A Lot to Catch Up on Part 3

.....Just after the struggles with the appliance, I had a follow up appointment with my surgeon. Remember when I said I had to record my fluid output? Well, it turns out, I was severely dehydrated. My kidneys almost shut down. Though I was drinking my fluids, it was just coming right back out. Emptying the bag got really old, real fast. Just so you know, the maximum output for a day is 1500 fl oz. I was over that almost every day. I felt like crap, but I thought it was surgery related. I ended up staying in the hospital again for five days. 

We get the appliance right; I get rehydrated with a much better understanding of what I am supposed to do. We go home armed with Imodium and Lomotil to help slow things down. 

Mid-March, I finally got to a point where, I could change out the appliance myself. I figured out that French fries really slow things down. We started to find some humor with the situation. I have to say this....it is very hard to be intimate when that dang bag is rustling around. If you take a plastic bag a crunch it up, it kind of sounds like that....what a turn off.😬

May 2, 2023 time for the reversal to reconnect and put everything back into its home. I will have a wound that looks like I took a bullet to the stomach. Everything inside is functioning properly. I should be able to return to work next Wednesday. There's one more minor detail. I now have to figure out why my hips and knees ache and aren't working properly.

 We now have a good plan in place to stay on top of this issue. The battle is not over and with Crohn's, it never will be. 

A Lot to Catch Up on Part 2

 ....as for me, I'm doing better now. For those that don't know me, I've had Crohn's Disease since the late 90's. I've had to bowel resections over the years. They have given me good results but they don't last forever. Crohn's comes back!!! Let's back track to July 2021....

 I go in for a CT scan, after drinking 3 bottles of the contrast, I had to go back the hospital because the contrast induced a flare. Gastro doc puts me on Prednisone. I was adamant that I did not want to be on it long term. Well, it turned out long term. At the same time, Humaria started to become ineffective. Skip ahead to February 2022....

I find out that my current Gastro doc left on permanent leave. Flare up's were starting to increase but I could manage them. It took two months for the office to get me another Gastro. He ordered another CT. I refused to drink more than two bottles. He puts me on another biologic and keeps the Prednisone going. 

I had an allergic reaction to the first biologic, so puts me on another. That did not really work and by Aug 2022 another hospital visit due to a flare up. Increased Prednisone again, with a third biologic. Guess what, late Oct 2022 back to the hospital again. This time a partial blockage with a flare up. For the first time, I had to have an NG tube put down my throat. That was a long 5 days. 

Dec 2022 Gastro doc finally admitted defeat and referred me to the U of M Medical Center. Mid-January 2023. We have a plan in place to get me back to right, but it was going to take a major change....

They could not do a straight bowel resection because of the length of time I was on Prednisone. My insides needed time to heal. So, the first surgery ended up with me having an Ileostomy. 

Here is this major change, and the one I feared the most. I mean I was pooping into a bag. How is that not a shot to the ego!!! My wife and I had to learn how to change the appliance out, record the output and stay hydrated. A few days later we go home. Three days after going home, we had to change the appliance. It took us three days and fifteen tries to realize we needed a new style of appliance. Once we changed, I didn't have to worry about fluid running down my side. We shed a lot of tears over the struggles with the first appliance. Talk about character building. But hold on there's more...... 

Controlling Crohns

Well last I posted about Crohns, I was trying probiotics. Probiotics at the point had helped slow everything down some. Fast forward to the last couple of weeks. I have been taking Imuran with fish oil and Calcium in the morning. By mid morning, I take a probiotic with a aloe vera capsule. I found this helps make my life a little easier after lunch. I was having so many bathroom visits between 12pm and 4pm. I realized over Christmas that I need to find a solution for this problem. Thanks to my uncle that is an herbalist. He gave me list of things to try and I only have just started to tap into his suggestions. I also have reduced my water intake and increase my use of tea. I usually use Numi tea. The Red Roobios seems to help best, but also use Green Roobios and Orange Spice. These teas seem to hydrate because they are caffeine free, they also help sooth. If I drink pop its usually Diet Vernors. This seems to sit well. I do not drink pop that often anymore.
 Hope some of this helps.......

Time to get Focused

Since vacation, we have been slacking in the fitness area. Now that sports schedule has slowed down some, Melissa and I can get refocused on our routines. For me, dealing with Crohn's is much easier when I am active and eating right. For her its about self esteem. As much as we enjoy taking walks together, we each have our own plans. Melissa mostly enjoys cardio, for me I need cardio and strength.
 Today I hit the weights. I need to be more aggressive in achieving muscle failure. I'm never going to be a bulging mass of muscle and don't really want to be. I am more for high reps and toning. As the weather stays nice, time outside is critical. I have wood to split so that will be a goal, plus it mixes up the same old same old. I may set up stations outside for an added twist. Putting the time into fitness helps keep stress low and I feel more productive.
 Everybody has their own ways of staying grounded and happy. Some its crafts and art, some its social media, some its church, some its music, some its a mixture of all of the above. Its all about living life to the fullest and enjoying it along the way. So what you enjoy.

Its War!

Last week Tuesday I went into the E.R for what I thought might be an appendix issue.Turned out it was a Crohn's flare, which I figured but wanted to be safe. At the end of the visit, the E.R doc with the help of a GI doc decided to prescribe Prednisone, I want no part of this steroid. I do not think I need it. So this made me very unhappy. Note: I have not gotten the prescription filled.
 Fast forward to Sunday. As I googled "how to cut an avocado". I ran across something in an article. The basic message was to prove out the need for vegan diets. There was a statement in there that got me to thinking. Generally it suggested that there had been an increase with Cancer, Crohn's, Ulceratvie Colitis in people that eat cooked high fat and high protein diets. I to some extent agree. I think it mostly comes from genetically engineered meats and things. That is just my feeling, I have no proof.
 This got my wheels turning big time. I have a friend at work the suggested sometime ago to try Raw Protein powder to give my body a more natural way to recover from my workouts. Raw Protein is completely organic with the protein coming from numerous sprouts and things.The one thing he said that stood out that it has probiotics. What are probiotics you ask, and am I glad you did. Probiotics are basically the good bacteria in your intestine that help support your digestive system. From what I have read Crohn's patients that have inreased their probiotic intake have had reduced symptoms. I did not say cure but reduced symptoms. This starts my mission and it is war!
 So far it has only been three consecutive days since committing to this self trial. Each day I have had the Raw Protein in smoothies, that have had included, strawberries, blueberries, black and raspberries, bannana, kiwi, apple or any combination, I also add yogurt and splenda. I have had reduced pain, more energy, less bathroom visits, just overall better feeling. Tuesday I had some pain after dinner but I think that was because of broccoli. It was fine Wednesday morning. I am taking my Imuran also. Again this is just three days of results, I will continue this mission. It is not my intent to give false hope. It is my intent to prove there is hope away from to many medications. I will post another update after vacation.