Hello! My name is Jen, and this is my story :D

I joined the ostomy clan in June 2016. I didn't know I had IBD, and thought that all folks had bouts of cramping, diarrhea and bloating. In April of 2016, I started having loads of pain, like can't walk pain, and had about 5 ER visits, only to be told it was just gas or indigestion. My blood tests said nothing was wrong. Finally, after getting to the point of losing 20lbs in one month, going to the bathroom every half hour and having quite a bit of blood, I went to a different hospital ER. They determined I don't "present" correctly, and that I did have IBD, we just didn't know how bad. My first and last colonoscopy was done two weeks later and the doc said I had what he called "very angry" - my entire colon looked like rotten hamburger. The next day, I was hospitalized, and for two weeks they tried to save it. I ended up on TPN feedings, in all lost 50lbs in 2 months, and arrested while they were trying to place an epidural for surgery. We didn't think I was going to make it.

But I did!! Afterwards, wow, it was amazing how well I felt! I got back into building stuff, and started running and all. It's been pretty good until January this year, something is going on now that is making me pee a LOT if I eat meat, dairy, fish or eggs, to the point I've been hospitalized twice, and now have a PICC line for IVs, up to three liters a day. I only found it was from meat etc about two weeks ago, when I decided to cut meat etc out and my symptoms stopped. I'm still working closely with a group of doctors to find out what is going on.

So, now I'm on a plant based diet. I did obstruction myself in a bad way last week (note to self, don't eat like a pound of raw chopped cabbage in Asian salad again, no matter how delicious it is). I made it through that will another short hospitalization, and maybe learned my lesson....Like making best friends with the juicer I got years ago and never used :)

Anyway, I could go on and on. I have other health issues, including an opiate receptor defect that prevents any opiate meds from binding, so I've done all my surgeries without any meds much stronger than Tylenol and ice therapy. I don't recommend it. :P

Thanks for the new forum, and I love your site, especially as I've gone vegan!!

Jen :)