Hey everyone! I just want to finally say hello after following the forums for 4 months. I just now had the courage to post I exist and say thanks for all the advice and info.

My poor body has gone through so much these past six months. I'm 22 and was in the middle of starting a new term in college when I got sick. Dec 31, 2008 is the exact date I got sick, or felt any problems. It wasn't until a month later, after 3 urgent care and 1 emergency visits, that I was diagnosed with UC and toxic megacolon on January 29th. The first couple weeks were the hardest because I was wondering why this had happened to me? Still do. Still waiting for the answer to smack me right in the face.

Three months later I had my second surgery (I had the 3 step procedure) where my surgeon made a W pouch (yeah I'm one of those pouchers). 2 days after the procedure I had a complication where a blood vessel or blood clot (no one has given me the answer straight) burst inside the pouch filling it, so the cut me through the vertical incision a 3rd time. The whole reason I went back to surgery in the first place because there was an air bubble behind my diaphram. Lucky find! Because of the 3rd unexpected surgery, recovery was not so great like it was before the 2nd. My hormones were waaaay off. I'd start crying on a drop of a hat for awhile, and I just couldn't get my energy up.

I had my takedown a week ago and I feel FANTASTIC! So surprised on how fast I've recovered. Can't wait back to school and work for something to do!