Just found out about this site as I am a lifetime member as of 3-30-09.
Had UC in '93, wore the bag for 11 months. Now I've turned 40 and for my milestone birthday, I was blessed with Crohn's and the bag! Just wanted to get on here and chitchat with you folks who are walking in the same shoes I am. Talk shop, you know, all the things we ostomates deal with on a daily basis. Anyone out there, I'd love to talk. I am in Cleveland, Ohio, had my surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Actually, right now I'm still on the mend. The doctors put a suprapubic tube (for urine) in me as well, so there is no activity out the back or front. Go back on 9-18 to get opened up again to remove my "J"-pouch from '93, make sure the healing is complete, take the "P" tube out, staple me back up, and only have to deal with the ostomy bag.
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Hope things go well for you. I was diagnosed with UC in '04. I found out I had it when I went to the emergency room because I didn't have enough strength to walk. The doctors said, "Well, you have to have surgery and put a bag on you," so I was like, "Well, what are my other choices?" He said, "We can send you home and let you die because your colon is about to explode." After that, I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks, then they released me without even showing me anything about my new friend, except for one nurse who said, "I think this is how it goes on." So, since then, I have had no stoma nurse or anything like that; I just kind of learned on my own. Having no insurance is a bummer.
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First off, this is a pretty cool site with 37,000 members who truly understand you.
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Sounds like we both have been through hell and back again. That UC got a hold of me and knocked me on my caboose. I was pale from losing blood, especially the red blood cells. I've never been a big person, but at my weakest moment before surgery, I was 114 pounds. I was knocking on death's door.
Had all 3 ops, 11 months later I had to learn how to crap again from my rear.
Then hit yet again with Crohn's and a lifetime member of the bag club.
Keep in touch, dude. I'll be looking for you
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Learn about some basic diet and ostomy pouch routines that can help prevent them.