Colostomy - My Journey

Colostomy. In April 2008, I went into hospital for a Gynaecological operation. It was to help reduce constant pain I was suffering. I had had a Laparoscopy the September before and a number of things were found that needed surgery to rectify. My Fallopean Tubes were blocked and one had adhered to my Sigmoid Colon (Bowel). I also had a number of cysts which needed to be removed. All in all a very positive operation I hoped. To cut a very long story short, after a short stay in hospital I was discharged, even though I was in immense pain and my stomach had swollen so large I looked 6 months pregnant and I had 'sloshing' noises coming from my tummy every time I moved. I lasted at home for some 4 days without eating or drinking or sleeping as the pain was so severe. I had to call for an ambulance who arrived and worked on me for some 20 minutes outside my home and in front of my mother and partner. I had very low blood pressure and the ambulance crew called through to the hospital for a crash team to be waiting for me. My mother was told that had we been much longer in calling for the ambulance then I may have died! I was examined and then sent into theatre for emergency surgery. I woke in the High Dependancy Unit. I had suffered a perforated Bowel and had peritinitus and septicemia. I also had a Stoma (Colostomy). I was very poorly and lucky to be alive. There is much more detail to my terrible experience, I even caught MRSA whilst recovering in hospital and I will write more detail as and when I can.

I am writing this Blog in the hope that other people who have suffered such trauma can contact me, tell me their stories and hopefully we can help each other along the way with advise and tips or just some soothing positive words when needed.