525,600 minutes ago (or a year from today) marks the first day of my new life. I was in surgery for 6 hours a year ago today for the first of three surgeries. I spent the next 6 months healing, recovering, and getting used to a new life. If you saw me today, you’d never believe I was the same weak, sick guy that spent months in 4 different hospitals. It took two guys and 20 minutes to get me up a set of stairs to bed. I’m running at least a mile every day now. I am back to lifting 5 days a week. I am eating everything I want to be, with little to no side effects. I’m playing golf and going out with friends. It’s crazy to think that I was doing all I could to postpone the surgery. If that ended up happening, I’d probably just now be recovering from my third surgery.  Life is good. I’m not sick. It’s hard to imagine why everyone dealing with this awful disease doesn’t opt to have this surgery. For all of you that kept up with the blog, you know that some days were tough. I was sad more days than I was happy. I was lonely. It certainly was not easy but there’s comfort in knowing that I made it through quite possibly the hardest part of my life. It’s over. A few months back I had a touch of pouchitis. A little more pain than usual and going to the bathroom a bit more than I would have liked. After only one day of antibiotics I was completely fine. I wake up 1-2 times a night, every night. That is the only down side. I’ve gotten used to it. It’s really a small price to pay if you really think about it. It’s really as simple as that. I started this blog in April and have had over 15,000 views thus far. I’ve gotten tons of emails and comments asking questions or just reaching out to show support. It makes me glad I decided to do this. If it helps convince just one person that this is the right decision, then I’d say it was a success. Half a year of misery to  live a healthy life for the rest of my life, seems like a no brainer. Thanks for all the support!

Today is three months since my last surgery. I have been meaning to update for a while, but finally as a healthy adult, I have been making up for lost time. I certainly have more energy. I have been going out and having fun, and no one would ever know what I went through a mere three months ago. I am not 100%. There’s always room for improvement. Besides the one scar where my stoma was, almost all of the other ones are way better. I have been exercising and running, not a whole lot, but enough to know that doing so does not hurt me. There are still some parts of my lower stomach that are numb to the touch, I am hoping in time that feeling will come back. I eat almost everything. I notice some things make me go to the bathroom more often than others. Spicy food, for example. There’s never been a time I had to RUSH to the bathroom. I can always hold it when I need to. Sometimes if I wait a little long I get cramps that are a bit uncomfortable, but something I would trade over Colitis any day of the week. Drinking is not a problem. In fact, I’d argue I go to the bathroom less when I am drinking… go figure. I wake up every night. Last night I woke up three times. It’s the only thing I really hate dealing with post-surgery. I think on average I am going about 6 times a day not including night trips. Depending on what I eat it may be a little more or less. There is no food I have eaten that has really given me problems to the point where I thought afterwards, “Okay, no more of that.” I have been golfing. Not as much as I’d like, but it feels good to be able to swing a club again, despite the amount of work my golf game needs.

I began this blog in the middle of April of this year. To date, there have been just over 11,000 views. I’d say that’s pretty damn good. Originally, the hope was to make a documentary of the whole experience. Because of how fast the illness snuck up on me the last time, it wasn’t feasible. A blog was something I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to do, but in hindsight, I am glad that I did. I get messages at least once a week, sometimes more, from others going through, or about to go through the same thing. To know one person’s mind was put to ease after reading, is really all I could ask for, so to see so many different people all across the country commenting and reaching out, means a lot.

Colitis sucks. It’s awful. So was the surgery. Easily the hardest thing I ever have gone through. I hope I never have to go through anything like that again. I can’t say for sure how I’ll feel in a year from now, never mind 10 years from now…but only three months out and I can say, without a doubt in my mind, surgery was the thing to do. No question. I can only imagine as time goes on the feeling will only become stronger. It changed my life. I’ll sporadically update as I think to, or if something comes up. I have a follow up in early December up at Chapel Hill, maybe expect a post then! Enjoy the holidays!

Today marks one month. That went crazy fast. No more pain. Scar at stoma site pretty big but it’ll fade with time. Flying back to Myrtle. My buddy got married yesterday. We had a blast. I’d argue I got MVP on the dance floor…finally healthy enough to shake my butt…watch me whip…now watch me nae nae… Anyway. I was moving around like there were no problems, because there weren’t. I find when I drink a good amount I don’t wake up in the middle of the night to go as much. But I do go a few more times the next day. I ate a lot, I was moving a lot, and all was good. Now I’m on my way back home and have to head straight to work on Sunday to get some stuff done. Blah. Looking forward to the week though. My sister and husband come and I move into my new place! Whoop! We’ll talk soon.
   
 
I was introduced to my face they made for the bachelor party I missed because of surgery…

Long time no see. I’ve got almost all good news. I’m feeling better each day. I’m going to the bathroom about 3 or 4 times during the day and 2-3 at night. When I have to go I feel a bit gassy for a second or two and then it passes. I can hold it no problem but if you wait a real long time to go there are less breaks in between the gassy feeling and then can get uncomfortable. Not painful, but just how anyone would feel if they have to go to the bathroom. I had 4 captain and cokes last night….! It wasn’t the plan, but I went out with a friend and next thing you know I’m ordering my fourth and I’m winning a fantasy football game I had no finish losing! Football season alas…I love it. Surprisingly after my 4 drink night I felt fine. In fact, I only woke up once to go the bathroom last night and it was at 6 in the morning. Go figure. On the other hand I did go to the bathroom three times at work today and that never happens. Oh well, I’m still learning. Work is busy, I’m in a wedding this weekend, and I move into my new place next week. Things are good, and because I’m feeling little pain, I can show off my killer dance moves at the wedding. Still haven’t swung a club yet because I’ve been super busy, but hopefully soon. Basically it’s been less than a month since surgery and things are moving right along. The wound on my stomach where my stoma was is still a bit gross looking but is not very painful, just a little tight if I turn the wrong way. I can only imagine with time things will continually get better. I’ll keep posting as I see fit, but the longer I go without posting, the better I’m feeling. Again, feel free to comment or ask any questions. Its pretty cool how many people I’ve heard from or who have reached out. Until next time…go pats!

Ive got myself a nice little 4 day weekend. Tomorrow I head back to Chapel Hill for my post op check up. Friday I went out with friends… and caved and hand two drinks. I was fine! I had to go to the bathroom one time all night and that was it. I didn’t end up getting home and in bed until 5:30… So you can pretty much expect that Saturday was a wash. I did a lot more lying around….but hey, I’m healing, I’m allowed! I was going to hit golf balls today for the first time since February, but it was too wet and rainy. Hopefully I’ll get out one day this week after work. Overall I’m feeling pretty good. Excited with the progress. Looking forward to getting back to the gym and gaining back my weight. An excited milestone this weekend, besides two captain and cokes, was I slept on my stomach! I haven’t done that since March. Truth is I woke up on my stomach and realized it didn’t hurt at all. I have to be careful when I move from side to side because sometimes the wound pulls and that hurts but other then that it’s fine. I’d like to be going a little less, but it has only been three weeks, after all. We’ll see what the doc has to say tomorrow and I’ll let you know. He did say I had a stricture in the hospital, which I believe I mentioned, but as a refresher, basically a narrowing at the rectum from lack of use. I fear he may have to place his finger into my already emotionally scarred butt, to take care of it. Not looking forward to that. At all. We’ll talk soon!

i am going back to work tomorrow. Doesn’t mean I’m feeling 100%, but definitely well enough to get back to sitting behind a computer all day. I’m still going about 2 or 3 times a night and about 5 to 6 during the day. It’s no bueno. I’ve already went through one thing of Calmoseptine cream, with very little relief. All the same stuff though. I’m going to try and hit some golf balls this weekend. My appetite is getting better each day. I’m so close I can taste it! (And then eat the whole thing and not get a stomach ache)

My next appointment down at Chapel Hill is next Tuesday. Expecting to hear more of the same. My wound on my stomach is healing up nicely. I have little pain in my stomach, just still very weak. I’ll let you know how the two day work week goes! 

Things are going well. I’m going less frequently, My appetite is getting better, and I’m getting my energy back a bit. Still really weak though, and can’t wait to get back to the gym. I’m still getting sudden urges here and there that are painful but go away almost immediately. Besides that, not much pain. The wound is taking a while to close up, but a piece of my intestine was sticking out of me after all, that was to be expected. Calmoseptine is the go to for butt burn. Seems to be helping. Looking forward to this being all over! Got down to Myrtle yesterday to visit Abby….my dog lover, and some friends out at the bar. Was out until 2:30, but didn’t risk drinking yet.  We had a good time. It was good to be out with friends and not cooped up inside today. Nothing I’ve eaten so far has given me any noticeable problems. One day at a time though! I’ll keep you posted!
   
 

ok. I’m now doing normal butt things like most you humans do. I poop. I fart. I’m not great at pooping and I’m even worse at farting. The first few were….fun. Now it’s more a game of Russian Roulette, if that paints a pretty picture for you. I’m right away not restricted by any diet. I’m certainly not as sore as last surgeries, though I do have a pretty gnarly hole in my stomach where my stoma used to be. Before I had surgery I did scour the Internet on what to expect and google did tell me a thing or two about “butt burn.” Ahhhh the notorious butt burn. Let me begin by saying, no forums or blogs or “DANGER DANGER” signs could have prepared me for what this really meant. We’ve all been there. A bad hamburger at a dive bar, one too many late night crunch wrap supremes ordered through the drive thru on the way home from the bar, or just the good ol’ flu. Enough poo and enough wiping, will inevitably, lead to butt burn. There are creams, there are lotions, there are bidits, but nothing seems to quite soothe the ass from some killer butt burn. Believe me, I’ve tried it all. Because I pretty much sealed my fate the second I decided to document every step along the way of this poo disease that required the removal of my colon and the placement of a bag that held feces at my stomach, I really only have myself to blame for all this private info I feel I have to divulge. Theres no going back. This certainly won’t find its way into the about me on my Match.com profile. Also, relax, I don’t have a Match.com profile. Now I find myself falling into a spiral of sentence after sentence about how sore my ass is and expect to be able to smile at the people I know have to be thinking, “there’s a fire in his undergarments.” Anyway, today is really the second full day home. I’m pooping a whole lot. So much I lose count. It’s never run to the bathroom poop, which is good, and those of you about to go through this yourself, find pleasure in the fact that there is little if any pain when trying to go to the bathroom. Except, of course, the butt burn. I am also getting some senses of urgency where I’ll have to squeeze for a second or two and it’ll go away and I’ll be okay. It is a little painful and I’m not sure if that’s normal or not, I’ll have to ask at my follow up which is in 2 weeks. I’ll keep you posted as the days progress in hopes I find something to relieve the pain in my bottom. I’m hoping the frequency gets better with time too. I’m waking up a few times during the night which sucks, but was expected. Thank god this is the home stretch. I’m thinking now a good title of this blog post would be, “Fire in the Hole!”