From Crohns disease to a bowel transplant being a patient isn't easy 110312 (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

From Crohns disease to a bowel transplant being a patient isn't easy 110312

8:00pm Sunday 11th March 2012 in Blogs By Michael Seres

What can I say - no changes over the last couple of days which I guess shows things aren't getting worse. Got to stay positive.

Rather than repeat the same old bowel transplant recovery stories I thought that I would use my blog today to ask for some answers to situations that I have found myself in with either my stoma or as part of my transplant recovery. I know that quite a few people who read my blog have had their own experiences and therefore might have a few solutions. Even if you haven't then some times fresh eyes can also help with something that is so obvious to others but when it stares you in the face on a daily basis you can easily overlook it. So here goes.

1. I am sick of constantly wearing trackie bottoms. However given the position of my stoma if I wore jeans or trousers especially with a belt then it would cut right across the stoma and hurt. Any suggestions? I guess braces maybe but any other thoughts?

2. I always have my stoma bag hanging outside my trousers and don't tuck it inside. If I did then the waist band would probably sit just below the site of the stoma and prevent the output from dropping in to the stoma bag. Is this the same for everyone or am I missing a trick.

3. Although I am definitely trying to do more exercise I feel constantly shattered. Any ideas other than iron tablets to increase my energy.

4. Has anyone with a stoma ever successfully drunk soup? It always seems to come out again very quickly and my dietitian said that she had heard of quite a few cases like this so I stay off of soup.

5. Most days I crave salty things, whether it be salty crackers or even a few crisps. I do use dyralite in my fluids so I wondered if there were any other suggestions?

6. At the moment I seem to constantly have that awful sicky taste in my mouth and therefore always suck mints. Any other suggestions?

7. Has anyone experienced their hair colour changing. Mine now seems to have brown flecks in it? Is this due to some form of deficiency?

8. When it is cold out my joints continually ache like crazy. I know that is quite a common complaint but does anyone take anything for this?

I think those are my main questions for now. Feel free to suggest any possible solutions.

Hopefully there will be a bit of progress to report on tomorrow but for now it's a wrap.

Bye x

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here