Angelina’s Story | “The doctor told me I wouldn’t have made it through the night”

Angelina’s Story 

Hey there! It’s been a while, but I’m back. It was never my intention to disappear from the blogging world, but sometimes life gets in the way.

I’ve spent the past few weeks preparing for my re-emergence into blogging, so this time it’s for real (promise!) Nothing brings me greater joy than to raise awareness and connect with other ostomates, so that’s what I’m doing!

My stoma story

So, let me re introduce myself the proper way. I’m Angelina (Ange), I’m 26 years old and I’m a music accountant. I’ve been an ostomate since the age of 13 due to Crohn’s Disease, meaning I’ve been an ostomate for half of my life already (wow, that’s gone quick!).

My story goes a little like this….

I started suffering with crippling stomach pain that came in waves every couple of minutes. I ignored it as much as I could for a couple of weeks before I finally went to my GP only for them to tell me that it’s a bug and to just “ride it out”. Fast forward a couple of months of being in this excruciating pain (which might I add was getting worse). I ended up being admitted into hospital after collapsing with weakness from the symptoms. They tested me for different things including IBD. After many scans, biopsies, blood tests, I was finally diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and sent home with a number of medications, including steroids (prednisone), which I ended up taking throughout my journey with Crohn’s.

Shortly after leaving the hospital, my symptoms got worse and I ended up being admitted to hospital once again. I was fed though a nasogastric tube for 6 weeks in the hopes that my symptoms would improve. I tried changing my diet, exercising, herbal remedies, several other medications (including Infliximab and Adalimumab), small operations etc etc. Nothing kept the inflammation under control and I was getting worse and worse by the day. I was in and out of hospital for a few months but my situation was getting progressively worse. I wasn’t able to eat anything, I was losing a lot of blood and to be quite honest, I was dying… I remember the doctor telling me that I did the right thing coming in as I probably wouldn’t have made it through the night in my condition. That comment has stuck with me, I still recall that feeling of desperation I had to just get better!

I spent the next few months in hospital, preparing my body for my biggest operation to date. I had to have parenteral nutrition (TPN) through a chest port to build me up and get me stronger. I was told that the best course of action is to have an ostomy. I was shown videos of young adults talking about what it’s like living with a stoma, they all seemed to happy and positive about it. Whilst this was great to see (especially at the young age of 13), looking back at it, I really wish someone would have shown me something more realistic and true to what being an ostomate is really like. However, It was my last resort to have a ‘normal’ childhood again. Looking back at it, it was either ‘bag or box’ and I would take bag ANY day!

I remember waking up after my operation and not feeling that crippling pain that came with having Crohn’s Disease. I remember feeling free and ready to live my life again.

Don’t get me wrong, being an ostomate is probably the most challenging transition I’ve ever had to go through mentally and physically. But, I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. All the life lessons I’ve learnt, the adventures I’ve had, the inspiring people I’ve met along the way.

None of this would be possible without my ostomy, and I’m eternally grateful to have been given a second chance in life!

Thank you for reading! 

Ange (@thebaglife_) xx