In 14 days I get my life back. Please wish me well.

[CTyankee]

Last April I was unfortunate enough to have 3 abdominal surgeries in 3 weeks, resulting in a temporary colostomy. And I was in Yale New Haven Hospital for 6 weeks, rehab for 2 weeks.

On October 5, the colostomy will be reversed, and it will be history. These last 5 months have been challenging to say the least.

I took my preliminary "test" (you don't want to know what it was) to determine whether my colon was indeed healed. It was. I will be free in 14 days.

It will be a 48 to 72 hour hospital stay. I will be able to start back, gently, on the foods I love. And I will be able to live my life away from home, where I have been mostly tied in order to "manage" my temporary colostomy.

This is one of those dark secrets nobody wants to talk about. But I will and I do. I am thankful that I do not have a life threatening disease. I was a victim of circumstance and scar tissue! My life will go on as previously announced!

I've lost 25 lbs. Be careful what you wish for. My doc says I will always be thin. I guess we'll see...

[Bunny]

1. I'm glad your news is good.

Best wishes in your recovery. :hug:

[I Have A Dream]

2. I'm so glad that there's going to be a happy ending for you, CTyankee.

I absolutely wish you well. I'm sure that, having gone through this, you're going to appreciate "regular" life much more now. :)

[BarenakedLady]

3. I'm happy for you

I can't imagine what you've been through. I hope you heal quickly!

[OzarkDem]

4. (((((CTyankee))))))

Wishing you the best of luck on your surgery, very happy for you. Please stay in touch and let us know how you're doing. You've been through a lot!

[CTyankee]

10. Thank you. I have thought of doing a brief blog on this "journey"

but I don't want to dwell on it too much. Family and friends have been so supportive! I am planning my next trip to Italy scheduled for next May (I am missing this year's trip and I am bitterly disappointed about it). Another trip this December to see my grandson in L.A. Thanksgiving and Christmas in Boston with my granddaughters. These things are what I have dreamed of having again and they are truly sufficient.

Thanks, again for your kind wishes and thoughts!

[Thirtieschild]

5. Happy for you now and sorry what you've gone through the since April

At age 89 my father had a perforated colon, lived another 15 months with a bag. Very miserable.

[Bjornsdotter]

6. Wonderful news!

Positive thoughts :hug:

[pitohui]

7. go you! EOM

m

[ThomCat]

8. I hope this continues to go well.

I hope you get your life back to where you want it, and have many, many good things to tell us about. :)

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. I wish you the best CTyankee. Continue to post your progress.

[KatyaR]

11. My mother had a "temporary" colostomy back in the 60s.

She had an emergency appendectomy and, when the surgeons found diverticulitis, they removed a large part of her colon and "installed" the colostomy.

She had another surgery a year later, and then, a year after that, the colostomy was reversed. Two years, and I remember what a time she had of it. She was a schiolteacher and never missed a day, but her medical situation was always lurking right behind her. I know they are much better these days than they were back then, but I just remember thinking I would never want to go though that.

So congratulations to you, and I hope you enjoy your new "old" freedom!

[CTyankee]

12. 2 years! Ouch!

I also had diverticulitis but it didn't directly cause my problem. I went in for surgery to correct it, since I was afraid of a big attack where the infection breaks through the wall of the colon and gets into the abdomen. That can cause peritonitis, a potentially fatal situation. That surgery was fine until a week later when I developed scar tissue that blocked my intestine, resulting in the second surgery; then, abscesses formed and bingo, another surgery. After the 3rd surgery I hallucinated for a couple of days due to all of the anesthesia in my system. Luckily, I just thought I was on a train or in a supermarket, not something scary!

[KatyaR]

13. Sounds like you've been though a lot the last few months--

I'm happy to hear things are looking up for you.

[CTyankee]

14. Thanks! n/t