Update long overdue

Since coming off the azathioprine things have not been going too well. Been suffering from some pain and passing blood again and it has been getting worse. Went to see the medical consultant last Monday and asked about the risks of being on azathioprine long term. He started with lymphoma and went on from there. So that sounds like not a good plan to me. The other option is another operation to remove the last bits left behind. I do not want a reversal, I can cope with the bag OK and there are some nasty complications that can, and in my case probably will, arise so I have opted for the operation. Just need to wait till I see the surgeon's team and wait for a date. They will repair the hernia for the second time too!

On another note, the DVLA came back to me and told me that I am OK to drive, I have to have a 3 year license and apply for a new one at the end of that but that is no problem. I have increased my medication and things should be OK for another 10 years!

sigmoidoscopy results

Had the sigmoidoscopy yesterday; the results were not too good, Still have problems but it looks like the problems are both low down and possibly higher up than the sigmoidoscopy reaches. The surgeon said we have some very difficult decisions ahead. I felt bad and that made me feel a lot worse. How long will this go on? I think I am now facing having this temp ileostomy made permanent. I want a decision sooner rather than later so I can get on with my life. I have said this before though, this op was going to allow me to get back to work etc. It has not done so due to the hernia then having a flare up again has caused it to drag on and on.
That's all for now.

seen the surgeon

Today I saw my surgeon to discuss the fixing of the hernia. However something i hadn't thought of sort of took over. As I am in a flare-up and back on steroids he has said that something needs to be done with my colon and we saw my gastro consultant and told me that I need a sigmoidoscopy, basically a camera up my backside, to see how bad things are and decide what the best surgical procedure is as things need to be sorted out sooner rather than later. So I am waiting for an appointment to get that done, it is going to be a rush job apparently so next couple of weeks then get any op done sooner rather than later. I have a lot to think about so I will leave it here and put something up tomorrow maybe.

Surgeon date changed

I have got a new date to see the surgeon about a repair to the hernia. I am now going to see him on 14th August. This is about 5 weeks earlier than originally so this is very helpful. I don't know how they repair hernias with a stoma, it can't be quite so straight forward, I will need to look into it.

Going away for a couple of days soon, that will be a real test as I have been feeling bad last couple of days, legs been aching again, this is a sign of a flare up, hope that it is just a coincidence.

been to see gastroenterologist

Hi
I went to see my gastroenterologist yesterday. I saw one of his registrars, Dr. Sheppard, I saw him last week during my unexpected stay in hospital so the appointment was not really necessary I suppose but I went anyway. Thought we may talk about the options for when I no longer this ileostomy but this was not really spoken about. He suggested that I should push to get the hernia fixed before the reversal and I was pleased he did really. I would like it fixed as it is causing me some discomfort and it is a pain having to go careful with what I do all the time. I was not planning on having to cope with this as well as the ileostomy. I am seeing Lynne or Natalie, the stoma team, this afternoon about the hernia belt, it finally arrived, and I will mention Dr. Sheppard's comments to them.
Mark