- Location
- Shelby Township, Mi
Hi, my name is Billy and Im from Mi. Had Crohns since 1992, and Im 39. I have been in remission forever, until last Oct! and that is when I had an abcess in my lower right. Did 1 week in Hosp then a drain was inserted, then taken out 1 week later and then back in hosp cause abcess came right back. Dr put a 1 inch incision in my lower right to drain it and then he wanted to due surgery! I put it off cause Halloween was couple days away and I have two daughters. A couple months went by and the incision closed up and a fistula opened right next to the cut. I began to feel like total crap and normally I am very active! racing mtn bikes and hitting lifetime fitness! By Jan I felt so sick I made a surgery date, and could not do anything but sit on the couch, I took a few weeks of work off and am so lucky I get full pay for the whole time I am off! no short term disability! I just had small bowel resection Feb 16 and got home 6 days later. The nurse had me up 9 hrs after surgery cause I was determined to get my body moving. The nurses and NA's were so kind and caring at Troy Beaumont in Troy MI! The best thing they did was to hold my arm or hand when they knew I was nervous or in pain, a little touch goes a long way. Recovery went perfect in hospital, no pain or infection! I was up and walking everyday! and soft foods 2 days later. Gas pains were by far the worst part of recovery, everything else was cake. Did I mention how nice the nurses and NA's were? So I am home and I feel like a new person, now I see how sick I was from the abcess. I actually didn't have a fistula, my small intestine was melting into my skin, then opening on the skin, almost like a fistula but no canal. Poision was leaking into my body and really making me sick. I have been to the store and walking up and down the street, but not over doing it. Choosing surgery was by far the best thing I have ever done and I can only imagine a few months from now how I will feel being fully recovered, when I feel so much better 9 days out! I just wanted to share a positive story! I see a lot of people are having issues post-surgery and I feel so lucky to be in the shape I am. The hardest thing about surgery was pre-op, just knowing what could happen when I was under, but I stayed strong mentally and that really helped. So by spring I will be ready to ride and hit the gym! Thanks for reading my story and I hope it helps someone that has to go through surgery. Oh yea, Dr took out 4 inch of small bowel and 1 inch of colon. The small section of colon was removed so he could connect 2 fresh pcs of intestine. Stay strong! Billy.
