Road to Recovery – Update From Emie

Meet Emie:

I am a fighter, I am stubborn, and I am finally UC free!! Finally on the road to recovery! Excited to have a life again!!
My 9 year battle is over!!…well the first step is done anyway!! (you can read my first story “Ready for Surgery” from October 27, 2012 here)

Colitis Symptoms:

NONE!!!! Praise the LORD!

Road to Recovery

I FINALLY GOT IN TO SEE THE SURGEON the 13th of December and told him I wanted to have the surgery as soon as possible……..he came back and told me I could do it on the 19th!!!! I wasn’t sure what to think at that moment, but was thrilled that it was finally going to be over! I was figuring that it wouldn’t be until the end of Jan because it took so long to get in in the first place, but I was wrong. I went to work the next day and broke the news to my boss that I had about 3 days to do some hard core training on my job.

Nervous and Excited and Getting a Boob Job

My surgery wasn’t until 5:30 pm, I live about 45 min from Seattle on a normal day, but at that time of day it took us about 2 hours to get there……45 min of which was spent going five miles!! Got to the UW at 5pm and was admitted and the whole process started. I was a little nervous and excited to just get in there and get it over with. I was out of surgery by 11:30 pm and in my room at 2 am. My husband and friend were exhausted but happy to see me. I just remember being super thirsty and talking crazy. I think the first thing I said was something crazy about getting a boob job…hahaha…that would have been a bit more glamorous maybe but wouldn’t have fixed the problem.

At first I was shocked at how large the incision is and seeing the bag, but I just have to remember this scar will be the proof that I won, I kicked UC’s ass. I am very lucky to have a great friend who is a RN and despite being 6 months pregnant and having a full time job she stayed with me every day but 1 in the hospital and made sure I had excellent care. It was nice to have someone who could “translate” the information for me. I was eager to get out of the hospital so I did everything I had to to get home for Christmas. I was discharged on Christmas Eve and although the incision was uncomfortable I felt great! We even had family over as planned for Christmas, I did have to go to bed after presents but was so happy to be home.

Staying Positive

Since I have been home I have been trying to stay as positive as I can. Anytime I start to get discouraged about the pain I am in or the bag hanging off of my body I just have to remember how lucky I am that although Ulcerative Colitis was terrible, it is curable. I am not going to die from UC, in a few months my battle will be almost over, and in a year I will be sitting on a beach in Maui celebrating my life, my anniversary, and my daughters birthday.  I have such a great support system, friends and family taking my daughter to play, bringing us dinners, going grocery shopping for us, doing laundry…….I might want to have surgery more often……totally kidding. My husbands cousin also went through this same surgery 4 years ago so I have her to help me too to understand all of this. I’ve lived in yoga pants and hoodies for the last 3 weeks but hey, I don’t have to worry about pooping my pants, I have no stomach pain any more….sleeping is a bit difficult yet, but I’m sure I will figure that one out soon too. Hopefully the take down is as “easy” as the first one.

Going Back to Work

My next step is going back to work…….not too excited about that, not that I don’t like my job but I haven’t really been out of the house yet aside from getting my staples out and watching football at my prego friends house……GO HAWKS!!
The best thing I have heard since I had the surgery is when one of the nurses was discharging me and was talking about what I was there for and she sad  “I” you were here because you have UC, let me correct that you HAD UC”.  Thats right I had UC, but I don’t anymore!! The thought of surgery is scary, but I wish I had done this right after my daughter was born 4 years ago. Best of luck to all that are battling this disease, you can win though!!

Current Medications:

Prednisone taper….two weeks left of that and then nothing!! Woot woot!!

written by Emie

submitted in the colitis venting area