i just wanted to pop in here, because I forgot to last month on the five year anniversary of my colon rupturing, to say that when they tell you that the vast majority of people who have this procedure are too busy living life to come here and post, that my experience has been exactly that.

Since my horrible 2014, which began with my UC diagnosis, and quickly led to rupture, emergency removal of the colon and then a surgery to create the j-pouch, takedown and a final open surgery a couple days later because of a bleed, my new normal is pretty awesome.

i’ve traveled extensively on three continents, including a few places with general sanitation standards that should give the fully coloned pause.

I eat pretty much anything I want (except mushrooms, which I love, but which have messed me up badly a couple of times), with the knowledge that some things (I’m looking at you spicy food), will require a payment to the piper.

My professional life is strong, and the perspective gained from my experience has made me a better leader.

At almost 47 years old, I’m in the best physical shape I’ve been in since I traded high school sports for college beer.

I’ve kayaked in countless freshwater bodies, and on three different salt water seas, spent days on boats without facilities (thank you immodium), biked through vineyards in Spain, sipped champagne in the shadow of the Andes and eaten chicken mole Colorado made by an abuleta in a remote village a full day’s drive into the mountains from Oaxaca City.

Is it all easy? No. There are days when the plumbing can be challenging as hell. I’ve dealt with one bout of pretty serious pouchitis, and, yeah, I poop more than most, and gas sucks because solo farting isn’t in my skill set.

But I can’t remember the last time I counted how many times I crapped in a day. The challenges are more than manageable, I FEEL good, and most importantly, I’m not dead, and that was a very real possibility.

I recognize that for some they don’t get this outcome, and I have nothing but empathy for those who continue to suffer, but I found this forum when I was scared and alone in my fears. Much of what I found was a comfort, but I didn’t quite believe when I’d read the assurances that most people with pouches were out living their lives, happily.

Five years later, I believe.