My Crohnstipated Life

I remember sitting in my doctor’s office, listening as he explained that my ileocecal valve—the gateway between my small and large intestines—was beyond saving. Years of inflammation had done their damage, and surgery was no longer an “if” but a “when.”

The thought of losing a piece of my gut terrified me. Would I ever eat normally again? Would it make my symptoms better or worse? Would I even survive the surgery? My mind swirled with questions, but deep down, I knew I didn’t have a choice.

The day of the surgery came, and as I was wheeled into the operating room, I took a deep breath and reminded myself: I have survived so much already—I will survive this too.

Waking up after surgery was a foggy, painful blur. Tubes everywhere, a tight incision, and a gut that felt like it had been through a war. The recovery was rough. I won’t sugarcoat it—there were moments when I regretted the surgery, moments when I wondered if I’d ever feel normal again.

But slowly, things started to improve. My digestion changed (some things for the better, some not so much), but my body adjusted. Today, six years later, I still live with the aftermath of that surgery, but I also live with the knowledge that I did what I had to do to keep going. If you’re facing resection surgery, know that you will get through it. It’s scary, but you are stronger than you think.

Stay Strong!