On August 16th this year, I went to bed after just another day and expected to wake up to just another day, but it wasn't meant to be. I woke up and felt absolutely fine, and within an hour, I was fighting for my life after my bowel perforated due to diverticulitis, leaving us dealing with peritonitis. I didn't know any of this until I woke up in intensive care a week later. I was one of the lucky ones. My first memory of waking up was someone telling me I had a ‘bag' fitted. I remember someone else making a comment that I was taking it extremely well. Little did they know I was simply in shock and had no idea what to think, let alone what to say. I still have those odd moments and occasionally days of shock, but I simply remember, I am one of the lucky ones.
Today was one of those days. A little bit of a sad "what was" day, but this evening, after reading some of the posts and some of the forums online, life is okay again. I'm not alone, I'm okay. Hope you're all having an okay day and evening. Hope you're okay. Take care.
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Hi there, my situation was quite similar to yours. I had symptoms for a while, but one day I had very bad pain and ended up in the hospital with a perforated bowel and had to have emergency surgery. I vaguely remember before they operated being told I would probably have to have an ostomy and signing the consent form, but I had so much morphine in me for the pain I didn't know what I was signing, to be honest! Ha ha. Don't worry about having down days; we all get the odd ones. Just stay at home in a comfy dressing gown with some chocolate and crap TV, and you'll get through it! It sounds like you're coping pretty well, so well done! If you ever look at your ostomy and think that you hate it (because let's face it, it is pretty ugly!), just remember that the little thing saved your life; that's how I like to see it sometimes. x
Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister
This is the first time I actually submitted a comment. I was diverted in 2007 and experienced two years of solitude and finally began to accept that I will never get reversed and 8 months ago my colon, rectum, and anus were removed. I'm finally starting to think I'm a productive member of society. Although I'm having to learn how to live actively with an ileostomy because I'm experiencing serious blockage, pain below my stoma, and severe dehydration. So needless to say, I've been spending a lot of time in bed. Any advice on how I can prepare to live actively? I begin to feel that I can never have back the life I once had before the surgery. Debra
Oh matey, I'm so sorry to hear about your pain. I'm struggling too right now, and it's getting worse than I thought. I have had blockages, was once hospitalized, and things are not okay with me right now. Mooza Australia... xxx please take it easy, matey. xxxxxxxx