Hello all, this is Michelle's fiance Paul with an update on Michelle:

She had the final takedown procedure on Weds. and everything went very well. I was stunned when the surgeon came around the corner in only a few hours which meant to us everything went well compared to the last three operations. She is VERY relieved and and thankful to her surgeons and to this group in particular.

As of Thursday night at about 10pm she went number 2 for the first time in eight months and earned a gastro-enterology gold star for the day. As Austin Powers said in the bathroom, "Who does Number 2 work for?" Well, Michelle showed them.

Hopefully she should be home in a day or two.

Paul

Great movie reference, I'll have to remember that one!

That is great! Tell her to hang in there and to post with any questions she may have once she is home! I too like the movie reference! Too often does it feel like I work for #2 rather then it working for me!

Such great news! I'm so glad it went well. I really hoped we'd stay "twin souls" in that respect since our paths have been very parallel so far, and my TD was great
Keep well, Michelle; hope to see you back soon, all systems go (though in a controlled and planned fashion, hehehe)!

Fantastic! Glad to hear all went well for Michelle.

Paul, the movie reference was stellar!

Thank you all forthe replies! I am trying out the new TV/internet system that the hospital installed earlier today. You'd think they'd do these things when I'm here for a month, but no, this is done the night before I am discharged.
So the surgeon spoke to me today and he is pleased with himeself and my progress. I was very nervious going into all fo this, but it really looks like things have gone well. I'm eating my first real food (some string cheese and Ritz crackers that I made Paul go out to get as soon as I was cleared....can't stand the hospital food).
No doubt I will be innundating all of you with questions in a day or two as issues arise, but for the time being, everything is well and I'm not having any amjor issues. I'm well stocked with the Ilex and calmoseptine, flora-Q and cottonelle wipes, which have proved to be a godsend while in the hospital.
I'll post updates once I'm home. Thanks again for all the support!

Jinx, Michelle! They gave me a tv right before I left hospital!! Hahaha
Yippeee! Hooray!!! Bag is gone! Isn't it great? It'll be so great for you to get home, back to your own bed, couch, bathroom, tv, books...and kitchen! Eat anything that you think will feel good going through your system. I found that the things I ate in my worst flares (fish, potatoes, bland sauces etc) worked best for my new pouch. Now I can eat a much wider diet. Enjoy the new plumbing!

Soph,

Yes, I spent my first night home and it was great. No leaking, which I am still surprised by. I've not been really hungry, but I did enjoy some watermelon and some cheerios earlier today. A bit groggy from the pain meds, but I should be able to stop them in another day or two. The whole "no bag" thing is taking some time to sink in....it will probably really hit me when I go back to work and no longer have to worry about it bulging under my skirts and things like that.
All in all, much better than I thought it would be!

Hi Michelle,

I'm so glad that you finally made it through to the other side!

Take things slowly and keep to a bland diet as Soph suggested for the time being. Add new foods one at a time (keep a food diary) so that you can see what bothers you. If a food does cause problems, don't give up just try it again in a month or so.

Good luck and take care

Shell