Meet Mike:
Just the typical 43 year old husband and father to 3 that unfortunately just lost my battle to UC but gaining my life back slowly.
Some more about me:
When I was healthy I loved to fish, hunt, attend all of my children’s sporting events, go to Reds games and Buckeye games with the family and of course have 1 date night per week with my wife. I am from a small town in Ohio and ended up settling down there as well..
Current Colitis Symptoms:
I currently have no symptoms of UC but before my surgery they were debilitating. I had all of the typical symptoms plus constant disabling joint paint in my knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands. The joint pain got so bad it overcame the rest of the symptoms and kept me from work for months.
1 Week After Colon Removal
I have been battling this disease for years but it settled down for quite awhile until 2010 when it hit me like brick overnight. I fought the terrible bloody diahhrea, stomach aches, fatigue, fevers, night sweats and weight loss for 2 long years. The joint pain then started and I have never felt this much pain. I was getting worse by the day and once my GI and surgeon agreed that all options had been exhausted I decided it was time to move on and have the colon removed.
The entire surgery experience from prep to getting home was very tiring and stressful. I just had my entire colon removed January 9th and my doctor released me to go home 3 days later due to how good and fast my body was reacting to the surgery. I had my surgery at The Cleveland Clinic and can now see why they are one of the nations top health care providers. I also realized that hospitals are not a place to rest but only a place to heal. I got zero sleep and returned home so tired. Believe me when I say there is no place like home.
I am now 6 days past my surgery and feeling better everyday. Life with the bag is a huge adjustment but all of my UC symptoms are gone and the joint pain has already decreased substantially. I have my first home health nurse visit tomorrow to help me change the bag because I am quite nervous about not doing it right and getting leaks. I have no issue at all emptying it. I have actually put a good system together at home but not yet for the public bathroom visit.
I have received great support from my family, a support group and also this website. I will say that a great supporting cast is needed to go through this ordeal. My advice to the severe UC’ers is to not be afraid of this surgery but embrace it only if all else has failed and you are in declining health as I was. It really has not been that bad of an ordeal and once my J Pouch is installed I will be rockin the toilet again. I will give advice and support to anyone facing this surgery just as I received before I decided to have it. God Bless all UC’ers and I pray that everyone can find their lives again as I am doing. A big thanks out to Blake from this website, his story and advice did help me.
Medications I Tried:
No meds worked for me at all and once the remicade failed it was all down hill from there. I tried diets, exercise, home remedies you name it. Some of us just can’t whip this disease.
written by Mike
submitted in the colitis venting area
Just the typical 43 year old husband and father to 3 that unfortunatley just lost my battle to UC but gaining my life back slowly.
