeable.

vbg
dawn

Hi Group,

Just a quick one...

When you reply to a message in the group by e-mail, can you please
DELETE the previous message that is copied to your reply under what you
type; by simply highlighting the text under what you have typed and
hitting the delete key...  If you don't all do this everyone gets a
multiple copy of the messages posted!

Regards,
Marc Le May   (Dip: ECS)
Head Moderator

--- In ileostomy@yahoogroups.com, Darius <tigersharks66@y...> wrote:
> John,
> How did she respond to you when you told her about
> your ileostomy and when she saw it?  We all have this
> part of us that feels we will be rejected but we
> always hope for acceptance.
>
> Darius

Those first moments are always a cliff-hanger, you tell them, will
they walk away, throw up or keep on coming?
Most of the ladies I meet, I first contact through the Internet. If
the person looks promising I will tell them about it there. But if it
looks like we will just be friends I might not mention it at all. But
once or twice I have met some one and thing have gone a little
quickly! And then a quick explanation and no turning back!
Usually the introduction to my illiostomy goes some thing on the
lines of "I am nor as other men – I have had my arse-hole surgically
removed". This then leads on to a discussion on which bits have been
cut out and put where, followed by the merits of a bag as a flotation
device and the importance's of beans in ship wreck survival strategy.
If whoever you talking to laugh's then its all going to be OK.
All of this is a risk, but it is only a risk, not a certainty, take a
deep breath and go for it.
PS till you are both comfortable keep your shirt on (unbuttoned -
dress shirts are best) and after a while nobody will care.
Oh – how did she react, well the lights where low and I kept her to
busy to notice to start with, and to be honest I was far more worried
about it than she was.

John,
How did she respond to you when you told her about
your ileostomy and when she saw it?  We all have this
part of us that feels we will be rejected but we
always hope for acceptance.

Darius


> Having been in an unhappy relationship for so long,
> and with all my
> other problems I never expected to be attractive to
> anyone ever again.
> Now having been "single" for the past couple of
> years I have been
> very surprised to find it is no more difficult for
> me to have a full
> and bouncy relationship than any other divorced man
> with children –
> that is not easy but very far from impossible. And
> once you get to
> know some one its who you are that is important.
> This is despite the
> fact the I feel my bag is a hideous disfigurement
> that has on
> occasion (3am when it comes unstuck usually) filled
> me with the
> deepest depression.

__________________________________________________
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Kerry,

Tanning is not a problem with the appliance, however if anyone is using the
clear bag, I highly recommend covering the stoma as much as possible. This is
not a part of the body you want to tan.

Gerald



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm thinking of going for a few tanning sessions. Has anyone found this affects
the adhesiveness of their bag plate?

Kez
xxx


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

With regards to the bag and attractiveness- what's worse? A skin coloured bag
which can be covered up - or looking emaciated and ill, having to excuse
yourself because of diarrheoa, being too tired to have fun or be fun, being
cranky to people you're with because of the pain you're in, skin and hair
looking manky becaus of lack of nutrients, looking terrible in general and
living your life around the subject of bowels.

Give me the bag anyday!

Kez
xxx


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I to,just had the surgery 4 months ago,and it is a big adjustment,but I
agree that it has alot to do with attitude.Like I told another writer,I went
to a support group when I was first able,
and it seemed to help.Also,you will get to meet other people in the same
situation as you.
just check the United Ostomy association website,and look for groups in your
area.I wis you well.

-----Original Message-----
From: ileostomy@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ileostomy@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 4:18 AM
To: ileostomy@yahoogroups.com
Subject: The Ileostomy Group Digest Number 99



To add or reply to this newsletter, reply to this email. Remember to delete
all the copied material!

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ileostomy-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Need technical help? Send an email to Kerry at crohnszone@...


------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are 3 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

       1. complex feelings
            From: Jane Faul <miss_jane70301@...>
       2. Re: complex feelings
            From: Gerald Mosley <geraldkmosley@...>
       3. Re: complex feelings
            From: "darius" <tigersharks66@...>


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
    Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 09:56:31 -0800 (PST)
    From: Jane Faul <miss_jane70301@...>
Subject: complex feelings

since my surgery in 1997 have bag on side   // feel
very unsexily attractive because  men get turned off
by my appearance of bag on my side//wish i could find
someone to share life &   do things with without being
treated like i have a plague of    some kind









































7

__________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
    Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 14:23:04 -0800 (PST)
    From: Gerald Mosley <geraldkmosley@...>
Subject: Re: complex feelings


Jane,

We all go through this form of scrutiny and feel as you do about the ostomy.
However, I find my attitude and my self esteem make the ostomy a null point.
Besides, I always conceal the appliance with a t-shirt or a waist band that
covers the area. No need to show more skin than necessary.

Regards, -Gerald from Kansas



---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
    Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 22:35:04 -0000
    From: "darius" <tigersharks66@...>
Subject: Re: complex feelings

I understand how you feel even tho' I just had my surgery not even
two months ago, it makes one feel like they are now damaged goods and
that no one would want you cause you have something very very
different about you that is no easy to deal with even from our own
point of view cause it does tend to limit us and our thinking.  I too
wonder if anyone will ever "want me" cause I am not that "sexy" with
a bad attached to my side and it is a bit unsightly for astetic
purposes.  But in all of this I know that there is someone out there
for me who will love me and want me regardless of the bag 'cause they
will see me for who I am and I know that the same is for you Jane.

Darius

--- In ileostomy@yahoogroups.com, Jane Faul <miss_jane70301@y...>
wrote:
> since my surgery in 1997 have bag on side   // feel
> very unsexily attractive because  men get turned off
> by my appearance of bag on my side//wish i could find
> someone to share life &   do things with without being
> treated like i have a plague of    some kind
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 7
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your
desktop!
> http://platinum.yahoo.com



________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

You have my deepest sympathy with feeling unattractive, every time I
look in the mirror at my bag I loathe it, but its not the end of the
world, accept you find it horrid and move on from there.
14 years ago after suffering Chrons decease for a year and a rather
nasty series of abscesses, I had my illiostomy. At the time I was
married an already had one child. We went on to have a further two.
Unfortunately my wife developed a severe alcohol problem, my
condition not helping her, and her condition definitely not helping
me. In the end I left her and the children soon followed.
So now I am a very broke greying, single father with Chrons and a
permanent illiostomy.
Having been in an unhappy relationship for so long, and with all my
other problems I never expected to be attractive to anyone ever again.
Now having been "single" for the past couple of years I have been
very surprised to find it is no more difficult for me to have a full
and bouncy relationship than any other divorced man with children –
that is not easy but very far from impossible. And once you get to
know some one its who you are that is important. This is despite the
fact the I feel my bag is a hideous disfigurement that has on
occasion (3am when it comes unstuck usually) filled me with the
deepest depression. Unfortunately my career as a love god may now be
over. Having carried my latest lady out to her car in an unwise act
of chivalry, some thing ripped. Now I have a nasty hernia spreading
from my illiostomy. The Dr's said the can fix it – move the stoma to
the centre of my belly button.
I really don't want this but I will wait and see if I cant live with
my body the way it is before I make up my mind. – But let this be a
warning to you all – with an illiostomy you can still pick up women
with but don't try to carry them!

I understand how you feel even tho' I just had my surgery not even
two months ago, it makes one feel like they are now damaged goods and
that no one would want you cause you have something very very
different about you that is no easy to deal with even from our own
point of view cause it does tend to limit us and our thinking.  I too
wonder if anyone will ever "want me" cause I am not that "sexy" with
a bad attached to my side and it is a bit unsightly for astetic
purposes.  But in all of this I know that there is someone out there
for me who will love me and want me regardless of the bag 'cause they
will see me for who I am and I know that the same is for you Jane.

Darius

--- In ileostomy@yahoogroups.com, Jane Faul <miss_jane70301@y...>
wrote:
> since my surgery in 1997 have bag on side   // feel
> very unsexily attractive because  men get turned off
> by my appearance of bag on my side//wish i could find
> someone to share life &   do things with without being
> treated like i have a plague of    some kind
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 7
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your
desktop!
> http://platinum.yahoo.com

Jane,

We all go through this form of scrutiny and feel as you do about the ostomy.
However, I find my attitude and my self esteem make the ostomy a null point.
Besides, I always conceal the appliance with a t-shirt or a waist band that
covers the area. No need to show more skin than necessary.

Regards, -Gerald from Kansas



---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

since my surgery in 1997 have bag on side   // feel
very unsexily attractive because  men get turned off
by my appearance of bag on my side//wish i could find
someone to share life &   do things with without being
treated like i have a plague of    some kind









































7

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop!
http://platinum.yahoo.com

I doubt if she will be too hot for me when she finds
out I'm 36 and way too old for her.  lol

Darius
--- Dawn Weaver <weavers@...> wrote:
> LOL, Darius! I sure hope your hair holds on too!
> Sounds gorgeous...
> might better look out for my 17 year old daughter.
> lol she really has a thing for guys with long
> hair!!!
>
> hugs,
> dawnSC
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
> To add or reply to this newsletter, reply to this
> email. Remember to delete all the copied material!
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> ileostomy-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Need technical help? Send an email to Kerry at
> crohnszone@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>


__________________________________________________
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Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop!
http://platinum.yahoo.com

Hi
I have an ileostomy and I have to have Vit B12 injections every 3 months
now. It started as every week, then every fortnihgt etc. I was told that
because your colon is where you absorb Vit B12 which you need for a healthy
nervous system you have to have supplements. That's why it has to be
injections and not tablets because you still wouldn't absorb it.
Lyndsey

_________________________________________________________________
Overloaded with spam? With MSN 8, you can filter it out
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail&pgmarket=en-gb&XAPID=32&DI=1059

LOL, Darius! I sure hope your hair holds on too! Sounds gorgeous...
might better look out for my 17 year old daughter. lol she really has a thing
for guys with long hair!!!

hugs,
dawnSC

Hello everyone,
My Name is Ed,and I have written before.I don't know if anyone is getting
this or not. the only person I have had any communication with was Carla,and
it was nice.Carla,I hope you find people your age to talk to about this.As
we all can tell,this illness has no age boundaries.It's only been 4 months
since my surgery,and I have made quite a few adjustments already,but am sure
there
are a lot more coming.

-----Original Message-----
From: ileostomy@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ileostomy@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2003 4:06 AM
To: ileostomy@yahoogroups.com
Subject: The Ileostomy Group Digest Number 96



To add or reply to this newsletter, reply to this email. Remember to delete
all the copied material!

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ileostomy-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Need technical help? Send an email to Kerry at crohnszone@...


------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are 4 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

       1. my ileostomy story
            From: "Kerry Piper" <crohnszone@...>
       2. Re: my ileostomy story
            From: carla terrone <star_ari1986@...>
       3. Re: my ileostomy story
            From: Darius <tigersharks66@...>
       4. Re: FEEDBACK (Long)
            From: "Kim" <coyoteridge@...>


________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
    Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 09:51:22 -0000
    From: "Kerry Piper" <crohnszone@...>
Subject: my ileostomy story

I'm Kerry. I'm 24 and had my ileostomy last April 2nd ( it's nearly 1 !!!)
due to Crohn's-colitis (Crohn's of large and small bowel). My medications
weren't working and I was in real pain with a stricture, and going to the
toilet upwards of 20 times a day. They tried me on three steroids with two
immunosuppressants simultaneously as well as putting me on Total Parenteral
Nutrition but nothing worked as I was still in agony every time I ate, so
the decision to operate in two weeks was taken while I was already in the
hospital and I had to stay in to wait for it.

Despite the lack of emotional preparation and the resources to prepare, I
still got my head round it somehow. I had 6 and a half feet of bowel removed
and a temporary ileostomy made in a six hour operation. I retain some
sigmoid colon and my rectum, and reconnection surgery is theoretically
possible. However, my Crohn's is now acting up in that bypassed area and
they have postponed reconnection indefinitely. This isn't a problem though-
all is well on the stoma side of things and I'm happy enough to live with
it.

The ileostomy has allowed me to reclaim my life. I have been in remission in
the bowel I use since I had it, I've been able to return to work after 14
months off, and the job has funded my new degree course in History which I
am enjoying. I can go out and about without panicking about getting to the
toilet, and can eat out and generally enjoy life.

Kerry
Hampshire, UK


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
    Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 18:48:56 +0000 (GMT)
    From: carla terrone <star_ari1986@...>
Subject: Re: my ileostomy story


Hello am i right in thinking im the baby of this group! Is there anyone out
there my age? im 17 please reply.
  Kerry Piper <crohnszone@...> wrote:I'm Kerry. I'm 24 and had my
ileostomy last April 2nd ( it's nearly 1 !!!) due to Crohn's-colitis
(Crohn's of large and small bowel). My medications weren't working and I was
in real pain with a stricture, and going to the toilet upwards of 20 times a
day. They tried me on three steroids with two immunosuppressants
simultaneously as well as putting me on Total Parenteral Nutrition but
nothing worked as I was still in agony every time I ate, so the decision to
operate in two weeks was taken while I was already in the hospital and I had
to stay in to wait for it.

Despite the lack of emotional preparation and the resources to prepare, I
still got my head round it somehow. I had 6 and a half feet of bowel removed
and a temporary ileostomy made in a six hour operation. I retain some
sigmoid colon and my rectum, and reconnection surgery is theoretically
possible. However, my Crohn's is now acting up in that bypassed area and
they have postponed reconnection indefinitely. This isn't a problem though-
all is well on the stoma side of things and I'm happy enough to live with
it.

The ileostomy has allowed me to reclaim my life. I have been in remission in
the bowel I use since I had it, I've been able to return to work after 14
months off, and the job has funded my new degree course in History which I
am enjoying. I can go out and about without panicking about getting to the
toilet, and can eat out and generally enjoy life.

Kerry
Hampshire, UK


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
    Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 19:10:13 -0800 (PST)
    From: Darius <tigersharks66@...>
Subject: Re: my ileostomy story

Congrats on your nearly having your first anniversary
(who would think we would celebrate something like
this.) I just know from experience that if you make it
a year past something big happening that things seem
to make a positive turn if they havent already.  I'm
sorry that you have Crohns since that is the worst of
the two diseases, hopefully it will go into a full
remision for your sake.  I myself didn't get but one
day to prepare for surgery, talk about an emotional
shock.  But I did ok since I didn't have time to dwell
on it.  I'm still getting used to my ileostomy and I
still have a bit of a mental block as far as seeing
how I am going to have a near normal life but if so
many have said they do then I know it is possible,
even tho I know I won't ever get to play hockey in any
real fashion like I have dreamed(we all have dreams
like this) I know I did get to enjoy some special
things (I have made 6 skydives)long before I had this
come about.  At least now I go fishing and hunting
again since I couldn't before for lack of being able
to have a toilet nearby.  So as spring comes along I
know I'm going to enjoy things that I couldn't before
and even gain a more positive outlook and I know I
will gain that from some of the people here in this
group.  It's always good to have someone to talk to
who knows what you are going thru which helps beyond
measure.

Darius
Okmulgee, Ok

BTW  - I'm 36 for those wondering.
--- Kerry Piper <crohnszone@...> wrote:
> I'm Kerry. I'm 24 and had my ileostomy last April
> 2nd ( it's nearly 1 !!!) due to Crohn's-colitis
> (Crohn's of large and small bowel). My medications
> weren't working and I was in real pain with a
> stricture, and going to the toilet upwards of 20
> times a day. They tried me on three steroids with
> two immunosuppressants simultaneously as well as
> putting me on Total Parenteral Nutrition but nothing
> worked as I was still in agony every time I ate, so
> the decision to operate in two weeks was taken while
> I was already in the hospital and I had to stay in
> to wait for it.
>
> Despite the lack of emotional preparation and the
> resources to prepare, I still got my head round it
> somehow. I had 6 and a half feet of bowel removed
> and a temporary ileostomy made in a six hour
> operation. I retain some sigmoid colon and my
> rectum, and reconnection surgery is theoretically
> possible. However, my Crohn's is now acting up in
> that bypassed area and they have postponed
> reconnection indefinitely. This isn't a problem
> though- all is well on the stoma side of things and
> I'm happy enough to live with it.
>
> The ileostomy has allowed me to reclaim my life. I
> have been in remission in the bowel I use since I
> had it, I've been able to return to work after 14
> months off, and the job has funded my new degree
> course in History which I am enjoying. I can go out
> and about without panicking about getting to the
> toilet, and can eat out and generally enjoy life.
>
> Kerry
> Hampshire, UK
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
> To add or reply to this newsletter, reply to this
> email. Remember to delete all the copied material!
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> ileostomy-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Need technical help? Send an email to Kerry at
> crohnszone@...
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>


__________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4
    Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 21:16:05 -0700
    From: "Kim" <coyoteridge@...>
Subject: Re: FEEDBACK (Long)

The first time I passed blood was in '94. I was afraid to go to the Dr., but
the pain eventually got to me and I went . They did a scope in a small town
hospital, and they really didn't know anything, so they set up an
appointment for a specialist which was for 3 months later. By the time I was
to have my specialist appointment everything was back to normal so I didn't
go. Through the years this happened off and on, but it would always go away
and was never as painful as the first time so I chose to ignore it .. it
would eventually go away.  August 2002 it came back again. I waited for it
to leave, but by November I decided that I'd better go get it seriously
checked out. I seen my family Dr. and he run some tests. When I came back
for follow up appointment he called a specialist right then and there. It
was a Friday... I was in the specialist's office the following Tuesday (at
least I didn't have to wait 3 months this time!).
My family Dr put me on Salofalk. I was taking them before I seen the
specialist.  I had a scope done on Nov 19th and everything after that was
kind of a blur. I ended up with a bowel infection due to the scope. A few
days later I was in the hospital with pleurisy caused from the Salofalk. I
was then put on Prednisone. That cleared up the pleurisy, but it didn't
touch the bleeding. I was released from the hospital in a week. I still felt
really terrible and spent another week or so camped out on the couch only
getting up to go to the bathroom. I went back to the hospital and had more
blood tests done which they found that my hemoglobin was pretty low.  I went
back in the hospital again and they sent me to our closest  major city
hospital. After a couple of days there I had a blood transfusion, and then a
few more days of torcher and being a guinea pig to their drugs that never
worked. They finally decided I needed my large intestine removed. I was so
sick at that point I didn't really care what they did as long as they got me
feeling better. It was bad enough that they were scared that it would
perferate.
My surgeon described it to me as it being the same as a wet paper bag.
So on Dec 24/02  I had my large intestine removed and an ileostomy put in.
It took a long time to recover (at least it seemed to me), but now I'm
feeling great.  I go back to see the surgeon in April to see if it can be
reversed or not. I'm not sure if I want it reversed. I'm terrified that if I
have it reversed, the bleeding and pain will start again. Having the bag is
not as big a deal as I thought it would be in the beginning. Its really not
a big deal at all. I still intend on doing everything I did before. I have
mares to foal out this spring, I have mares to breed.
And I still very much intend to ride.
Someone mentioned that their hair fell out.  Mine is doing  that right now,
and I hope like heck mine comes back in curly too! That would be super..  no
more perms!!! YAY!

Kim



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Hi All
Like Kerry i too had my ileostomy last April. The cause was uc which
came in one 5 month long stretch. Looking back now though i did have
regular bleeding for about 3 years previously nothing too dramatic so
i always thought it must be piles, who knows? I was so relieved after
surgery the pain stopped, the blood loss which seemed never ending
slowed and i began to feel 'normal' again. I think having my family
around really helped, you have to get yoourself together pretty quick
when your 4 year old is jumping all over you. The best advice i was
given was to let my body recover from surgery then get on with my
life. Saying that i was never a stunt woman or bikini clad  beauty
before lol.
Take Care
Kim x

Hi Dawn, the football player you mentioned is a friend
of my cousin's husband out there in California and he
is sending me his book which should be here soon.  I'm
still now just trying to gain some weight and get some
energy back first and foremost. I have a friend here
who is able to hook me up with people from the Tulsa
hockey team if I ever get the chance and I want to
very much cause I truly love the game.  As for this
hair falling out, well I hope that doesn't happen to
me, its taken me six years for me to get my hair as
long as it is; down to bottom my shoulder blades.  So
I don't need any hair loss as you can imagine.  Don't
want curly either, just dont turn loose is all I'm
saying.

Darius
--- Dawn Weaver <weavers@...> wrote:
> HI, Kim, the 'hair falling out person' was me. LOL,
> Not sure if drugs or malnutrition or what caused the
> hair loss, and at the time, I was too sick to care.
> I mean, really, who was gonna see me when I spent
> nearly all of the day and night in the loo...
>
> The curls are glorious, right out of the shower, I
> keep it cropped short, and it's perfect for an
> active mom/life. Funnier still, is my daughter has
> naturally beautiful spiral curls (from her Dad's
> side of the family) and naturally, now when people
> see us together they ASSUME that she got the curls
> from me... tehehehe
>
> Darius, have you seen the stories about the
> Professional Football player who has an ostomy???
> I'd think he'd probably have some tips and hints for
> contact sports that would work nicely. If you
> havne't seen this, let me know and I'll try to look
> it up for you.
>
> thanks to everyone sharing, makes a person feel so
> much less alone.
> Would be interested in stories where humor helped or
> added to situations. Have had a few of those myself.
>
> big hugs all around,
> dawnSC
>

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Hello all,

im 17 in two days and ive had my ileostomy since i was 13. I had a total
collectomy and due to a mistake in theatre half of my small bowel removed. My
ileostomy allows me to do what i want when i want without having to worry where
the nearest toilet is all the time. I was on loads of medication which were
destroying me. There are times when i feel down but i just think of how i was
before. If it wasnt for my ileostomy i wouldnt be here today. I was told i would
need b12 injections in the future but so far havent had one so i must be eating
the right foods or something.

Love *Carla*




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HI, Kim, the 'hair falling out person' was me. LOL, Not sure if drugs or
malnutrition or what caused the hair loss, and at the time, I was too sick to
care. I mean, really, who was gonna see me when I spent nearly all of the day
and night in the loo...

The curls are glorious, right out of the shower, I keep it cropped short, and
it's perfect for an active mom/life. Funnier still, is my daughter has naturally
beautiful spiral curls (from her Dad's side of the family) and naturally, now
when people see us together they ASSUME that she got the curls from me...
tehehehe

Darius, have you seen the stories about the Professional Football player who has
an ostomy???  I'd think he'd probably have some tips and hints for contact
sports that would work nicely. If you havne't seen this, let me know and I'll
try to look it up for you.

thanks to everyone sharing, makes a person feel so much less alone.
Would be interested in stories where humor helped or added to situations. Have
had a few of those myself.

big hugs all around,
dawnSC

Every now and then, I hear mention of people who have had a portion of their
small removed having to take B12 supplements. Is this true, and why is this? I
had a foot removed of small bowel and noone mentioned anything of it to me.

Kerry
xxx


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Hi, my name is Diana and I am 39 (soon to be 40 in 9 days). I have had Crohn's
for 10 years before it got to the point were nothing was working. I have been on
every medication there is for Crohn's and it continued to get progressively
worse. Then last year was the last straw for me. I was in and out of the
hospital every other month. Had my first surgery in December of 2001 to remove
part of my ileum, then in March of 2002 had to have my entire large intestines
removed, this still did not improve my symptoms, I was still going the bathroom
30 times a day and continued with the weight loss. So in December my Gastro and
Surgeon decided it was time for the ileostomy. Had that done in January of this
year.  Only had 8 cm of small intestines removed but what they found I had
fistulas in the small intestine above the area that was to be taken out, that
did not show up on any of the exams I had prior to the surgery. So far it has
been a life saver, I am able to do things I could not do before. Still can't do
much, tire to easily. Weight is still down, and have no energy. But hopefully
that will change once I recover completely.

The only problem I have right now is finding the right appliance to use. Since
my stoma is only 1/8" out of the skin I need what is called a convex appliance,
I have not found one that I really like much. Am trying from different companies
so will have to pick one soon.

Other than that am doing much better than what I was doing now I can eat (which
I could not do before), and do things with my son (that is if I do not have to
walk much right now). But hopefully by summer will be able to do more.


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Re. the post op hair loss, mine starting falling out about 12 weeks after the
operation. It has returned with a bit of a curl- before it was DEAD straight!
It's also coming through quite grey now.

Kerry


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