I have the day off, normally I'd head out and grab breakfast, but not today. Today is prep day. Tomorrow I have an unpleasant procedure scheduled that involves cameras, I won't go any further that than that in the description. The key issue is I'm not allowed to eat, in fact I've not eaten since Monday night. I've been on a clear fluid diet for all of yesterday and today. It's no so bad, as long as you keep drinking you don't really get hungry. The issue is really about the energy level. There is no protein, no fat. So while there is a fire going, it's as if I'm just dumping piles of hay on it. It doesn't last, it just burns really quick.
Now whenever I find myself in situations where I am not allowed eating, I tend to think about food. Not so much "oh I'm hungry, I wish I could eat", but more along the lines of "Man, when this is over, I'm getting chicken fried steak*". But quite frankly what I'm going to have for dinner tomorrow after the scope is not the topic at hand.
I've started thinking about what I will do after the surgery**. More specifically, I've been thinking about the reconnection.
Now this surgery might be the first of upwards of 3surgeries. Specifically only the first one is required, the one where they remove my dying colon. The following surgery(s) are for the sole purpose of reconstructing the the remaining segments of the digestive tract to create an internal reservoir to negate the need for an external pouch. I've decided that I'll already delay the second surgery for at least a year. In theory I can get everything done in the span of a year.
I've been sick for awhile, not nearly as long as some people, but enough to really reflect on all of this. It started in the summer of 2008. I spent several months suffering from pneumonia and bronchitis. that caused me to quit smoking. Apparently the smoking was the only thing keeping the Colitis at bay. The summer 2009, I was flaring they tried new medication which gave me pancreatitis. Last year was the summer of hospitals. this year will be the summer of surgery. I don't want to do another year of surgery.
Now from what I've read, stories of people who have an ostomy. Dealing with it becomes second nature, changing the bag, emptying it etc. Whereas with the reconnection I will have to go to the washroom 10 times a day. It is basically like being in a flare, except no pain, and I'm not limited in what I can eat. There are also a great deal of stories about people that have had surgery to get the bag reattached because they couldn't handle the changes.
I'm undecided. I'll give it at least a year. I might even wait two so that I can have at least one summer where I don't visit the hospital. Maybe go back to Cuba.
I don't know yet.
*I've decided to make the "chicken fried steak" a recurring theme.
**I've also been thinking about how I can gain access to baby goats, so that I can lay with them and feed them tin cans.
Now whenever I find myself in situations where I am not allowed eating, I tend to think about food. Not so much "oh I'm hungry, I wish I could eat", but more along the lines of "Man, when this is over, I'm getting chicken fried steak*". But quite frankly what I'm going to have for dinner tomorrow after the scope is not the topic at hand.
I've started thinking about what I will do after the surgery**. More specifically, I've been thinking about the reconnection.
Now this surgery might be the first of upwards of 3surgeries. Specifically only the first one is required, the one where they remove my dying colon. The following surgery(s) are for the sole purpose of reconstructing the the remaining segments of the digestive tract to create an internal reservoir to negate the need for an external pouch. I've decided that I'll already delay the second surgery for at least a year. In theory I can get everything done in the span of a year.
I've been sick for awhile, not nearly as long as some people, but enough to really reflect on all of this. It started in the summer of 2008. I spent several months suffering from pneumonia and bronchitis. that caused me to quit smoking. Apparently the smoking was the only thing keeping the Colitis at bay. The summer 2009, I was flaring they tried new medication which gave me pancreatitis. Last year was the summer of hospitals. this year will be the summer of surgery. I don't want to do another year of surgery.
Now from what I've read, stories of people who have an ostomy. Dealing with it becomes second nature, changing the bag, emptying it etc. Whereas with the reconnection I will have to go to the washroom 10 times a day. It is basically like being in a flare, except no pain, and I'm not limited in what I can eat. There are also a great deal of stories about people that have had surgery to get the bag reattached because they couldn't handle the changes.
I'm undecided. I'll give it at least a year. I might even wait two so that I can have at least one summer where I don't visit the hospital. Maybe go back to Cuba.
I don't know yet.
*I've decided to make the "chicken fried steak" a recurring theme.
**I've also been thinking about how I can gain access to baby goats, so that I can lay with them and feed them tin cans.
