Day 4

Chad is eating well today and getting used to changing his temporary pouching system. He got to go outside this afternoon to the sun deck at Rochester Methodist and enjoyed the 79 degree sunny Minnesota summer. He is on oral medications starting today in hope of getting his IV out tomorrow.

Day 3

Chad called us in the hotel this morning saying, "Bring me some food", but of course we couldn't. It's a good sign that he is hungry. He had the catheter and abdominal drainage tubes removed this morning and took a shower on his own. He is on a soft food diet, but needs to eat small amounts slowly so that his digestive system starts functioning again. He ate a small amount for breakfast but was not feeling great in the middle of the day. By dinner however, he ate an entire cheeseburger, some banana cream pie, and was then messing around on his laptop. It's great to see him acting like a teenager.

Chad's Day 2

Chad did not sleep much last night because of the pain, but he is having a good day. He has sat up in a chair and has taken three walks so far. The Dr. wants him to walk 6 times today, so he is trying to meet his goal. When he walks he has to drag lots of plastic tubes and machines behind him, IVs , drug pump, abdominal drains, etc., but some of that stuff should be removed over the next few days. He has eaten jello, sherbet and drank some Gatorade and water. He can drink 800 cc of liquids today or about 27 ounces.

Chad is out of Surgery and doing well

Praise God! Chad is out of surgery and Dr. Cima said that everything went as planned. It must have been because of all the prayers from family and friends. We are so blessed to have so many people praying for Chad.
Chad is in his room now and is still a little groggy from his long surgery. He has been sleeping a little then the nurse will come in and wake him to check his vitals then he will fall back to sleep. The doctor came earlier and told Chad he needs to get out of bed and walk a little tonight. I don't think its going to happen until tomorrow.

Surgery Day

Chad was admitted at 5:45 am this morning. Surgery will start at 9:00 and will last 3 1/2 hours. Recovery time will be 1-3 hours. So, we won't be seeing him again until between 2:00 and 3:00. The nurses said that they will be giving us updates from time to time.

Report to Surgery at 5:45 a.m.

We are to report to Rochester Methodist Hospital at 5:45 a.m. and prep. for surgery. We are ready for Chad to start a new chapter in his young life.

Loving Father, I entrust myself to your care this day; guide with wisdom and skill the minds and hands of the medical people who minister in your Name, and grant that every cause of illness be removed, I may be restored to soundness of health and learn to live in more perfect harmony with you and with those around me. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.

The day before surgery

Chad met with the Surgeon and the GI doctor today. Both doctors said that Chad's decision to go ahead with the surgery is the right option, however the Surgeon Robert Cima said that since Chad is tall that there is a slight chance that his small intestine will not be long enough to make the final connection. This was the first time either of us had heard this possibility. I guess you can't know everything before a surgery. Chad is still optimistic today after hearing the surgeons full disclosure as to possible surgical outcomes. I have to call the Mayo Clinic tonight after 8:15 p.m. to learn when to report to the hospital the following day. All I know right now is that the surgery is tomorrow. Please keep Chad in your prayers tonight and tomorrow that he may have a quick recovery and successful surgery.

First day of tests at Mayo Clinic

Today Chad had tests all day. He was not allowed to eat until after his last test at 5:30 pm. We just got back from eating a large Greek meal across the street from the Marriott. Tomorrow we meet with the Doctors to go over the previous day of tests. Chad is still very positive about the surgery on Thursday. One of the main tests today was the Flexible Sigmoidoscopy which would check Chad's colon for the present severity of his UC. The GI doctor told Chad after the test that his colon was moderately ulcerated and appears the Remicade infusions were not controlling the Ulcerative Colitis. We will see what the Doctors say tomorrow about all of todays tests.

Mayo Clinc Marriott arrival

Chad is in good spirits today. The flight was on time with clear skies all the way to Rochester. Chad has appointments tomorrow starting at 7:00 am: blood, urine, stool tests and a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy all before 1:30 pm.

Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis Is a Difficult Choice

Chad's surgeon Dr. Robert Cima discuses in the second half of the NY Times article below the decision to go through with the J-Pouch surgery is very personal.

http://health.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-ulcerativecolitis-ess.html?ref=health

UC to J-Pouch Story

This link below shows a young man that wanted to share his experience with his J-Pouch surgery.

http://ucstory.wordpress.com/surgery-1/

Mayo Clinic Surgery

Surgery
If diet and lifestyle changes, drug therapy or other treatments don't relieve your signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Surgery can often eliminate ulcerative colitis. But that usually means removing your entire colon and rectum (proctocolectomy). In the past, after this surgery you would wear a small bag over an opening in your abdomen (ileostomy) to collect stool. But a procedure called ileoanal anastomosis eliminates the need to wear a bag. Instead, your surgeon constructs a pouch from the end of your small intestine. The pouch is then attached directly to your anus. This allows you to expel waste more normally, although you may have as many as five to seven soft or watery bowel movements a day because you no longer have your colon to absorb water.

If you have surgery, your doctor may discuss whether an ileostomy or an ileoanal pouch is right for you. Between 25 percent and 40 percent of people with ulcerative colitis eventually need surgery.

Going to Mayo Clinic

Chad and I are heading to Rochester MN on Monday August 25th. Chad told me last week that he wants the UC J-Pouch surgery at Mayo Clinic ASAP. I called last week and to my surprise they scheduled surgery for August 28th. Chad will have the UC surgery at Rochester Methodist Hospital which is the main Mayo Clinic hospital. The hospital directly attaches to Mayo Clinic. Chad has suffered with Ulcerative Colitis now for almost three years and he has tried every medical treatment without success.