Decision for “elective” colectomy
Hi, I’m just hoping to get some people’s experience or stories regarding this matter. Mostly I want to know if people are happy with their decision to have an “elective” colectomy, though I guess it’s not really elective when you choose it because you haven’t responded to any medication.
I have severe pancolitis- diagnosed a year ago during my first pregnancy. I had fulminant colitis and was hospitalized over a month, son ended up induced and in the NICU. I’m steroid resistant and a TNF-alpha antagonist non-responder. Basically, had I not been pregnant, they would have done an urgent colectomy for my disease in Oct ‘20. But they kept me going as long as they could in hospital with transfusions and such, and then once I gave birth things de-escalated to “moderate to severe.” So I’ve spent the last year trying but failing to achieve lasting remission with a couple different biologics combined with steroids. I have tried everything I’m willing to try and I’m 99% on surgery. What I think I’m looking for is encouragement. I’ve heard a lot of stories of people being told they would die without surgery and so they had no choice and they were content with living. Technically I have a choice since I’m not going to die next week from this, and if there’s a choice then there’s a chance of making the wrong choice. Has anyone else medically refractory made this decision and been happy with it?
I had fulminant ulcerative colitis same time last year as you was in hospital for 7weeks . It look over 5 weeks to get an gp Dr to get me to hospital. I had to have an emergency laparotomy colostomy (bag now) . This fulminant is an rare condition? I am 44 years old . Had ulcerative colitis since June 2011 . Found I had twisted bowel in April 2019 . I'm from Shropshire in United Kingdom. I always been constipation all my life . I'm alot better now . But I got 4 different health conditions as well.
Oh,
! I'm sorry to hear this. I understand how tough emergency surgery can be!
It sounds like you're still dealing with a lot, but I am pleased to read that you feel you're a lot better now in terms of stoma life!
~ Sahara (Team member)
Hey
.
I obviously can't make any promises. I don't know what the future holds for you. No one does. But, I do know a lot of people living with an ostomy that LOVE the quality of life they have now in comparison to before. I'm by no means saying it's easy. it's not. But the surgery and the recovery tend to be memories that soon fade away once it's all over. It can feel like an awful lot when you're in that stage, though. Not wanting to sugarcoat it!
