Lisa 
Lisa's Story
Lisa, Age 37
My story about the brief stint I had with severe ulcerative colitis and the two different kinds of surgery for the disease started back when I was a teenager in the mid 1980s. First, let me give you a background to the story. I was first chair in the top symphonic band in high school with a love for playing the french horn. I studied privately with one of the top horn teachers in the area and I was also in one of the most competitive high school bands in the Northwest. Since I was more interested in playing my horn, competing in music competitions and the next concert than I was interested in boys, both my private horn teacher and my band director were pleased with my hard work. In a nutshell, I was more or less a quiet sensitive soul who practiced all the time 
At first I didn't think much of the very early symptoms of ulcerative colitis. I only shrugged it off as just a manageable bug that was nothing more than an annoyance that dared to get in the way of my busy schedule. I had dreams of going to Juilliard as well as other notable music schools. After such I planned on being a world class hornist. So, no little "bug" was going to get me down. Unfortunately, little did I know that God had other plans for me. My symptoms became more apparent as my junior year in high school progressed with pain and flu like symptoms. Then came the loss of appetite. I, of course, was told to "suck it up" by several well-meaning individuals at my school and was even accused of faking illness. Along with the flu like symptoms came the weight loss, then the bloody diarrhea. With that, came the rumors about me being bulimic, anorexic, pregnant, a mental case... you name it kids came up with it. Nobody understood or believed me when I told them. So, with that, I kept quiet and kept pushing myself. Not letting my parents know the agony I was suffering thinking that they would not believe me either. I felt that wouldn't have done any good. Time went on, and after winning a regional solo contest, I went on to compete in the Washington state solo contest. The night before the competition, I was up the whole time with the bloody diarrhea only that time it donned on my that it wasn't just diarrhea, that it was straight blood I was pooping. Well, I played that morning but soon after, I gave in and finally told my mother about the symptoms after I am sure she noticed that I have been very ill for some time. By that time I was in total misery, so we went to our friendly family physician who saw that I had ulcerative colitis and sent me to a specialist. At first the specialist said that there was nothing wrong with me, that it was in my head and that I just had to eat that's all. But, after seeing the referral from our doctor to have a colonoscopy he preceded with it. The colonoscopy was one with out anesthetic and it was a nightmare. After the diagnose was made I was sent home with medications of prednisone and Sulfasalzine.
Unfortunately, the symptoms got worse and it was apparent that I had to go to the hospital right away. So, on May 19, 1986 (a week after I was diagnosed) I was admitted with severe ulcerative colitis. It was also that time that we switched specialists as well. By then I was losing over a quart and a half of blood every 8 hours (1500 cc a shift), I couldn't even keep water down, I was dehydrated, I had severe abdominal cramps and lost 10 pounds in one week. I was placed on TPN (basically I was being fed though an IV)so my bowel would rest while I got some very important nutrients, I was also given 2 units of blood and was given medications through the IV (with very high doses of steroids). Over the course of 39 days in the hospital, not only was I treated for severe ulcerative colitis, but I also had a severe reaction to the IV Lipids that were given to me and I also acquired a Staph infection as well as Pseudo membranous Colitis. It was a nightmare that I could not wake up from that I had to live with. Countless times I remember laying there in pain asking God "Why?" and pleading for the whole ordeal to end. One day I asked my mother why this was happening. She didn't know why, but she said to me that God has His reasons that we may never know of and that He will give us the strength to endure our trials.
After the symptoms were under control, I was released from the hospital and I very slowly returned to normal life. However, it did not last. Symptoms got worse while Christmas and New Years came and went. Soon after, I was back in the hospital again. This time it was apparent that I needed surgery and I was assured that surgery to remove my colon would help me get back to a normal happy life. I welcomed the idea of surgery because by that time I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and I longed for a normal life again, no matter how mundane. I also had a couple of surgical options open to me thanks to the research that my parents and my aunt did. One option was a Restorative Proctocolectomy aka. Ileoanal Pouch Anal Anastomosis (IPAA) and the other option was a Proctocolectomy with Ileostomy.
After a month in hospital I was on the way to getting strong enough to face surgery. The procedure that I have decided on, the Ileoanal Pouch Anal Anastomosis, was not available in my area at that time, so we had to make the trip across the state to Seattle to have the procedure done. After an exam and interviews, they also looked at my records. The doctor realized how sick I was with UC. He also considered me a wonderful candidate for IPAA due to my background in music and the determination that is needed to recover from the procedures. On March 2, 1987 I was admitted to Swedish hospital in Seattle to prepare for the surgery. On March 3rd (the day before my 18th birthday), they did the first stage of the IPAA which consisted of the removal of my large intestine and the construction of the internal pouch. They also created a temporary ileostomy so the pouch can heal. According to the doctors, the operation went very smoothly and I spent 2 weeks at Swedish recovering. I was then sent home for further recovery and healing.
On May 12, 1987, exactly 1 year after I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, I had the second stage of the IPAA procedure done. Then on May 19th 1987, I was released to recover even more and to pursue a healthy and happy life. By that time, I missed a lot of school due to ulcerative colitis and the recovery times. Although I had a tutor to help pass some classes, there was more schooling needed. My options were: 1. to finish my senior year in high school with a tutor 2. to retake my senior year and finish a year later. I chose the second option insuring that I would be even healthier to learn what I needed to learn and to secure better memories.
I went back to school as planned the following year with much success, I had several wonderful opportunities and happenings. I played first chair solo horn for the Washington All-State Band. I also was awarded one of the Outstanding Musician awards at a school band festival and I continued soloing in competitions.
Aftermath: After graduation in 1988, I continued my education in music from Spokane Falls Community College and Eastern Washington University and married my husband after receiving my Bachelors in Music in 1994. For a few years I was a freelance musician before deciding to pursue my Masters Degree from Eastern. Unfortunately, during my graduate studies, my pouch started to develop complications(fistulas),so once more I was faced with several surgeries. After a few years of attempted repairs, my pouch failed. Fortunately, by that time the IPAA surgery was done in my area and doctors were familiar with it. On June 6, 2001, my J-pouch bid it's sad farewell and a Proctocolectomy with Ileostomy was performed.
Happily, I have lived a very healthy and happy life since then. I eat very healthy now and I am very active musically and physically with a ton of energy as well.