A lot has happened since my last update. I flew home. Then less than two weeks later I flew back to Florida. Continue reading “BCIR Update #7”
Category: BCIR
BCIR Update #6
I’m home. I’m on IV antibiotics and had a scary run-in with sepsis the last week. But I’m home. Continue reading “BCIR Update #6”
BCIR Update #5
I started to write this update 10 days ago. It began: “I’m dressed. I transferred into my chair. I’ve been spending about 45 minutes twice a day outside here in Florida’s fresh, breezy warm air. But Thursday or Friday will be the true test: I will begin intubating (using the stoma to empty the new pouch).”
Today (Thursday, May 17) I’m still sitting in a Florida hospital room, drinking Miralax to clean my system out for a second surgery to repair a fistula (same one as last time). Continue reading “BCIR Update #5”
BCIR Update #4
I had not expected this update to be written from a hospital bed. I “should have been” discharged last week and back at home. Instead I had surgery for a fistula on Sunday. Continue reading “BCIR Update #4”
BCIR Update #3
Well, I knew when I decided to have this procedure there were risks of complications. Unfortunately, I’m one of the people to develop a fistula. A fistula is a small hole. Mine is located near the top of the pouch and leads to the surface of the skin. When a I began intubating on Wednesday, it didn’t go well. By evening, I was back on suction with a scope scheduled for Thursday. After the scope confirmed the fistula, I had a CT Scan with contrast. Continue reading “BCIR Update #3”
BCIR Update #2
I thought I knew what I was getting myself in to. And yet…
This is so much harder than I ever imagined. Continue reading “BCIR Update #2”
BCIR Update #1
Due to overwhelming support, but inadequate energy, here’s a brief overview of my BCIR journey so far. BCIR is an internal continent catheterizable colostomy with no external appliances like a colostomy or iliostomy. Go to www.bcir.com for more info on the procedure and here for my journey on the decision.
I enjoyed “My Last Supper” and took in a beautiful Florida sunset.
BCIR for Bowel Program Management
I plan on having surgery at the end of the month (as long as insurance cooperates). Watch this video to hear about the BCIR procedure and how I hope this will help me gain back one of the biggest losses that comes with a spinal cord injury.
For information on BCIR, Palms of Pasadena Hospital and Dr. Rehnke, go to BCIR.com.
