[bledd]

On the 2nd of November 2005 I woke up with horrific pains in my stomach and was sick and had diarrhea, but had been out the night before so thought it was just a bad hangover, I cleaned myself up, had breakfast and went to work.

I had to go home from work as I couldn't stand the pain, but didn't call a sicky, just took leave becuase I blamed myself.

When I got in i began to feel really bad and was shaking on my bed for a few hours and was back and forth to the bathroom all day, I took thursday off work as I was ill and went home to St Davids on the friday becuase I don't have a registered doctor in cardiff.

for the first few days I tried starving myself, but the pains got worse and I started passing blood, so I went to the doctors and they put asked if I'd eaten anything dodgy, I explained that I had eaten some 2 day out of date sausages, so they said that was the cause and I gave them a stool sample. A few days went by as my pains for worse and worse, the results came back all clear from the doctor, so I went back in a further 3 times before having blood taken and that was sent to the hostpital

by this time I had been going to the toilet about 15 times a day, passing more and more blood each time

my blood test came back with a really high white blood cell count (meaning you've got an inflamation somewhere and your body is trying to fix it itself), so I was called in for a check up. I went into hostpital on the 23rd of November and had a magic eye where the sun don't shine (was under heavy sedation, but its still gross)

this showed that my large bowell was very inflamed, and the doctor diagnosed it as ulcerative collitis, its a fairly rare non contagous disease that they do not know the cause of. (if it was from bad diet and drikning too much, I would have kicked myself)

there is currently no cure for the disease, but 60% of people take control of the swelling by taking steriods for 4 days, I was kept in hospital and given hydrocortizone (think its callled that) for 7 days through an IV.

I had xrays and a CT scan (a CT scan is when you drink two litres of a special fluid and it shows up your digestive system, and they forced another liquid through your veins as you go through the machine -this bloody kills as you can feel your veins expanding). the CT scan showed that my whole large colon was inflamed and would have to be removed.

the large colon (or large intestine) removes water from your food and i guess makes your poo formed, so without one, you need to drink a lot more and go to the toilet more often


I had my whole large colon (large intestine) removed and now have a colostomy bag (can't find a good pic) on the side of my stomach

my large intestine was removed because it was inflamed and not working, it is currently uncurable, some people are fixed by pumping them with steroids, after a week of steroids I still had severe stomache cramps and was going to the toilet all through the day, having bad diarrhea (no pic needed!) followed by a lot of blood. I think my record was 14 times in one day (this had been going on for a month before I was operated on)

without the surgery i would have died for sure, when I first found out that I'd need a 'bag' I was horrified and was crying for two days before coming to terms with it

on the night before my operation, a guy in my hospital bay had the same disease and had his removed 16 years previously, so he talked me through a lot of things and gave advice and what to do etc, this really helped me no end

after having my 'last supper' and shaving my chest and upper section of pubic hairs i went to bed on Wednesday the 2nd at midnight, was woken at 6am for a shower and given a sedative pill at 7am. I was then woken at 9am and moved to the operating theatre (kind of half rememeber this) where I was sedated further and they operated on me

next thing I know, i'm coming to on a hard bed and see nurses checking my stats and talking to me but not making much of what they're saying. I had a tube going down my throat (not sure what for). I look down at my chest and see staples in my chest, blood, iodene and two bags on my stomach. the pain was agonising but they were injecting me with morphine and gave me a 'pain button' to press which administered 1mg of morphine every 4 minutes if i pressed it.

I kept asking them if it went ok but kept forgetting what they said, so re asked them! and was crying with pain at the same time, whilst being fed ice in a cloth to damped my mouth, I bit really hard into the ice and chewed a small hole out of the inside of my cheek and lips.

They then rolled me onto a different bed (hurt like hell) and took me back to my ward. for two days i can't remember much, but on my chart it says I self administered morphine 328 times! -came off this on saturday morning (I asked to be taken off becuase its quite bad a** -although listening to Stone Roses and Ian Brown was awesome)

-to cut the rest of my week short (i'm tired now), started eating on sunday (soup, jelly and ice cream), then full meals from then on, and emptied bags myself then started walking on monday, pain got less and less

then finally yesterday I changed both my bags myself (will have to change them every few days -ideally every day for cleanliness) -the first bag is for where the food comes out of the small intestine -have to empty 3-4 times a day -using a easy and clean folding seal. and the second bag is for where my anus is still connected to a very small part of the large intestine, this collects some kind of slime (lubrication) that your bum makes naturally, i'm told this will stop in a few weeks and i can just put a sort of sticker over the hole, and i'll pass about an egg cup full of this fluid through my behind every few days

further down the line (going in to hospital in 6 weeks to see consultant) I might be able to get an internal bag fitted so I'll be able to poo 'normally' again, but will still have to go 3 to 4 times a day from what I understand, and it will be a toothpasty texture



it was really tough to get to terms with it at first, but if i didn't get it done, would have died, so now i've got the best outlook on life ever and today really is the best day of my life

thanks for the support guys, and thanks to my parents for their support, could not have done it without them.

take it easy
bleddyn



here's some pictures, -some are quite graphic..

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a100/yaph...2/secondday.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a100/yaph...2/machinist.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a100/yaph...letouttoday.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a100/yaph...to2/healing.jpg

-edit, I still pee normally and can still have children

This post has been edited by bledd: 07 December 2005 - 10:20 PM

[Jeremy]

Wow...
A month or so back I had the worst bowels of my life. I had cramps every 5 minutes, didn't go to class and couldn't go outside. My diet was bad. I was crapping mostly blood. I drank a s***load of water and soup, just easy stuff. In another week or so, I was all better. But, man, the energy it sucks out of you, enough to make you pass out...
I know somewhat how you feel as far as pains and cramps and blood go, so I feel for you.

Sorry to hear about the whole ordeal but as long as you look on the bright side, you're showing a good example for others in similar situations.

[Synapse]

****, gald to hear ya got better.

I probably would've died, i hate doctors and would've just taken the pain.. family would've probably found me in my bed dead oneday.. I've had this bad sharp pain in my abdomen, it acts up about 3 times a day, but its been doing it for like 3 months now. I just ignore it, probably an artery getting clogged.


I give props to you people that can go to a doctor and get all cut open and stuff.. glad to see ya back here though

[Jeremy]

Biohazard, I'd move that stubborn attitude aside and see the doctor about any sharp pains and worries of a clogged organ/artery. I'd rather be healthy and alive and be able to glare at the doctors rather than be on the brink of death. There is so much to live for even if you don't know it. Life is important.

[Zxian]

Wow... that's quite a story to tell... I'm glad to hear that you're doing better now though.

Its funny... even though I've never met the people on this forum in real life (with the exception of one), I'd probably still be very moved if I found out that someone had passed away. It may not be a group of friends that go hang out on friday nights here, but it's still a community.

[rjz]

I hope you bet better soon.

I already herad about 1 on another board that died. it's so sad.

Keep us updated. I hope ypou have better luck.

[bledd]

rjz, on Dec 9 2005, 03:08 AM, said:

I hope you bet better soon.

I already herad about 1 on another board that died. it's so sad.

Keep us updated. I hope ypou have better luck.

someone else with the same condition?

doctors said i should be a'ok now

[rjz]

I am glad you are ok.

I am not sure what the other person had they dies last year I think on another tech forum.

[Gouki]

Im happy your ok. Take care buddy!

[DigeratiPrime]

were all glad to have you back bledd!

[mark]

@bledd
1) Glad you are ok. Ok meaning that you are alive, back to decent health and supprisingly quick to have adjusted to the new situation.

2)Thank you for being so open and so generous. Maybe what you have shared will prompt someone else, who may need to get medical help, to go see a doctor. You don't want a biological hazard like going untreated.

DL

This post has been edited by DL: 09 December 2005 - 06:33 PM

[RJARRRPCGP]

A while back, I caught a major virus. The symptoms were similar to what you had, but no bloody diarrhea.

I woke up with a major stomach ache then started having diarrhea. 2 hours later, still having diarrhea. I had major diarrhea. When I was in the middle of having diarrhea, it seemed like it wasn't gonna stop filling the toilet. I ended up going to the bathroom every approximately 20 minutes. Then at 2 PM, I started feeling overheated and the stomach ache got worse to the point that I started barfing. Then around 6 PM, finally was feeling better and thus stopped barfing.

I hate those viruses.

This post has been edited by RJARRRPCGP: 09 December 2005 - 07:17 PM

[XtremeMaC]

wow, good to know that u're better.

even if it was not the cause, u really shouldn't be eating out of date sausages they are to be said unhealthy even when they're fresh (not that i don't eat ), chicken/meat/fish those stuff are really sensitive stuff.

[suryad]

Jeez that was a horrific experience. Glad to hear you are going to be fine though. Take care of yoursself ya hear? Well better care than you were before!

[ripken204]

f*** thats a scrary story, hope you do well man

[bledd]

well, i've finally found out why i can't sleep.

just after i took my painkillers (about ten mins) and two paracetamol to boost them, i read the 'instructions'



i was laughing so much when i read it!, i guess i'll be up till 5am again lads

also, to answer your questions!..

a queistion ve been asked a lot "what the hell is that tomato thing, put it away!

its called a 'stoma' this is then end of the small intestine, its been sewn to the outside of your stomach so you can attatch the bag around it, it has NO sensation in it, (i've not touched it becuase its been touching poo) but i've touched it with a medical glove on, it feels like the inside of your cheek when you tense your cheek. it petrudes the skin by about 12-15mm -this is so its easier to fit the bag around it.

the small intestine is 6 metres long, so i've still got all my nutrients been taken in, the large intestine (what i had removed) is 1.5 metres long, and its purpose is to extract water from your poo to make it 'hard'. so now since i'm only using my small intestine to extract water, i've got to drink about 8 pints of water or liquids a day -but i like water anyway so thats cool.

see in the picture there's a slight donut shape around the stoma, this is where the bag normally sticks to.

my mate asked me.. 'how do they fit, are they like a matrix style plug in?'
-you can get types like this, but haivng a metal plate on your stomach means, if you were to fall over, the plate is likely to pierce your skin and cause you harm, the slea is 100% leak proof, and usually used for older people who need the ease of use.

the type i've got are like this


i firstly wipe around the holes with isopropyl alcohol -this totally cleans the skin removing any oil and stickyness from previous bags, then i spray this stuff on called Cavalon, its a liquid that dries on your skin in seconds to create a barrier (it feels like dried super glue) then you cut the bag to size (you can order them pre cut too) -my right hole is 45mm, left is 35mm -its as if all the skin tissue has been circular saw'd away, so it doesn't try to grow back.

you then peel off the label and stick the bag onto the cavalon layer -so its not sticking directly on your skin and causing irritation. after a few days or whatever, you simply peel the bag off, clean the area and do the rest of the process again.


to empty the bags, you sit down as you normally would unravel the 'tap' and use your hand to massage the bag i guess until it all comes out the end into the toilet, you then wipe the end (only a tiny bit of it gets dirty) with toilet paper and its clean again, then fold it over itself a few times and do *** velcro tags and tuck it away in its small pouch, then you're good to go -you don't get any mess on your hands

[mark]

@bledd- To be honest, I have a relative with something similar but it never has gotten bad enough to require surgery. According to their doctor, it is an inherited condition that is rare but found mostly amongst northern Europeans. He, my relative, found a corrolation between diet and the problem. Nothing exact but caffiene, MSG, stress and foods with unknown contents (chemicals, spices?) would trigger it. Prior to what just happened to you, did you ever have any intestinal problems, upset stomachs, eat a meal that just ran through you, etc.?

I understand why, but wow, that is one long cut they made on you. Looks like it's healing well.

Nice to see a slightly cluttered desktop. Makes me feel better about mine.

Again, thanks for this post. Hopefully, if neccesary, someone will take it as a warning shot.

DL

[bledd]

oi, my desktop is spotless, i'm at my parents house remember!


the cool thing about having the operation is that i now can no longer be affected by the disease, so it isn't there to get me down and make me watch what i'm eating or drinking, and i'll never get those terrifying pains again

[mark]

bledd, on Dec 11 2005, 02:38 PM, said:

oi, my desktop is spotless, i'm at my parents house remember!

Drats. You must be doing well, you're getting fiesty.

DL

[bledd]

http://bleddyn.co.uk

made a FULL site now, will keep updating it often!