Tag Archives: surgery

Colectomy Surgery, or Body Modification?

Colectomy Surgery, or Body Modification?

When I had surgery to remove my colon (which is called a colectomy) and place an ostomy, I knew exactly what was happening. I knew I would wake up with a loop ileostomy. It was the first step in 2-step j-pouch surgery to treat my ulcerative colitis.

My colon was falling apart, full of inflammation and pseudopolyps (non-cancerous polyps that can occur with IBD). I had a few months to prepare for surgery, including meeting with my surgeon and an enterostomal (ET) nurse. When I woke up with a stoma and an ostomy appliance, it was not a surprise.

Continue reading
About IBD Podcast Episode 79 - The Girl That Was Missing

About IBD Podcast Episode 79 – The Girl That Was Missing

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects more than the digestive system. Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can also affect the eyes, joints, and skin. Jordan Ditty was diagnosed with IBD as a child, though her diagnosis floated between Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis and she had j-pouch surgery due to a colonic perforation. Recently, she had her j-pouch removed and a permanent ileostomy placed. Surgery gave her with a better quality of life but also a new diagnosis of a skin condition related to IBD, called pyoderma gangrenosum. Learn how Jordan remains hopeful through her long journey with IBD and a host of complications.

Continue reading
AMBER: I’m Amber Tresca and this is About IBD. It’s my mission to educate people living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis about their disease and to bring awareness to the patient journey. My guest on this episode is Dr Selvi Vasudevan (VAHsooDAYven). Dr Selvi was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in college and endured several surgeries and complicated recovery periods but she didn’t let it stop her from going to medical school. She was in the middle of a pediatric residency when the disease changed the course of her life again. She looked for more meaning and purpose in her journey and she found it by first finding her own way to healing and then by sharing what she’s learned with others. I caught up with Dr Selvi at Crohn’s and Colitis Congress in Austin, which is a medical meeting for healthcare professionals. We sat down for a chat in the press room. during our lunch break so you’ll notice that

About IBD Podcast Episode 64 – My Life Would Never Be the Same

Finding meaning in an illness journey can be a catalyst for purpose and hope. Dr Selvi Vasudevan endured severe Crohn’s disease that resulted in several surgeries and a relentless series of complications. She was on her chosen path when the disease stole her aspirations and left her without direction. A recommitment to herself and her own healing journey helped her find her purpose again as a healer and prompted her to found Cooking With Crohn’s in order to share what she’s learned with the IBD community.

Continue reading
About IBD Episode 55 - You Have to Take Care of Yourself

About IBD Podcast Episode 55 – You Have to Take Care of Yourself

Being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at any time or at any age is challenging. However, the pre-biologic era was especially difficult because of the lack of treatment options and the absence of some of the legal protections that are in place today. Danielle O’Connor tells her story of being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at a young age and how she managed her career as a special education teacher through many hospitalizations and surgeries.

Continue reading
About IBD Episode 3 - Insta - My J-Pouch Is My BFF

About IBD Podcast Episode 3 – My J-Pouch Is My BFF

On this episode of the About IBD Podcast, I discuss j-pouches and bust some of the misconceptions that surround them. I also give my firsthand experience as a j-poucher who gave birth twice and let you in on what it’s like for me to have a midline scar from open surgery.
 
Continue reading