@THE KID posted:I sincerely appreciate each of the responses I have received. This is a scary thing for anyone to have to go through. I am mentally preparing myself for a permanent end stoma. I am more afraid of having the pouch removed and having my bottom sown up. I can't seem to get my brain around that. The surgeon said men have a smaller pelvis so it makes it difficult to remove the j-pouch and everything is pretty congested in that area to begin with. I am concerned with complications that result from a j-pouch removal. I find myself staring at peoples abdomens and wishing mine wasn't covered with scars. I try to stay positive and crack jokes and tell people that "Most people lose their butt in Vegas but I lost mine in Seattle" or "It takes guts to have the kind of surgeries I've been through". On the outside I look fine but on the inside I feel like a scared little kid. I am certain that I am not the only person with health issues that ask them selves " WHY ME?". When it comes to incurable diseases , you are just along for the ride.
If I were single my dating profile would read like a used car add. Out of warranty, the top is warn thin, has high miles, leaking fluids, needs body work, the interior is shot and wrinkled, can't see through the wind shield, hinges are rusted, the rear end is out and they don't make parts for this make, model and year anymore, it makes a lot of noises but it still runs. I usually get a few laughs out of this so I hope it makes someone else smile.
Take Care and GOD bless
Everything will be fine with the ostomy, an ostomy is a life-saver
You need to view yourself better, instead of viewing yourself like a used car, view yourself as a resilient car that cannot be destroyed. You are strong on the battlefield and have lots of scars but nothing can take you down, view yourself that way because its true 