Well, here goes nothin'

[Kaptain K]

In April, I went to the hospital with severe lower abdominal pains. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis (pockets in the wall of the colon - diverticulosis) that had become infected. I have no memory (at least none that make sense) of the next two weeks. From what the surgeon has told me, all did not go exactly as planned. The first surgery (cut out the infected part and sew the two ends back together) didn't quite work out as planned. The sutures leaked and polluted my abdominal cavity with [stuff] that shouldn't be there! Five days later, they had to go back in and sew the bottom end shut and divert the upper end to a bag hanging off my belly. After a month in rehab learning to deal with the bag and two months in a nursing home, and a bunch of other trials and tribulations, I'm home.

Tomorrow, I go back to the hospital to have the colostomy reversed. To tell the truth, I'm scared! The first time, I didn't have a clue! I had never been hospitalized in my life (pushing 60 years). The surgeon has assured me that there is a 99% chance of success and I'm hoping for the best!

All I know is that this brush with mortality has given me a new respect for and appreciation of life!

Thank you all and I hope to be back soon.

[TheOncomingStorm]

Hope you make it Kaptian.

[Tucson_Tim]

We'll all be thinkin' of ya, Kaptain.

Keep us posted.

[Kaptain K]

Me too! More than anybody else.

[sarongsong]

Get well soon, Kap'n---Thanksgiving's coming up!

[The Supreme Canuck]

Best of luck, Kaptain - I like the odds!

[Kaptain K]

Thanksgiving's coming up!

Yeah, I know! I'll probably still be in a rehab facility. Maybe my bro will bring me some punkin pie

[Kaptain K]

I like the odds!

I would too, if it wasn't my life at stake!

[The Supreme Canuck]

Hm. Perhaps that came out wrong. Sorry. I was just trying to say that I'm sure you'll do fine. I really do wish you the best.

[Maksutov]

Kaptain K, here's wishing you the best of luck. Hope the procedure goes smoothly and uneventfully and you're back to your normal, healthy self as quickly as possible.

[Kaptain K]

Thanks everyone!

You'll be the first to know when I get back.

[01101001]

Thanks everyone!

You'll be the first to know when I get back.

Looking forward to your swift return, K.

[CodeSlinger]

Best of luck, sir, see you soon

[astromark]

Integrity and honar.... Things you have earned.. I wish you well speedy recovery to the pages of this thread..... and thinking of you. For you.

[Jens]

I would too, if it wasn't my life at stake!

I'm not sure, but when the doctors say "99% chance of success", don't they mean there is a 99% chance the operation will be successful, i.e. they'll successfully close the colostomy? I don't think it necessarily means there is only a 99% chance you'll survive the procedure. But I suppose you could ask.

In any case, even if it's a 1% risk of death, it's still better odds than crewing on the Space Shuttle!

[Gillianren]

I'll be thinking of you. So, I think, will we all. Best of wishes.

[Van Rijn]

I don't know if you're still up (assuming you can sleep), Kaptain K, but if you are, this is another wish for good luck.

[The_Radiation_Specialist]

And another. Good luck, sir.

[Whirlpool]

I'll include you in my prayers Kap.

[mfumbesi]

Get well soon Kap......I hope there will be a witty comment from you soon, about the whole experience.

[mugaliens]

I feel for you more than you know. I'm on my third bout of intestinal disorder since late July, and the docs only today actually performed an ultrasound. After two months of "give it time, here's something for the nausea" they're finally coming around and ordered a bunch of bloodwork and samples two days ago.

[Doodler]

I think when this is over, there will be no man or woman alive who will ever savor the privilege of sitting upon the porcelain throne more than you, Kap.

Good luck, and my best to your plumber.

[Kaptain K]

I'm not sure, but when the doctors say "99% chance of success", don't they mean there is a 99% chance the operation will be successful, i.e. they'll successfully close the colostomy? I don't think it necessarily means there is only a 99% chance you'll survive the procedure. But I suppose you could ask.

In any case, even if it's a 1% risk of death, it's still better odds than crewing on the Space Shuttle!

Actually, I did ask ... and yes the odds are that I'll survive the procedure and come out good as new!

Thanks everyone for all your kind words!

I'm off to the hospital now.

[Argos]

All the best for ya, Kaptain. IŽm sure youŽll be back soon.

[closetgeek]

The odds seem good. Hoping the best for you.

In April, I went to the hospital with severe lower abdominal pains. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis (pockets in the wall of the colon - diverticulosis) that had become infected. I have no memory (at least none that make sense) of the next two weeks. From what the surgeon has told me, all did not go exactly as planned. The first surgery (cut out the infected part and sew the two ends back together) didn't quite work out as planned. The sutures leaked and polluted my abdominal cavity with [stuff] that shouldn't be there! Five days later, they had to go back in and sew the bottom end shut and divert the upper end to a bag hanging off my belly. After a month in rehab learning to deal with the bag and two months in a nursing home, and a bunch of other trials and tribulations, I'm home.

Tomorrow, I go back to the hospital to have the colostomy reversed. To tell the truth, I'm scared! The first time, I didn't have a clue! I had never been hospitalized in my life (pushing 60 years). The surgeon has assured me that there is a 99% chance of success and I'm hoping for the best!

All I know is that this brush with mortality has given me a new respect for and appreciation of life!

Thank you all and I hope to be back soon.

[cjl]

Good luck Kaptain, and I'm sure you'll do well.

[Moose]

Tomorrow, I go back to the hospital to have the colostomy reversed. To tell the truth, I'm scared! The first time, I didn't have a clue! I had never been hospitalized in my life (pushing 60 years). The surgeon has assured me that there is a 99% chance of success and I'm hoping for the best!

Kaptain K, I want to reassure you: I've been there, done that, wore the ostomy (first end, then loop) for a year and a half while my small intestines were rebuilt.

You're actually well past the worst of it. And then some. Your last surgery was the tough one to experience. This next bit is nothing by comparison. The home stretch. Utterly anti-climatic. With direct experience, I can say that there's sunshine and puppies on the other end of this surgery.

You'll be sore, you'll be stiff, you'll be restricted from lifting for a while, but by the end of next week, two weeks tops, you will never look back. I never had reason to.

If you need to talk, PM me. If you need more direct and interactive reassurance, have questions, want to gripe, whatever, absolutely feel free to PM me for direct contact info. Email, phone, MSN. It's all good. I'm in a quiet (and somewhat hidden) neighborhood, so I doubt I'll have more than a small handful of trick-or-treaters.

[Swift]

Kaptain K,
I just wanted to jump on the bandwagon and wish you the best. My wife and I certainly know what you are going through. I have fairly well controlled colitis, but she has pretty bad Crohn's disease and has had an ostomy for years (unreversible). I hope everything goes very well. That first taste of solid food, whether jello or pumpkin pie, should be great.

[mike alexander]

My best wishes are here when you get back, Kap'n. I have the same -itis, which is currently controllable with diet and hyoscamine when the crampies get too bad.

My real scary happened when I had a blockage that required emergency surgery and removal of a foot or so of tubing. And that was in 1953! (Yes, I was quite young at the time!).

[Maksutov]

[edit]My real scary happened when I had a blockage that required emergency surgery and removal of a foot or so of tubing. And that was in 1953! (Yes, I was quite young at the time!).

Ironic. I had the same thing happen in late 1949/early 1950. The family doctor later told me I had five minutes to live when they got me on the operating table.

Hurry back, Keptin! We're like empty wessels vitout chou!