Rachel 
Rachel's Story
Rachel, Age 31
Ok so here's my story...........
For many years I had been suffering with wind, stomach cramps and bleeding from the back passage. I kept going to my GP who blamed piles and acid reflux etc.
Then eventually about 5 years ago, I went to the docs insisting that I was ill. They then referred me to Stoke Mandeville hospital when they found my first fistula. I had the op to drain the fistula on my bum, then had a sigmoidoscopy, which was inclusive at that time, so they discharged me.
Then in 2004, things got bad. My husband left me. I had many tests at the hospital in Bangor and when they found I'd lost 6.5 stones in 6 months they then found my Crohn's. By this point it was so bad that they couldn't even get the scope they use on babies round my colon!
They gave me mezaline, steriods, azathiroprine, iron and folic acid. At times I was taking 19 tablets a day!
I had many flare ups and a couple of abbesses, then in Dec 2005 Ysbty Gwynedd said the meds weren't working and I needed an ileo.
In Jan 2006 I got very very ill and went to A&E in Leicester as I was there visiting my parents. They found I had a fistula from my bowel to my bladder.
It took 10 days for them to get my records from Ysbty Gwynedd, then after me begging them to get rid of my agony, they scheduled my surgery straight way at the Leicester General.
When they opened me up they found I needed a colo not ileo, so did that.
Things were fine for 9 days. My stoma didn't work but they were not too worried. Then Sunday 19th Feb I was in agony, I was dying.
I had got peritonitis and my stoma had to be refashioned.
After flushing me out and refashioning my stoma, I was placed in High dependency then acute surgical care wards for nearly 2 weeks.
I had lost my mobility and all my confidence. I had intensive physio everyday to get me walking again.
Also, they left my wound open to avoid infection, so that was packed sometimes 3 times a day.
Then the tissue viability nurses came and recommended me for VAC treatment, which basically means they attach a Hoover thing to the wound to suck out all the exudate and aid healing from within. Then after VAC had done its magic, I had my wound dressed daily.
I was discharged after 2 months in hospital, and the community nurses came to see me daily for my wound. My lovely stoma nurse, Dawn visited regularly too.
Now, its nine months on and I'm well. Better than I have been in years. I have made some new mates thru ostomy land and support groups and life is good!
It was hard. I cried everyday, and still have really bad days, but I'm here alive and well.
My next clinic is 19th Feb 2007, when I have to talk about whether to be reconnected or not. My surgeon isn't keen as I have had so many complications, and I will have to beg him to do the op. My mind changes daily, but I'm not rushing into anything right now.
I wanted to tell my story because I have had it rough like many here, but I got through it and am now trying to build a new life for myself. It is a big deal but if I didn't have bagpuss I wouldn't be here.
So I had my clinic appointment and the reversal is a no go. My surgeon doesn't want to perform the op as the risks of crohns being active again or worse death are too high.
I can live with that decision, and my doctor says if I beg and plead he will operate to reverse the colostomy. He is leaving my rectum in place unless it becomes a problem. I am moving on with my life with a stoma. It's far better than being ill!
Updated 8/29/2007