Hey guys, I'm just so happy, I need to tell someone!

This past Tuesday, I got the bad news that I will have to have my colon removed. But my doc didn't specify *when* I needed it done - within the month, or if it could wait till my spring semester is over (in May). I just got a response to the email I sent him asking that - he said it could wait till school is over! That way I could have it done right afterwards and have summer for the second surgery and recovery. Also, he mentioned something about having the first surgery, then said "and waiting 6-8 weeks and having the second (if done that way)." Is it just me or does this imply I have a chance of having a 1-step surgery? Surely I won't have the 3-step... I hear that's for really sick people (and I'm not). So to me, that says he believes a 1-step surgery is POSSIBLE! Of course, I do understand they have to open me up to make the final decision on a 1-step or 2-step, and I shouldn't get my hopes up too much - but its just nice to hear my doc believe that is possible for me. Wow, I think I had a couple of run-on sentences in there... But oh well :P

Just wanted to share my wonderful news!

That's brilliant news!

Now make sure you build your strength up between now and the summer to make sure you are in optimum condition for your surgery.


Take care.

Shell

hehe, yeah. I don't suppose there are any exercises to make intestines easier to pull around, are there? (I think I read that thats one of the things they take into consideration for a 1step). But seriously, I'm going to try and change my diet (not *start* a diet, but change my diet, in the traditional sense of the word) and exercise more.

hey,

glad to hear you can wait, and you seem so positive and prepared considering all you and your family have been through. My GI told me to excercise lots before the surgery because she wanted my cardio strong for recovery. So I started skateboarding daily after work. And she told me to increase my protein intake because protein helps our tissue heath, so the healthier tissue the faster the recovery was the idea.

I did both the things she said, I don't know if it helped but I did have a good recovery although I had the two step because I had been sick and on prednisone for so long. Here is my surgery photos and timeline, I did mine too over the summer and it worked out well timewise.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markandmegan/sets/

mark

Hey, thanks for the reply

Both of those things make perfect sense - and I will try both.

I think I'm going into this thing with a lot of things on my side... considering that my polyps and things in my intestines/colon have never been a problem for me (though weve kept an eye on them - good thing we caught signs of problems before they became problems) so I should do well.

Actually, I've already been through your photos there, I saw them in another topic, I think.