Gutbending Declaration « The United Colon Vlog

Gutbending Declaration

Before undergoing surgery people have a lot to think about: how long they will be in the hospital, who their surgeon will be, what medicine they will be on, how to manage an ileostomy, how to manage a j-pouch, how to recognize complications, how to pay for surgery, how to get off of work, and so on. And people have a lot of doubts: will surgery improve their lives, will they be able to manage an ileostomy, will they have control over their j-pouch?

But one thing people should never think is that life cannot go on because of an ileostomy. That’s where this project comes in.

The Facts

Surgery should not be decided upon lightly. While it is considered by some to be a “cure” for ulcerative colitis, for those with Crohn’s disease it is more often a temporary fix to a serious problem. For everybody, surgery is not without trials and imperfections.

Life after surgery looks quite different from life before surgery, and looks quite different from life before being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. And complications do happen from time to time. But for most people, surgery brings relief from pain, suffering, embarrassment, and frustration.

For most people, life is better after surgery.

The Participants

Who can make the Gutbending Declaration? Who can participate in this project? Everybody who has gone through with surgery! If you currently live with an ileostomy or colostomy, or lived with one in the past, then read the Declaration. If you agree, help me make this project a success!

The Gutbending Declaration

Living with an ileostomy is better than living with ulcerative colitis!

The Audience

Ultimately, this project is for the benefit of everybody considering surgery. Everybody who is considering surgery is going through a difficult time of life. Let’s help them get through the struggles by uniting together and making the Gutbending Declaration. If enough people make the Declaration, we can show those considering surgery that fear of an ileostomy does not have to hold them back anymore.

Make the Gutbending Declaration

If you have lived with an ostomy and you agree that life is better with an ostomy than with colitis (or with Crohn’s disease or any other bowel disease), then make the Declaration for everybody to see. At a minimum, comment on this page. Tell us your name, what disease you had, when you had surgery, and then make the Declaration! Tell us why living with an ostomy is better than living with diseaes.

And for those who are able, make a video of yourself making the Declaration. Your video doesn’t have to be long or high quality. Most digital cameras have the option to take small videos. If that’s all you have no problem! The video doesn’t have to be longer than 30 seconds to a minute. Tell us your name, what disease you had, when you had surgery, and then make the declaration that “Living with an ileostomy is better than living with colitis!” Or Crohn’s disease. Or colon cancer, or any other disease you had.

When you have made your video, email it to me! If you keep your video short you should be able to mail it just fine. If not, upload it to YouTube and tell me where to find it.

The Videos

Here is the first video of people who have taken a stand and made the declaration! Keep sending me your videos so that we can show the world that an ileostomy isn’t so bad!

The United Colon Vlog