It wasn't an easy ride but the surgery was definitely the right thing to do. In retrospect, I wasted several years of my life trying every non-surgical approach, fearing surgery. On the other hand, I needed to know for certain that I had tried everything. I really thought I could beat this disease with the sheer determination to try every medicine, to journal meticulously and to eat carefully. Unfortunately it took me two and a half years to realize I can't win and that the disease will kill me if I don't open up to the idea of surgery.
I am also thankful to have had Dr. McLeod (Mt. Sinai) as my surgeon. She amazes me as she is a superstar in the field and yet such a compassionate human being. I pity the people who end up with sub-par surgeons. It makes such a difference when you can trust the surgeon who is working on you. And all this I must thank to my grandmother who asked her surgeon friends who they would go to if they needed to go to a colo-rectal surgeon. Dr. McLeod was the one other surgeons would trust. What better endorsement can one ask for?
If I can offer advice to anyone about to get any major surgery, its this: shop around and get the best person. My surgeon left me with barely any surgical scars. The surgeon I nearly accepted before finding Dr. McLeod would have left me with an 8" incision and far more problems (incision size determines adhesion (ie blockage) risk, hernia risk and infection risk.
Great to see that you are back home and doing well after surgery.
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