The J-Pouch Explained in Plain English.

The J-Pouch Explained in Plain English.

A common conversation in my life…

Me: So I have IBD and because of it I had to have my colon and rectum removed and I now have a J-pouch. 

Person: Soooooo….[eyes look at my body searching for an external ostomy bag] how do you go to the bathroom?Me: Just like anyone else. Person: So you don’t have a colostomy bag? 

Me: *rolls eyes [it’s ileostomy you fool!]* No I don’t, my pouch is internal and it’s made out of my small intestine. 

Person: *stunned look on their face which quickly changes to confusion* Oh. Well I’m glad you’re okay! 

 

 

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Rational Thoughts About My Perianal Abscess

All joking aside having an abscess is an awful thing to deal with. I try to joke a bit and maintain my alarmingly great sense of humor but not only are they gross but they are extremely painful. Severe pain that interrupts sleep and makes wearing clothes, walking, sitting, and so forth a real struggle. It’s incredible how painful they are. The last time I had one…

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10 New Year (Re)Solutions Everyone with A Chronic Illness Should Make

At the beginning of last year I posted a video about my goals for the new year and 15 days later I wound up in emergency surgery and spent the next 3 months in the hospital, had some complications, went septic, and spent 9 months on TPN. It probably goes without saying that my emergency surgery and all that followed was not a part of my plan for the upcoming year.

I ended up taking that video down because I felt stupid that only 2 weeks after I posted it my life was turned up-side-down by my health…

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Til Death Do Us Part: Married to my Chronic Illness

At that young age I stood there in my wedding gown; you may know the kind. It ties in the back and is not very modest. I wore this gown and a hospital bracelet was slid around my wrist to seal the deal.

A circle, this hospital band – a symbol of eternity.

It has no beginning and it has no end. Round and round in circles… this marriage will last forever.

The ceremony went on: “Do you Sara take…

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Can You Die From Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis?

I think that if you live with a severe chronic illness that death has to cross your mind at least once or twice. The first time I saw the amount of blood I was losing through my bowel movements I was scared to death, of death. This was not right; this was not supposed to be happening! I was a kid and that blood scared me.

I’m bleeding internally, what do I do? Am I dying…

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The Hospital At Night is A Horrible Place to Be

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEP!

Do you hear that?

Of course you do.

Just when you’re drifting off to sleep your IV pump or someone else’s starts beeping. If not that then it’s noisy staff members in the hallway just outside your room, someone coming in to take your vitals, and then an hour later someone else…

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Invisible Illness: When the Outside Doesn’t Match the Inside

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve returned to work after a hospital stay and I hear, “You look great, so glad you’re feeling better!” Some will ask me about a new medication I am on and they assume that it’s a fix-all. It’s difficult when the outside doesn’t match what is going on on the inside. But then I ask myself, why do I care? What does it matter if people…

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