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...... 

A Lot to Catch Up On

 Hello there....glad you stopped by. 

 I see that my last post was in 2012. It's now 11 years later and I am going to try again. I do not want to catch everything up in one post. It would go on forever and some would probably fall asleep. So instead, over the next few posts I will get a lot caught up. 

But where to start.....Well my son Cody will be married in October, He made us grandparents to a wonderful little girl named Lilly. She is 7. There has been so much growth with Cody. Lilly and Aliana (daughter-in-law) have made him a better man. I'm so proud of him. 

Daughter Amanda is married. Her and her husband are figuring things out. Melissa and I coach them along the best we can. They have a wonderful home with our two grandpups and a real nice yard..

Son Jeff is not married. He is figuring his life out and what he wants to really be doing as a career. He has a free spirit, so it'll be interesting what he does.

Son Jake. He is going into his senior year of High School. He just got done with an amazing run with his high school baseball team. He leaves for Cost Rica tomorrow. The trip is through his Spanish class. When he comes back, he will start with summer ball. 

Melissa continues to be an amazing and supportive wife. 

As for me, I'm doing much better now.......That story will be coming soon. Hold on because it is a doozy!