Reflections

Whomever first said, "If you have your health, you have everything." wasn't far off the mark. After my CT Scan on Friday, I felt pretty good but by that night I was one sick puppy. I don't know how much of it was in my head or if I really am allergic to the process. I didn't drink any of the RediCat as I knew that would make me throw up and I told the surgeon the only way I'd have the test is if I didn't have to drink it. Guess the dye they injected is what did me in this time. By Friday evening, I had such acid reflux and gas in my stomach I was really miserable. I finally up chucked my stomach contents and went to bed. Jim called and spoke to the doctor on call and had a long chat with him. He thought we were expecting too much too soon - that the healing process would be longer for me due to the length of time before the reversal of the colostomy (14 years).

If you are healthy, revel in it! But if you are faced with an illness, I sincerely hope you have a belief in God and supportive family and friends. I started this blog because so many of my friends in the dog show world were concerned about my health and this was the easiest way to update them. When I first thought to do a blog, it was going to be about my travels about the country as a dog show judge combined with photography trips with husband, Jim, for my cross stitch designs. We've started a series of designs under the title of Journeys with Jimanie, hence the name of this blog. I still intend to do that, but since I already had it in place I figured I'd use it to keep everyone informed as to my progress.

I have come to realize that if I'm detailed enough, perhaps I can help people facing what I faced and give them some insight in to what they may be in for on their journey to wellness. I searched and searched the internet and found little that was of help to me. I know when I woke up in the hospital after my initial surgery for colorectal cancer, I was more upset about the fact that I had a colostomy than that I had what they thought at the time was terminal cancer. I soon learned to cope with the colostomy and literally traveled the world without a thought to my colostomy, other than to be sure to take my supplies with me in my carry on luggage.

The last few days, I really feel like I've turned a corner. A bit of my energy is returning. My patchwork quilt of an intestinal tract is trying to learn to function cohesively again. I am walking on the treadmill for short periods of time with a goal of ten minutes a day this week. I actually went over today by a couple of minutes as I was on the phone and just kept on going.

Went to my appointment with my surgeon yesterday and he's well pleased with my progress. It has been a long, uncomfortable two months, but I really am excited about feeling a bit better every day.

To all of those who continue to send their well wishes, I want you all to know how much that has helped me in this journey to wellness. Keep those good thoughts and prayers going as that is what I need the most.

Stephanie

The Journey Continues

Things have certainly been up and down with my recovery. Seems that when you've had a colostomy for over 14 years getting all of your body parts to cooperate again isn't as easy as just stitching everything back together. Sure has been a roller coaster ride. Had to get my daughter, Leah, to take me to hospital to have some tests done. Seems I have a UTI and am back on antibiotics. Naturally, the antibiotics kill off all the normal flora in your intestines, so everything is in an uproar again.

My surgeon got a bit alarmed and sent me in to the hospital again today for a CT Scan. He's concerned that there might be an abscess if the resected areas are not healing properly and are leaking. I really don't think that's it, but we'll know by the first of the week. Thankfully, my daughter has been able to squire me around as Jim is working in the office by himself this week. His brother, Mark, is off on a well deserved annual week at Sunset Beach, NC.

I'm a bit overwhelmed with it all. Of course, none of us (me or the doctors) knew what to expect in the way of recovery time since they have never reversed a colostomy after such a long period of time. Now that the CT Scan is over, I feel a bit better - relieved, mostly. Time for my afternoon nap!

Stephanie

Long and Winding Road

It has been a week and a half since the reversal of my Ileostomy. Supposed to be a quick, 1 1/2 hour operation - simple, right? Who, me, do simple when I can have more complicated? Ha! Took an hour longer as the adhesions had already begun. My body really, really likes itself and tends to get stuck on anything it can internally. Once he got everything apart, he got to put it all back together again and the journey to wellness began anew again. At least he had to remove some fat that had started to die away on us - not a tummy tuck, but the closest thing I'll ever have to it!

My surgeons wouldn't let me go home until everything was in proper working order, which included my digestive tract and also the other working parts of my body. Don't know how I managed to do it, but I sprained my left knee (medial collateral ligament) whilst getting in and out of bed. My knee hurt on Wednesday and by the next morning, it couldn't bear any weight at all. That set off a round of visits from the orthopedic man, portable x-rays, etc. Still, I got to go home Friday. Heck, I'd have checked myself out if they hadn't finally let me go. I sure didn't want to miss the Belmont as I just knew Big Brown would win it. Bitter disappointment there, for this horse lover.

Got my final stitches out today and am getting around a bit better. Thank God for my husband, Jim! He gets me in and out of chairs (can't push up as neither knee can bear it!) and has jury rigged both bathrooms so I can better manage things. Every day is a bit better than the day before, though I'm worried I may get too used to mid-afternoon naps in the recliner!

We will just have to see how "things" go - I haven't been without a colostomy or ileostomy for 14 years so all of this "wholeness" takes a bit of getting used to. I'm trying to keep myself occupied by working a bit on different things via my laptop. Amazing to me how tired that can make me feel - hence, the frequent naps.

Again, thanks for all your cards and especially for your prayers. It's working!

Stephanie