This is the companion video for a video I released a few weeks ago entitled, “Showering with an Ileostomy.” That video was about showering with the bag on. This video is about showering with the bag off.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Archive for January, 2009
Yes Paintings Series I
January 10, 2009I have a new page for everybody, The Yes Paintings. This is a series of artwork I created to help me and others understand our colitis better. Hopefully you find some meaning in it. Let me know what you think about it.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Using my J-pouch: The first two weeks
January 9, 2009You know what this video is all about.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Question: How much do you fear using your j-pouch for the first time?
The enema/X-ray test
January 7, 2009For those looking at having an ileostomy takedown surgery in the future, this is the sort of test you’ll undergo before the surgeon will operate on you. It doesn’t last very long but it’s very intense.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Question: How well do you tolerate enemas and other procedures?
Third surgery: Takedown
January 5, 2009Many of you have followed my story pretty closely so this video might not inform you much. But I think it will help some people to clarify what happened to me physically and medically during the third surgery. Plus I was feeling a lot better when I made this video so hopefully you can understand me more compared to my videos in the hospital following my third surgery.
If you haven’t seen them yet, check them out. I was in the hospital three days and the surgery went better than expected.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Question: What do you fear the most about having your takedown surgery?
Ostomy Dream 8: The tree on the man
January 3, 2009*Real ostomy dreams before waking up with a full pouch.
I was out in the rural countryside in a small house. It was late at night and I stepped outside with two other men. We were near the intersection of two quiet, divided highways. We could see by the moonlight and noticed that a large cottonwood tree, a hundred feet tall, had fallen down. And under the top tree branches, under the heaviest branch, was a man on a motorcycle, crushed and dead.
“This tree fell down on that man!” I said. “We need to help him.”
I walked over to the tree but the older man with me said, “We can’t help him! He’s already dead. We need to leave!”
“We can’t just leave,” I said. “we have to get this man out from under the tree.”
“Why did this tree fall on that man?” the older man said. “Where was God to protect him?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Sometimes things just happen and there’s no explanation. It’s just like ulcerative colitis. It comes out of nowhere and hits you.”
The older man said to me, “Why didn’t God stop your colitis?”
“I don’t know!” I yelled. “God has His own plan. Maybe He was punishing me. But if He was punishing me, what was He punishing me for? The punishment doesn’t work very well if I don’t know what my crime is.” I started to get upset and I didn’t pay attention to the dead man under the tree anymore. “God is always doing these kinds of things. How are people supposed to learn when God doesn’t tell them anything?”
Then I woke up and had to empty my pouch. It was perhaps the most theological dream I have ever had.
Takedown surgery day three
January 2, 2009The final day for making videos in the hospital. It sure was fun making videos in the hospital. I don’t know if I’m being sarcastic or not.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
A Passing Conversation
January 1, 2009Yesterday a ran across a casual acquaintance I hadn’t seen in about three weeks. This man knew nothing of my medical issues, as we weren’t that close.
He asked, “Where’ve you been these last few weeks?”
“Well, I had to go through some surgery. But everything’s all better now,” I said.
“I don’t see you missing any parts so you must be alright! Glad to see you again!” he said with a smile.
If only he knew what I was missing, I chuckled to myself.
In all seriousness 2009 is here and it’s a brand new year. When I was in the thick of darkness back in my colitis days, I took comfort in the idea of newness. As we all know, we suffer many dark days trying to control our infantile bowels. And some days get very bad. So bad that giving up seems the only reasonable option, which is why I always looked forward to the night. I knew that upon waking the next morning that I would greet a new day. Not that the new days are always better. But you start with a clean slate and are given another chance by God to try this thing called life one more time.
Today is a new day.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
