120

I got on the scale today... 120. How much does a colon weigh? I need to eat more. Although, this will probably be the last time my weight will fluctuate so much... Might as well enjoy it! :)

Jackpot!

So, we've been home from the hospital for a couple days now and we are still trying to get used to the new hardware. But I have to say, I really hit the Jackpot with Eli. In the hospital, nurses and patients all said that it is really difficult for your partner to deal with the bag. Eli has been there before the colitis and after the colon and he is a champ!

Last night, I showed him how I empty and clean it and everything. He was totally there for support and didn't throw up! I feel so lucky to have so much love and support from the man of my dreams. We're in this together- no matter what.

Bathroom visits at night:2! :)

What goes in must come out!

So, I am doing really well considering I don't have a colon!! Recovery is nice... when you don't have to do anything. Tubes all over the place that feed you and drain you and take your pain away... But at some point all those tubes have to come out... Today was my day!

You don't know how they get there, some of them you don't know why they are there but you know when they come out! My day started with removal of the catheter- not bad; not good... Then a little drainage bulb and finally my IVs are disconnected! Ahhhh freedom.

I'm walking around and able to get to the bathroom (to pee!) by myself. It's a good day.

I realize this title could also work for my little pooh bag but I'll fill you in on that later...

The big day

Today is the day I get rid of the thorn in my side; the pain in my butt!

It's not going to be fun to recover from but it will be a lot better than what I've been through. They expect me to be in surgery for three hours to start... it could take five hours! I just hope Dr N got some good sleep last night!

This is the end of my old life. I'll be lucky enough to take with me the experiences I've learned and all the pains I've dealt with but live the life I had before the pain, worry and hurt. Today, things change- for the better.

Athletic Heart

So, today's big deal in the hospital is my slow heart rate. The are running all these tests and when I ask if it is a problem, they all say, "Actually, it is good to have a slow rate. We just need to make sure everything is in order."

Ok, so check it out... it should be no problem for the surgery which has now been changed to Friday. I talked to a cardiologist who asked what have I done in my life to give me a slow heart rate. "You must have ran track, or basket ball or something?" Nope- Really no regular exercise. I probably exercise less than most people.

She claims some people are just born with athletic hearts... I'm one of them. Don't tell Eli-he'll be so jealous!

Great news!

I'm in the hospital- that's not the great news...

Saturday night as Eli was getting ready to play some music, he leaned in to give me a kiss and noticed I was radiating heat. We took my temp and it read 102... twice. So, we called the nurse and after conversations back and forth with the doctors through the nurse they ended up on me going to see the after hours. After hours decided to send me to the ER for admittance to the hospital.

My blood count was really bad. I had three blood transfusions before I started to feel any better. I am on a constant IV drip and a clear liquid diet and still have symptoms.

The good news is I could have my colon removed as soon as Thursday! I have been looking forward to this day since my first hospitalization. I have researched and talked to people online and real life. I really think I'm ready.

As my dad put it- I deserve a break from all the suffering I've been through. And if taking out a diseased colon is the way- I'll take it!

I have been feeling better the last couple days and hope that all the test come out giving us a green flag to get me a J Pouch!

Keep your fingers crossed. I'll update as I can!

Eli's Birthday wish

Eli asked for a few things this year but the most important slipped through my fingers last night.

Eli had a show at WonderRoot for his birthday and invited some of his favorite bands. Yard Work, the headlining band, could get anyone to dance. But not me; not last night. All Eli wanted was for me to dance with him to a Yard Work song...

I went to the restroom while the band just before YW was loading up... I didn't know them and wouldn't mind sitting in the bathroom for their set. I was of course interrupted... the person on the other side of the locked door actually said, "Ooops... I'll wait!" You'll wait? Listen, I was prepared to play the waiting game because I knew I would win... I could wait all day. But, I gave in and finished up, washed up and left. I still had to go. So I drove all the way home (Like a 10 min drive...) and used my own bathroom in private. No one around, no one waiting... Then my cell starts going off... Everyone is worried about me and wants to know how I'm doing...

As I pulled back up to the venue I heard music coming from the basement... It was Yard Work and Eli was at the front of the crowd. I cought four songs from the chair in the back while Eli danced with all our able bodied friends.

Maybe next year Eli? :(

NEW*Big news

So, I thought I was just having a "different" flare up. The last few weeks have been pretty hard. I just get tired and feel weak... Not to mention the bathroom visits. I found out this weekend it's not only a flare... I'm having a BABY! :)

I took a home pregnancy test and saw a nurse on Tuesday. Positive! Now we are just worried about telling people in case something happens.

I have always tried to research Ulcerative Colitis as best as I can; new info or drugs, treatments, diets, everything. The only stuff I can find on UC and pregnancy is 1 it could stay in remission as long as you are in remission, 2 don't get pregnant if you are in a flare... Well... what do you do when you get pregnant and you are in a flare? I guess we'll find out in the up coming months.