Well. Here we are. But first things first.
I dropped my mesalamine pills to one a day about a month ago. Happily, I can report that I continued to improve, with my urgency FINALLY improving and my stool looking more normal, between a 3 and a 4 on the Bristol Stool Chart. (A 3 is considered normal.)
At this point, I would have said, that's it, see you next month!
However, as this post's title suggests, a huge, unexpected health event happened.
A little over a week ago, I had surgery for appendicitis. My appendix had ruptured. (You can read more details here.)
I'm doing well, no sign of infection, which is the big fear with a burst appendix. I had diarrhea every morning at first, but once I finished the antibiotics, the diarrhea stopped. My stool is still pretty loose, but it is getting better.
I've read where some UC patients who have appendicitis surgery (or any other surgery) are thrown into a flare by the surgery, medications, healing procedure, or all of the above. So far, I don't see a flare on the horizon.
My healing is slow. The hospital staff told me that with a laparoscopic appendix removal I should be getting back to normal in about a week. Ha! Maybe that is the average, but whether because of my UC or my age, I heal slower than normal.
I am having less pain each day, but again, the pain reduction is minimal. They put a drain in my stomach to drain the liquid from the burst appendix. My follow-up appointment was a few days ago and they removed the drain, which has helped with the pain. I've been able to walk since almost immediately after the surgery, but it still hurts a bit to do so, and I cannot reach above my head or bend at all. Bending causes the most pain of all. My poor dog comes up to me for affection and even if I'm sitting on the couch, I cannot bend forward without pain to scrunch his ears. Poor guy, he looks at me like, what have I done wrong? Don't you like me anymore?
So, my UC is doing well, I just need the rest of my body to repair itself.
It WILL happen, I just hope a little faster.
Next Update: March 2025, Doing Great!
Previous Update: January 2025, Another Quick Update and Thumb's Up!
© Colitis Senioritis 2025
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