Iliostomy

[celia from uk]

I have Iliostomy /chrons and fistulas ..

[TimB]

Hi Celia,
Have you had your Ileostomy for very long? I'm trying to get some tips about almost anything that would be good to know. My wife Patty just had hers on Monday.

My best wishes to you,

Tim

[Kathy_from_England]

Hi and welcome Celia, Tim and Patty!
Please ask any question at all - we'll do our best to answer.

[melissa]

Welcome, ask all the questions you would like I'm sure some of us may be able to answer your questions or concerns. I have and ileostomy since Nov 2002. ;D I feel so much better now with it, I wouldn't change it for anything!! My was due to crohns also!!

[KiminCalif]

You can ask me anything, too. I had my illeostomy in 1999 at the age of 55. Hi Tim B (happy birthday Oct 12th) and Celia. Hi Kath! ;D
Kim in Calif

[Kathy_from_England]

Hey..good to see you Kim!!

[Terry]

Hi, I had my Colon removed on the 4th of November thanks to Ulcerative Colitis. I'm home and feeling great. Thanks to the surgery, I have regained my independent life and love the fact that I can eat anything and everything once again. Just awaiting my next surgery (J-Pouch) which will be in December. Good luck to all and best of wish's this holiday season!

[Stacee]

I've had an iliostomy since 1987 I had surgery when I was 12. I had ulcerative colitis. Strangely I know little about my condition. I think since I had the surgery at such a young age, it is such a part of my life I don't even think about it. I got married about a year and a half ago to a wonderful man. I started wanting to find out more about my condition because we are planning to have children and I want to hear all the success stories and be certain that this will not hinder concieving.

[Kathy_from_England]

Hi and welcome Stacee,
Shaz was 10 when she had her ileostomy for the same reasons as you.

Many women with UC go on to conceive and have healthy babies. The ileostomy won't stop you either.

I have heard the UC can make conceiving a little more difficult, but I don't believe it's a major issue.

Good luck!!

[mistral88]

hi all

i have had my ileostomy since i was 14.. i have had it for over 17 yrs now and have totally accepted it as part of me. to me it is like the nose on my face. lol and it is there for good.

i had a diagnosis of UC at 12. then about 9 yrs later they told me that i had crohns colitis. if you are wondering what i mean by that i shall explain.

it is called that when the disease is isolated to the large intestine but acts like crohns. i had alot of complications a person with crohns would get. i had alot of fistulas.. anemia.... arthritis (which i still have but not as bad) ... massive infections in the body (i almost lost my left leg) i had a big one in my side or hip and on my face. not fun let me tell ya.

for the last 10 yrs i have had no probs with my small bowel or anymore fistulas or anemia ( however my hands and feet tend to be cold all the time) i still have the arthritis but it is not nowhere near as bad as it use to be as i would be bedridden for days as a teenager with it. i get aches and pains once in a while but i just grin and bear it. i did get told about 4 months ago after my left ankle was red, sore, and giving off heat and i could not really walk on it that i had GOUT. lol yep i got the gout.... how wonderful lol.

i asked the doc how the heck i could have that as i usually runs in males from ages 40-60 or so. i'am a 31 year old female lol. it is sometimes called " the beer drinkers disease". it is a form of arthritis. he said that it also tends to be hereditary ( my dad has gout in his foot) thx dad!. he also said it was brought on by my medical history and i'am only about 10 yrs late getting it. hmm i wonder what else i'am ten yrs late getting. lol

anyway i'am totally rambling here... so i will say that if u want to know anything or you have questions then do not ever hesitiate to ask. someone on here will try to help.. if not then all of us will... i just wanted to share a bit of my history.

take care