I went to the gym again this morning. I didn’t stay as long as last time (only did 45 mins), but I still feel good from the work out. I tried some more stomach exercises this time but couldn’t manage a plank, maybe I will after a while though.

So, I realise it’s only been a short couple of weeks since I cut out dairy and gluten from my diet, but I’ve found that although gluten makes me bloat, I can have small amounts of it and be mostly fine. This means I will still be going gluten free but I know it won’t be too bad if I have the smallest amount once in a while. In the case of dairy, I am fine with cheese. No problems with cheese whatsoever, but milk and chocolate cause my stomach to ache the most so I’m have almond milk instead and only very small amounts of chocolate at a time (I’ve tried the dairy free stuff and I’m not too keen). It does mean I’ll probably come across as a?picky eater but if that’s what I’ve got to do to make myself comfortable then I’ll deal with it. Has anyone else had to do weird diet things like this?

I went back to the gym today! It’s been over a year since I last worked out so I’m quite proud of myself for being able to last a full hour. I focused mostly on gentle stomach exercises and made sure to wear my support belt the whole time. It felt good so I’m looking good forward to going again next week.

New(ish) diet

So, before having my stoma surgery, I was greatly restricted to what I could eat and even more so the weeks leading up to my surgery. I had to almost completely cut out fruit and vegetables, couldn’t handle most meats or carbs, and had to go gluten free in an effort to reduce my UC symptoms. This, unsurprising, didn’t work. Since my surgery, however, I have been able to eat some fruits and vegetables, more meats, carbs, dairy and gluten. That is until recently; I’ve found that I bloat after eating things such as bread, pizza and pasta, and I get mild stomach pains whenever I eat dairy. This has only really become a problem in the last couple of weeks so I’ve decided to try a gluten and dairy free diet for the next few months to see if this improves things.

Liver update!

I’ve just seen my GI and he has said my liver biopsy hasn’t shown any signs of Primary Sclerosing Colangitis (yay!). It hasn’t shown anything else either so what’s caused my liver to double in size and be painful is still a mystery, but I’m hoping to get more answers when I see the liver consultant later this month. This hopefully means that my reversal can happen.

I am very relieved that it’s not PSC, because my reversal is looking more possible, and hoping it’s just a viral infection or something easily treatable. Fingers crossed!

“Stoma Facts!

A Urostomy is when the tubes from the kidneys to the bladder are diverted through a surgical opening in the abdominal wall.”

“Stoma Facts!

A Colostomy is when the end or part of the colon is diverted through a surgical opening in the abdominal wall.“

“Stama facts!

An Ileostomy is when the small intestine is diverted through a surgical opening in the abdominal wall.“

I finally got around to making more of these.

Started using OstoGuard barrier cream last week, at my stoma nurse’s recommendation, to help with the itchiness I occasionally get under the adhesive of my bag. I’ve never used anything like this before but I’m glad I have it a try because it’s worked really well so far.

So, I have spent today doing not a lot because of having had my biopsy yesterday, and I can honestly say I’m glad I did; my right side and shoulder have ached most of today but it’s gone down a bit this afternoon. It hurts if I cough or move my torso too much but the nurses said that should get better over the next couple of days. I’m going back to work tomorrow but I work in an opticians so it’s not like it’s heavy lifting or terribly physical work.